3374. Is this framework fitted into the canvas, or the canvas to the framework?
- No; it is the bottom of the boat, and it is rather a shallow boat with a canvas to it which pulls up and forms a kind of protection around the people sitting in the boat.
3375. From what point in the boat's construction does this canvas appear; from the extreme upper part?
- Yes; I think it is from the extreme upper part, from what I remember of them. I never have been in one.
3376. But the canvas is not intended to float the boat?
- Oh, no; oh, no.
3377. How does it differ from the lifeboat in its security and strength?
- I do not quite understand what you mean?
3378. Do you regard the collapsible boat as safe, well constructed, and suitable as the ordinary lifeboat for the purposes for which they are intended?
- I do not think it would stand so much knocking about as a lifeboat. I do not know what they would behave like in a seaway.
3379. Do you think that they are as well suited to resist the sea?
- No; I should not think so.
3380. Then, according to your judgment, they do not exactly answer the same purpose and requirement as the lifeboats?
- I can not say from experience, but I do not think that they would stand the water or the knocking about as a lifeboat would in a seaway.
3381. Are they as easily lowered and kept in position?
- No; I do not think so. I prefer the lifeboats.
3382. Are they as accessible to people in peril on shipboard as the lifeboats?
- It depends upon in what position they are kept.
3383. Where are they kept?
- The ones on the Titanic - there was one of them exactly underneath the sea boats davits on either side, on the same level on the boat deck as the lifeboats.
3384. And as securely fastened to the davits?
- No; she was not securely fastened to the davits. She was not fastened to the davits at all. After the sea boats were lowered, then would come the collapsible boats.
3385. Where were they? Were they lying about on the deck?
- They were on the deck.
3386. Unattached?
- Unattached - unattached to the davits.
3387. How many of these boats were there?
- Four.
3388. You described another type of boat. What is that?
- The sea boat or emergency boat.
3389. What kind of a boat is that?
- It is the same as a lifeboat, only smaller and lighter built. It is always kept swung out.
3390. Is it built in the same general manner?
- Just so.
3391. And of the same material as the lifeboat?
- Of the same material, but smaller.
3392. Smaller?
- Smaller.
3393. How much smaller?
- I could not say how much smaller. I do not know the size.
3394. Give us your best judgment about it.
- It is a boat that is built to be swung out all the time, the emergency boat, so that it can be lowered quickly at a moments notice in case anyone falls over the side.
3395. Is it a boat between the size of an ordinary row boat and a lifeboat?
- It is considerably larger than an ordinary rowboat.
3396. Yes; I understand that.
- It is a good, seaworthy boat.
3397. How many people will one of those boats hold?
- I should say about between 25 and 30; probably 30 at the most.
3398. Are these boats equipped in the same manner as the lifeboats?
- Yes, sir; just the same.
3399. And all under the regulations of the British Board of Trade?
- Yes.
3400. As to inspection and equipment?
- Yes.
3401. Mr. Boxhall, these were all the lifeboats and these were the three types on the Titanic?
- Yes.
3402. When she sailed?
- Just so.
3403. How many people will the collapsible boat carry?
- I could not say.
3404. About how many?
- I do not know; I would not say; I would not like to form an opinion.
3405. Why is it called collapsible? Can it fold up?
- The upper structure of the boat is collapsible.
3406. But the lower part is -
- The lower part is the bottom of the boat.
3407. Can you not tell us about how many people those boats will hold?
- They seemed to be pretty well packed, those that came alongside of the Carpathia. I did not count the people, but there seemed to be quite a lot of people. I should think they would hold more than one of the emergency boats or about the same number.
3408. Which one of these three type of boats were you in?
- The emergency boat.
3409. The emergency boat?
- Yes, sir.
3410. Did you see Officer Murdoch, Officer Lightoller, Officer Lowe, and Officer Pitman aboard the Titanic?
- Yes, sir.
3411. The day this inspection was made?
- Yes, sir.
3412. Can you state whether they were all present, at that time?
- All the officers were on board the ship doing various duties. I can not say whether they were present when these boats were lowered, but they were all there on board.
3413. So far as you know did each perform his particular duty?
- Yes.
3414. After leaving Southampton until the catastrophe occurred?
- Yes, sir.
3415. Do you know the habits of these men?
- Only what I have seen since I joined the ship. I had never seen them before, except Mr. Lightoller.
3416. And what can you say as to their habits?
- Good, steady, reliable men.
3417. What about your own habits?
- You had better ask some one else.
3418. You must be cognizant of your own habits.
- Pardon me?
3419. You may be too modest to describe them, but you know whether you are a temperate man or not.
- Yes.
3420. Are you?
- Yes.
3421. Are you a man of family?
- No, sir.
3422. Between Southampton and the place where the Titanic sank were you frequently thrown in contact with your superior officers?
- Oh, yes.
3423. Did you see the captain frequently?
- Yes.
3424. Had you sailed with him before?
- No; never.
3425. Did your duties necessitate your being near his customary place on the ship?
- Yes.
3426. As a matter of fact, did you render any service at any time from the bridge? Did you have the right to go on the bridge?
- Oh, yes.
3427. Was it your duty to go there?
- Yes; it was my duty. When I was on watch I was always on the bridge - on the bridge or inside of the chart room.
3428. How often did you see the captain between Southampton and the place where the ship sank?
- Whenever I was on duty I saw him.
3429. And you were on duty how much of the time?
- Every other four hours after we left Southampton.
3430. Every other four hours after you left Southampton?
- Every other four hours.
3431. When did you go on duty Sunday?
- Eight p. m.
3432. The day of the accident?
- Eight p.m.
3433. Where was your station?
- I had no particular station.
3434. On the bridge deck?
- Upon what deck?
3435. Were you on the bridge deck?
- Yes, sir.
3436. Where was the bridge deck with reference to the boat deck and the A deck and the B deck?
- The bridge deck and the boat deck were all one.
3437. All one?
- Yes.
3438. The boat deck extended forward?
- It was all one deck.
3439. It completed the bridge?
- Yes, sir.
3440. You say you went on watch, and that was your post Sunday evening at what hour?
- Eight p. m.
3441. Eight p. m.?
- Yes, sir.
3442. And you were required to remain how long?
- Until midnight.
3443. Did you spend all of that time that night at your post, on duty?
- Yes, sir.
3444. Were you on the bridge all that time?
- No, sir.
3445. What proportion of that time?
- Most of the time I was on the bridge.
3446. Most of the time?
- The greater part of the watch.
3447. Do you know whether the customary officers were at their posts of duty at the forward end of that boat deck?
- They were, sir.
3448. During your watch?
- They were.
3449. Give their names; if you can; and just what their service consisted of.
- Mr. Lightoller was on the bridge when I went up there along with the sixth officer at 8 o'clock - along with sixth officer Moody.
3450. A little louder, please.
- Mr. Lightoller was on watch on the bridge when I went on watch at 8 o'clock with sixth officer Moody. Mr. Lightoller was relieved at 10 o'clock by Mr. Murdoch. Mr. Murdoch was on watch until the accident happened.
3451. Who else was forward on that deck or on the bridge?
- Mr. Moody, the sixth officer.
3452. Where was the crow's nest with reference to the bridge?
- The crow's-nest was up the foremast.
3453. How far forward of the bridge?
- I should say about 120 feet.
3454. How high above the bridge?
- I could not say what height it was, but the plan will give it to you there.
3455. Can you not say approximately?
- No; I would not like to say.
3456. What is the crow's-nest?
- The crow's-nest is the lookout box.
3457. How high up on the mast?
- I could not say.
3458. Is it a part of the mast?
- Yes.
3459. Who occupied the crow's-nest during your watch Sunday night?
- The lookout men.
3460. What is that?
- The lookout men.
3461. Who were they?
- Fleet and Leigh [Lee] were the lookout men at the time. I can not say who were the lookout men before 10 o'clock.
3462. (Senator Burton) How do you spell that first name?
- F-l-e-e-t.
3463. (Senator Bourne) How do you spell Leigh?
- L-e-i-g-h.
3464. (Senator Smith) Two men were at the crow's-nest?
- Yes sir.
3465. Did you see them there?
- You could not see them from the bridge.
3466. How do you know they were there?
- Because they answered the bells from the bridge.
3467. Did they both answer the bells?
- Yes.
3468. How do you know they both answered?
- You could hear them.
3469. How could you distinguish between one answer and the other?
- Different voices.
3470. And from that you are satisfied that they were both at their posts?
- Yes.
3471. Who was on the lookout? Who was on the lookout, if anyone, besides these two men?
- On the bridge?
3472. Yes; on the bridge.
- The first officer.
3473. Mr. Murdoch?
- Yes; Mr. Murdoch.
3474. Anyone else?
- Not that I know of.
3475. (Senator Burton) I understood you were there.
- Yes. I was not on the lookout, though.
3476. You were not on the lookout there, forward?
- No; I was there if I was called.
3477. (Senator Smith) One moment. I will get along to that. Was the ordinary complement of officers at their posts of duty -
- The ordinary complement of officers?
3478. (continuing). At the forward end of that boat., in the crow's-nest, and on the bridge?
- Yes, sir.
3479. If this lookout had been increased on that night you would have known it?
- No; I do not know. I am not sure whether they were increased or not.
3480. You say there were two men in the crow's-nest?
- There were two men in the crow's-nest; yes.
3481. Do you know of any increased vigilance?
- I do not know. I did not hear of it.
3482. You did not hear of it?
- I did not hear of it, but possibly there were extra men on the lookout.
3483. Were these men that were on the lookout the men who performed that service customarily?
- Yes.
3484. That was their special position?
- That was their special position.
3485. Was there anyone up in the eyes, so-called?
- I do not know.
3486. Did you see anyone there?
- I did not see anyone there.
3487. Where are the eyes?
- On the forecastle head.
3488. That is out forward?
- As far forward as they can possibly get.
3489. Forward of the bridge, and in the bow?
- As far as they can possibly get, sir, forward.
3490. You say that you do not know whether there was anyone in the eyes, so-called?
- No, sir; I do not know.
3491. Once more, for the information of my colleague, will you state the location of the eyes on this particular boat?
- It is the stemhead, we usually term it. The stemhead is as far forward on board the ship as you can possibly go - the forward extremity of the ship.
3492. It is not in advance of the ship's bow?
- No, sir.
3493. But as far forward as - As the taffrail will allow you to go, and the deck extends.
3494. Would the occupants of that point on the boat have been visible to you if they had been there that night?
- No, sir.
3495. Why?
- Because I was not looking for it. I was not looking for them.
3496. Could you have looked ahead and not seen them?
- If I had looked ahead I should have seen them.
3497. Do you mean that you did not look ahead?
- I did not notice them. I was in the chart room working out positions, most of the evening - working navigation.
3498. Sunday night?
- Sunday night.
3499. But you said you were frequently at the bridge that night. - Just so.
3500. During the time that you were at the bridge, or on the forward deck, you did not see anyone - I did not look to see them.
3501. (continuing). At the eyes? Well, answer my question. I want you to answer in your own way, of course. - Just so.
3502. You did not see anyone there?
- No, sir.
3503. And you did not look to see?
- No, sir.
3504. Did you know you were in the vicinity of icebergs that night?
- No; I did not know we were in the vicinity of icebergs.
3505. Did not the second or first officer apprise you of the fact that they had information that you were in the vicinity of icebergs?
- I knew we had had information. They did not apprise me that evening of it.
3506. When did they apprise you?
- As a matter of fact they did not mention it to me.
3507. Had it never been mentioned to you?
- Oh, yes; the captain mentioned it.
3508. The captain mentioned it to you?
- Yes.
3509. When?
- I do not know whether it was the day before or two days before he gave me some positions of icebergs, which I put on the chart.
3510. Which you put on the chart?
- On his chart.
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