Collision and beyond in survivors‘ evidences

George Thomas Rowe (Quartermaster)

American Inquiry, Day 7 (April 25th, 1912) – taken separately before Senator Burton

Senator BURTON.
Where were you the night of the collision?

Mr. ROWE.
I felt a slight jar and looked at my watch. It was a fine night, and it was then 20 minutes to 12. I looked toward the starboard side of the ship and saw a mass of ice. I then remained on the after bridge to await orders through the telephone. No orders came down, and I remained until 25 minutes after 12, when I saw a boat on the starboard beam.

[…]

Senator BURTON.
Was there anything distinctive about the color of that iceberg?

Mr. ROWE.
No a bit, sir; just like ordinary ice.

Senator BURTON.
You saw it as it was brushing by?

Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir. It was very close to the ship, almost touching it.

[…]

Senator BURTON.
Was the helm over when you passed the iceberg?

Mr. ROWE.
That I could not say.

[…]

Senator BURTON.
Just where were you when you saw the iceberg?

Mr. ROWE.
On the poop, sir; underneath the after bridge.

Senator BURTON.
You were located practically right on the stern of the boat?

Mr. ROWE.
Right on the stern, sir; the poop.

Senator BURTON.
And the iceberg, when the boat rubbed against it, was right near, was it?

Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.

Senator BURTON.
How far, would you say?

Mr. ROWE.
It was so near that I thought it was going to strike the bridge.

Senator BURTON.
Did it strike the bridge?

Mr. ROWE.
No, sir: never.

Senator BURTON.
Only 10 or 20 feet away?

Mr. ROWE.
Not that far, sir.

Senator BURTON.
Did you notice the iceberg when the boat got clear of it?

Mr. ROWE.
No, sir; I went on the bridge then, to stand by the telephone.

[…]

Senator BURTON.
Do you not think that if the helm had been hard astarboard the stern would have been up against the berg?

Mr. ROWE.
It stands to reason it would, sir, if the helm were hard astarboard.

[…]

Senator BURTON.
How long did the rubbing orgrinding against the ice last?

Mr. ROWE.
I never heard anything except the first contact; the first jar was all I knew about it. I never heard any rubbing at all.

Senator BURTON.
Do you think the propeller hit the ice? Did you feel any jolt like the propeller hitting the ice?

Mr. ROWE.
No, sir.

Senator BURTON.
Do you not think the propeller would have hit the ice if the helm had been turned hard a starboard?

Mr. ROWE.
Yes, sir.

British Inquiry, Day 15 (May 24th, 1912)

17599. (The Commissioner.) From 8 to 12 you were on the poop?
– Yes.

17600. (Mr. Butler Aspinall.) Were you on the poop when you felt a jar?
– Yes.

17601. And that proved to be a collision with an iceberg?
– Yes.

17602. What did you do?
– I thought it was something unusual being a fine night, and I went on the bridge and waited for orders to come through the telephone.