Collision and beyond in survivors‘ evidences

Charles Herbert Lightoller (2nd Officer)

American Inquiry, Day 1 (April 19th, 1912)

Senator SMITH.
Did you see him [the captain] on the bridge?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Previous to that I had seen him on the bridge.

Senator SMITH.
How long before that?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
About three minutes after the impact.

Senator SMITH.
Did he leave the bridge or did he remain there and leave your point of occupation?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I left.

Senator SMITH.
You left?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Where did you go?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Back to my berth.

Senator SMITH.
What for?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
There was no call for me to be on deck.

Senator SMITH.
No call, or no cause?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
As far as I could see, neither call nor cause.

Senator SMITH.
You mean from the moment of the impact?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Did you believe the boat was in danger?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
No, sir.

Senator SMITH.
You felt that it was not a serious accident?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I did not think it was a serious accident

[…]

Senator SMITH.
Where were you when the impact occurred?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
In my berth.

Senator SMITH.
Asleep?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
No, sir, I was just getting off asleep.

Senator SMITH.
You arose?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Did you dress yourself?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
No, sir.

Senator SMITH.
What did you put on, if anything?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Nothing.

Senator SMITH.
You went out of your room?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
Forward?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Out on deck.

Senator SMITH.
On deck?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes; I walked forward.

Senator SMITH.
You walked forward how far?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
A matter of 10 feet, until I could see the bridge distinctly.

Senator SMITH.
You could see the bridge distinctly; and the captain was on the bridge?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
The captain and first officer.

Senator SMITH.
Did you see any other officers at that time?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I did not notice them.

Senator SMITH.
Had no alarm been given at that time?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
None.

Senator SMITH.
How much time elapsed after the impact and your appearance on the deck?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I should say about two or three minutes.

Senator SMITH.
Two or three minutes?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Two minutes.

Senator SMITH.
Then you returned? How long did you remain on deck?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
About two or three minutes.

Senator SMITH.
At that time who else was on deck at that point?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Excluding the bridge, I saw no one except the third officer, who left his berth shortly after I did.

Senator SMITH.
Did he join you?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes.

Senator SMITH.
Did you confer about what had happened?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes, sir.

Senator SMITH.
What did you conclude had happened?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Nothing much.

[…]

Day 5 (April 24th, 1912)

Senator FLETCHER.
I will get you to state, not only from your actual knowledge of the immediate effect, but also from your experiences as a navigator and seaman, what the effect of that collision was on the ship, beginning with the first effect, the immediate effect; how it listed the ship, if it did; what effect it had then, and what, in your opinion, was the effect on the ship that resulted from that collision.

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
The result was she sank.

Senator FLETCHER.
I understand that. But what was the immediate effect?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Immediate effect was she began to go down by the bows.

Senator FLETCHER.
But what did the boat do first? Did she tremble, did she shake, did she keep on her course, or what was the immediate effect? Was she obstructed?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I do not know. I was in my berth. I do not know what course she kept on. There was a slight shock.

Senator FLETCHER.
You were awake?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
Yes.

Senator FLETCHER.
What was the immediate effect?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
A slight shock, a slight trembling, and a grinding sound. She did not make any alteration in her course, so far as I am aware.

Senator FLETCHER.
So far as you could see, the blow did not come from beneath the surface, but came straight along the ship?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I could not see anything –

Senator FLETCHER.
But so far as you could feel?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
So far as I could feel, there was a slight shock and a grinding sound. That was all there was to it. There was no listing, no plunging, diving, or anything else.

Senator FLETCHER.
What was done then with reference to the ship; was her speed lessened then?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I was below; I do not know anything about that.

Senator FLETCHER.
You could not tell that?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
I could not tell you officially; I know I came out on deck and noticed that her speed was lessened; yes.

Senator FLETCHER.
Was she not actually stopped entirely from going forward?

Mr. LIGHTOLLER.
No; she was not. That is why I said, in my previous testimony, that the ship was apparently going slowly, and I saw the first officer and the captain on the bridge, and I judged that there was nothing further to do.

[…]

British Inquiry, Day 11 (May 20th, 1912)

13730. Did you go to your room and turn in?
– Yes.

13731. And had you turned in at the time of the impact, the collision?
– Yes.

13732. I mean your light was out?
– Yes, My light was out but I was still awake.

13733. You were still awake?
– Yes.

13734. If you were awake you felt something, I suppose? Just describe to us what it was you felt?
– It is best described as a jar and a grinding sound. There was a slight jar followed by this grinding sound. It struck me we had struck something and then thinking it over it was a feeling as if she may have hit something with her propellers, and on second thoughts I thought perhaps she had struck some obstruction with her propeller and stripped the blades off. There was a slight jar followed by the grinding – a slight bumping.

13735. (The Commissioner.) You could not tell from what direction the sound came?
– No, My Lord. Naturally I thought it was from forward.

13736. I understand you to say you thought it was the propellers?
– On second thoughts it flashed through my mind that possibly it was a piece of wreckage, or something – a piece of ice had been struck by a propeller blade, which might have given a similar feeling to the ship.

13737. (The Solicitor-General.) As to this grinding noise which you speak of which followed the slight shock, can you give us any help at all how long the grinding sound or sensation continued?
– Well, I should say a matter of a couple of seconds, perhaps – a few seconds, very few.

13738. I understand it was not violent at all?
– Oh, no, not at all.

13739. (The Commissioner.) You were lying down at the time?
– Yes, My Lord. I had just switched the light out. I was going to sleep. I had switched the light out and turned over to go to sleep.

13740. (The Solicitor-General.) But you were awake?
– I was awake.

13741. When this occurred your mind naturally searched for a probable cause?
– Yes.

13742. Did you think of ice?
– I did.

13743. Just tell us what you did, in order?
– I lay there for a few moments, it might have been a few minutes, and then feeling the engines had stopped I got up.

13744. From where you were lying could you hear the ring of the telegraph?
– No.

13745. So that you did not know of the order given to stop the engines?
– No.

13746. But you felt that they had stopped?
– I did.

13747. And you got up?
– Yes.

13748. Did you go to the bridge?
– Not exactly the bridge; I went out on deck. The bridge, you know, is on the same level.

13749. On to the boat deck?
– On to the boat deck on the port side.

13750. Is your room on the port side?
– My room is on the port side.

13751. What did you find was the condition of things?
– Everything seemed normal.

13752. Was the ship going full speed ahead?
– Oh, no, but I mean the conditions on the bridge.

13753. It was my fault. What did you find was the position of the ship?
– I, first of all, looked forward to the bridge and everything seemed quiet there. I could see the first Officer standing on the footbridge keeping the look out. I then walked across to the side, and I saw the ship had slowed down, that is to say, was proceeding slowly through the water.

13754. This is all on the port side?
– All on the port side.

13755. Did you see any iceberg?
– No.

13756. Of course, if the iceberg passed the starboard side of the vessel, you were on the opposite side?
– Yes.

13757. When you came out on deck was the ship already stopped or slowing down through the water?
– She was proceeding slowly, a matter of perhaps six knots or something like that.

13758. Were the engines still stopped?
– I could not exactly say what the engines were doing after once I got up. It was when I was lying still in my bunk I could feel the engines were stopped.

13759. Can you help us as to whether the engines were put full speed astern?
– No, I cannot say I remember feeling the engines going full speed astern.

13760. When you looked over the side you thought she was going through the water about six knots?
– Yes, four to six knots. I did not stay there long.

13761. Just tell us what you did.
– After looking over the side and seeing the bridge I went back to the quarters and crossed over to the starboard side. I looked out of the starboard door and I could see the Commander standing on the bridge in just the same manner as I had seen Mr. Murdoch, just the outline; I could not see which was which in the dark. I did not go out on the deck again on the starboard side. It was pretty cold and I went back to my bunk and turned in.

13762. At that time you thought nothing was the matter?
– I did not think it was anything serious.

13763. (The Commissioner.) Well, you did think, as I understand, that she had fouled something with her propeller blades?
– Either bumped something or fouled something.

13764. Was not that serious?
– No.

13765. I should have thought it was?
– Well, it is in a way, My Lord. If it was sufficiently serious I knew I should be called. But what I mean to convey is, I had been on deck and looked both sides and had not seen anybody about, that is to say, everything was clear; there was nobody coming towards the quarters to call us or anything. The Quartermaster had not left the bridge. I knew that if they wanted us it was a moments work for the Quartermaster to come along and tell us. Judging the conditions were normal, I went back and turned in.

13766. You thought it was safe enough to turn in?
– Oh, quite.

13767. (The Solicitor-General.) You say the first Officer and the Captain were both on the bridge?
– As I should judge from their figures.

13768. That was your impression?
– Yes.

13769. Is it usual to find the first Officer and the Captain both on the bridge in the ordinary course?
– Oh, yes; there is nothing uncommon about it, nothing whatever.

13770. Of course the first Officer is the Officer of the watch?
– Yes.

13771. You have told us how the Captain came to you while you were on your watch and I suppose you thought he had come to the first Officer in the same way?
– Well, of course I knew the bump had brought him out.

13772. (The Commissioner.) Was the Captain dressed?
– That I could not say. I do not think there was any doubt about his being dressed, because in the ordinary conditions, as the Captain said, he would be just inside, he would not turn in under those conditions. He would just remain in his navigating room where his navigating instruments are: chart books, etc., where he would be handy to pop out on the bridge.

13773. (The Solicitor-General.) Nobody blames you for turning in, you understand.
– No.

The Commissioner:
Oh, no.

13774. (The Solicitor-General.) But it is to get your point of view. You had noticed the ship had stopped, or at least the engines had stopped?
– Yes.

13775. And that she was going only six knots through the water?
– Yes.

13776. In mid-Atlantic?
– Yes.

13777. No other ship near?
– No.

13778. Did not that strike you at all?
– Oh, yes. I knew perfectly well that some extraordinary circumstance had occurred; that is to say we had struck something or our propeller had been struck.

13779. (The Commissioner.) Your curiosity was not sufficient to remain in the cold?

13780. To go on to the bridge?
– No, it was not a case of curiosity; it was not my duty to go on to the bridge when it was not my watch.

13781. (The Solicitor-General.) How long were you in your room after that before you did turn out?
– It is very difficult to say. I should say roughly about half-an-hour perhaps; it might have been longer, it might have been less.

13782. Did you go to sleep?
– Oh, no.

13783. (The Commissioner.) What on earth were you doing? Were you lying down in your bunk listening to the noises outside?
– There were no noises. I turned in my bunk, covered myself up and waited for somebody to come along and tell me if they wanted me.

13784. (The Solicitor-General.) Time is very difficult to calculate, especially when you are trying to go to sleep, but seriously do you think it was half-an-hour?
– That I was in my bunk after that?

13785. Yes?
– Well I did not think it was half-an-hour, but we have been talking this matter over a very great deal, and I judge it is half-an-hour, because it was Mr. Boxhall who came to inform me afterwards we had struck ice, and previous to him coming to inform me, as you will find out in his evidence, he had been a considerable way round the ship on various duties which must have taken him a good while. It might be less, it might be a quarter-of-an-hour. You will be able to form your judgment.

13786. He is the fourth Officer?
– Yes.

13787. How would his time of duty run?
– He was on duty till 12 o’clock.

13788. Ten to 12?
– Eight to 12.

13789. It was Mr. Boxhall who came to your room and gave you the information?
– Yes.

13790. What was it he told you?
– He just came in and quietly remarked „You know we have struck an iceberg.“ I said „I know we have struck something.“ He then said „The water is up to F Deck in the mail room.“

13791. (The Commissioner.) Well, that was rather alarming, was it not?
– He had no need to say anything further then, Sir.

13792. (The Solicitor-General.) „The water is up to F deck in the mail room.“ It is quite fair of you to have told us why you thought it was longer, but I want to see we get it right from your point of view. I see when you gave your statement about this matter at that time your impression was it was a shorter time than half-an-hour?
– Did I?

13793. Yes, I have got down here six minutes?
– Oh, there must be some mistake, I think, in that.

13794. When you got that news it did not take you very long to turn out the second time?
– No, it did not.

13795. Did you go on deck?
– After dressing.

13796. Now just tell us what you saw, and what you found was the condition of things there?
– At this time the steam was roaring off.

The Commissioner:
You will be some little time yet, Mr. Solicitor?

The Solicitor-General:
Yes, My Lord.

The Commissioner:
Very well. You have him on deck, and I think this is the time to rise.

Day 12 (May 21st, 1912)

13800. Did you ascertain whether all hands had been called on deck?
– Yes; I met the Chief Officer almost immediately after, coming out of the door of the quarters. First of all the Chief Officer told me to commence to get the covers off the boats. I asked him then if all hands had been called, and he said, „Yes.“

[…]

14528. So I want you to answer me a few questions about the equipment and system on the bridge before we come to what happened. Supposing you are in charge of the ship, and a collision happens, and it strikes another vessel or an iceberg, is it in your province to close the watertight bulkheads?
– Yes.

14529. Without sending for the master?
– Yes.

14530. By doing what, Moving a lever?
– Moving a lever over.

14531. And without any communication with the engine room; they have to do nothing to assist you?
– You communicate by the bell push, just an alarm bell, previously, and then put the handle over.

14532. The alarm tells them it is going to be done?
– Exactly.

14533. But it does not require that they should do anything to assist your operations?
– Nothing whatever.

[…]

14537. We have had some evidence or suggestion that the watertight doors were opened again. I do not know whether you know that was done or not?
– No.

14538. But tell me, if you will, how that could be done. It was suggested it could be done from the engine room. Do you know is that so?
– Yes.

14539. With or without communication with the bridge?
– Let me explain that. You put the lever over to „on.“

14540. Who does, the Officer on the bridge?
– You put the lever over to „on“ on the bridge. That forms a contact alongside the watertight doors and releases a friction clutch which allows the door to descend. As long as the lever is over to „on“ I understand the doors cannot be lifted; but if you put the lever to „off“ the doors have then to be raised by hand and can be raised by hand.

14541. What we get, therefore, is this, that when the bridge has put the lever to „on“ the engineers cannot in any way alter or reverse that order without communication with the bridge?
– Without us actually altering the handle.

14542. Which of course does require that somebody should be communicated with and should sanction it by doing something, namely, moving a lever?
– Quite so.

[…]

14549. That is all you can tell us about that matter. Now I want to ask you the sequence of events when you came on deck. You come out first from your quarters, when you feel the shock of the collision?
– Yes.

14550. And you see steam escaping?
– Yes.

14551. That means, of course, that the engines have been stopped?
– Yes.

14552. That the engines are not taking the steam and therefore they are blowing off. Were they ever put ahead again?
– That I could not say.

14553. You could not feel it?
– No.

14554. They never moved to your knowledge?
– That I could not say; I could not say whether they were moved or not.

14555. Then you go back to your berth and are there for about half-an-hour?
– Somewhere about that.

[…]

14569. If you communicate with the engine room on this large ship you communicate by telephone?
– Yes.

14570. From the bridge?
– Yes.

14571. And that is the means that would be adopted and available for any orders?
– Yes.