He could not say whether they were in when
the vessel left Southampton.
"Now," repeated Senator Smith, "suppose the weather
was clear and the sky unruffled, as it was at the time of the
disaster, how many would the boat hold?"
"Really, I don't know. It would depend largely upon the
people who were to enter. If they did as they were told I
believe each boat could accommodate sixty-five persons."
Boxhall testified to the sobriety and good habits of his
superior and brother officers.
NO TRACE OF DAMAGE INSIDE
Boxhall said he went down to the steerage, inspected all the
decks in the vicinity of where the ship had struck, found no
traces of any damage and went directly to the bridge and so
reported.
CARPENTER FOUND LEAKS
"The captain ordered me to send a carpenter to sound the
ship, but I found a carpenter coming up with the announcement
that the ship was taking water. In the mail room I
found mail sacks floating about while the clerks were at work.
I went to the bridge and reported, and the captain ordered
the life-boats to be made ready."
Boxhall testified that at Captain Smith's orders he took
word of the ship's position to the wireless operators.
"What position was that?"
"Forty-one forty-six north, fifty fourteen west.
Pages:
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331