LEONARD POWELL,
assistant steward, Empress of Ireland,
Sworn.
By Mr. Newcombe:
6322. You were one of the assistant stewards on the Empress of Ireland?
- Yes, sir.
6323. And a nightwatchman of the middle watch on the night of the collision?
- Yes, sir.
6324. What were your duties on that watch?
- To light all emergency lamps in case of fog. In case of fog, to light all emergency lamps and go on with my other work.
6325. What was the other work?
- Cleaning boots and such like.
6326. Did you have anything to do with writer-tight doors?
- No, sir.
6327. Had you anything to do with the ports in the passages or cabins?
- I had no ports on my deck.
6328. What deck were you on?
- Lower promenade and upper promenade, aft.
6329. Where were you when the fog came on?
- I was in the pantry.
6330. Did you light the lamps then?
- Not exactly, sir.
6331. When did you light the lamps?
- I lit the lamps after the collision came on - I was busy doing something at the time.
6332. Did you know you were in fog till the collision came?
- Yes, sir, I heard the fog horn once.
6333. And you immediately lit the emergency lamps when you heard the fog horn?
- I was busy doing something; as a rule I do.
6334. But being otherwise engaged you did not do it on this occasion?
- No, sir.
6335. Then came the collision?
- Yes, sir.
6336. What did you do then?
- I ran through the saloon and got orders from the head nightwatchman, and he told me to call all passengers and tell them to get their lifebelts on. As I went on I lit four emergency lamps, two on the lower deck and two on the promenade deck.
6337. You lit two of these as you went along?
- Yes, and shouted out to the passengers as I was going along.
6338. Did you go on the boat deck?
- I heard the siren blow and then I got on the top deck and went to the boats.
6339. I think you said you did not know anything about the doors or ports, whether they were closed or open?
- No, sir.
By Mr. Haight:
6340. You stated that you heard the fog horn of the Empress blow?
- Yes, sir.
6341. What blast did you hear?
- I heard one blast first.
6342. How many times did you hear one blast blow?
- I have no idea; my mind was occupied in doing something else.
6343. Did you hear her blow one blast several times - once or twice?
- I could not say, sir.
By Chief Justice McLeod:
6344. How long before the collision was it that you heard her blow one blast?
- I could not say exactly the time.
6345. About?
- About ten minutes, sir.
6346. You had nothing to do with closing watertight doors?
- No, sir.
6347. That was not part of your duty?
- No, sir.
6348. You said that you went along and some one gave you orders; who gave you orders?
- The night watchman, the man in charge.
6349. What were those orders?
- To call all passengers and tell them to get their lifebelts on and get up on deck.
6350. Did you do that?
- Yes, sir.
Witness retired.