CAPTAIN KENDALL,
SS. Empress of Ireland,
Recalled.
Examined by Mr. Newcombe:
6107. You recognize this book of regulations? - (Book shown to witness).
- I do.
6108. No. 254, regarding the chief steward, says that the saloon and passenger compartments are never to be left from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. without a steward in attendance,: and that from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. night stewards must be in attendance.
- That is correct.
6109. Can you state whether on the night of the accident night stewards were in attendance at these compartments?
- I cannot exactly, but a report is made every half hour to the bridge by the steward on watch that all is correct below.
6110. And you received these reports?
- The officer received that report on the bridge.
6111. Up to the last half hour before the collision?
- Yes.
6112. Is it possible that the doors leading to the decks from the second class lounge could have been locked?
- It is not possible.
6113. Are they ever locked on board the ship?
- Never locked, no.
6114. What would you say with regard to the statement that the second class lounge was full of women and children; there must have have been 300; that only one man was there and that between them they could not burst open the locked doors leading to the decks?
- The doors are never locked. There is no need to lock the doors; there is no reason.
6115. Is there, to your knowledge, any foundation whatever for such statement?
- There is no foundation whatever; these doors open out and not in.
By Chief Justice McLeod:
6116. They are never locked?
- They are never locked, never.
By Mr. Newcombe:
6117. Who would be the officer to confirm your statement, the chief steward?
- The chief steward would confirm my statement.
6118. Would he be the officer immediately in charge of these compartments?
- Yes. I may say that when a collision occurs and a ship gets on her side as much as this ship has done, the strain becomes so great on the decks that the doors of cabins as well as companionways are likely to be jammed with the frame work coming together - the pressure.
By Chief Justice McLeod:
6119. If they were shut at the time of the collision, then, there would be difficulty in opening them?
- Yes, that is likely to occur.
By Mr. Newcombe:
6120. Can you tell me whether your water ballast tanks were full or empty when you sailed?
- They were full when leaving Quebec; 776 tons of water.
By Chief Justice McLeod:
6121. You are quite clear, are you, captain, that the doors were not locked?
- I am quite clear that the doors were not locked, my Lord.
6122. Do you know anything about the number of people that were in that compartment?
- I couldn’t say, but in the ladies’ compartments that Mr. Newcombe speaks of - 350, I think he said.
Mr. Newcombe:
300.
The Witness:
I doubt if it is possible to get 50 in altogether.
By Chief Justice McLeod:
6123. 300 then, could not get in?
- You couldn’t put 50 in, if you packed them in.
Witness retired.