Commanders must distinctly understand that the issue of these regulations does not in any way relieve them from the responsibility for the safe and efficient navigation of their respective vessels, and they are also enjoined to remember that they must run no risk which might by any possibility result in accident to their ship. It is to be hoped that they will ever bear in mind that the safety of the lives and property intrusted to their care is the ruling principle that should govern them in the navigation of their vessels and that no supposed gaining of expedition or saving of time on the voyage is to be purchased at the risk of accidents. The company desires to maintain for its vessels a reputation for safety and only looks for such speed on the various voyages as is consistent with safe and prudent navigation. Commanders are reminded that the steamers are to a great extent uninsured and that their only livelihood, as well as the company's, depends upon immunity from accident. No precaution which insures safe navigation is to be considered excessive.
Adding to that I would like to say that I do not believe there is any company crossing the Atlantic that carries such a large proportion of its own insurance as the subsidiary companies of the International Mercantile Marine Co.
SENATOR NEWLANDS: It is not unusual to have fog the larger part of the way across the ocean, is it?
MR. FRANKLIN: Well, I would say that it would be most unusual to have it the larger part of the way. They may have it for a day or two.
SENATOR NEWLANDS: For a day or two?
MR. FRANKLIN: Something like that, or possibly longer.
SENATOR NEWLANDS: Do you know what the custom of ships is when going through fog?
MR. FRANKLIN: Again, the only thing I can say to that is that it depends upon the commander; it depends upon the man himself and the condition of the fog. I have no accurate information at all on that subject. It is not a matter that comes under our jurisdiction, or a matter that we, who are not the operating people, go into in detail. But they take every possible precaution that they think is necessary, and none of our commanders, I am sure, from all the conversations and so on that I have had with them, ever have any idea that the company wants records made.
SENATOR NEWLANDS: What is your view from your experience on these ocean trips; is it not the fact that on these fast steamers every trip through fog involves considerable risk?
MR. FRANKLIN: Of course there is not any doubt that whenever you are in fog there is more or less risk ­ a fog or a snowstorm ­ but nevertheless with the ocean tracks that are used, all ships going one way using one track and all ships coming the other way using the other track, and with the wireless telling exactly where on the sea the larger ships are, that risk has been reduced.
SENATOR NEWLANDS: The dangers that are to be encountered are the danger of collision and the danger of icebergs?
MR. FRANKLIN: The danger of collision and the danger of icebergs.
SENATOR NEWLANDS: The danger of icebergs, of course, is the more infrequent condition.
MR. FRANKLIN: The more infrequent, and of course it is difficult to say about that, because you may have a sailing vessel, or something of that kind crossing the track.
SENATOR SMITH: This morning you spoke of the firm of Ismay; & Imrie. Do you know what firm that is?
MR. FRANKLIN: It was the managing firm of the White Star Line, and when the business of the White Star Line was purchased the business of Messrs. Ismay & Imrie as managers was also included in the purchase, and now you might call it a trade name as much as anything else. It is an empty shell as it stands to­day.
SENATOR SMITH: There is no corporate organization?
MR. FRANKLIN: I do not think so; I think it is a firm, a co­partnership.
SENATOR SMITH: What was their business?
MR. FRANKLIN: They were the agents and managers of the White Star Lines.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was the White Star Line ever a corporation, or has it always been just a name, a designation?
MR. FRANKLIN: The White Star Line might be compared in that respect to the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Pennsylvania Railroad is nothing but a trade name­­
SENATOR BOURNE: And the White Star was only a trade name?
MR. FRANKLIN: A trade name; yes.
SENATOR BOURNE: You made some mention of the eastward track and the westward track for ships going east and west.
MR. FRANKLIN: I did.
SENATOR BOURNE: What is the width in miles of the tracks?
MR. FRANKLIN: The distance apart?
SENATOR BOURNE: Yes.
MR. FRANKLIN: I think it is about 60 miles.
SENATOR BOURNE: Sixty miles is allowed as the width of each track?
MR. FRANKLIN: The tracks are 60 miles apart, and you are supposed to stay on the track.
SENATOR BOURNE: That is under agreement between the different companies?
MR. FRANKLIN: That was a matter that was submitted to all the experts of all the different companies, considered by all the different companies, and agreed upon after having taken the very best advice upon the situation they could.
SENATOR BOURNE: And the Titanic was in her proper track?
MR. FRANKLIN: The Titanic was in her proper track, and the captain of the Carpathia testified that the Titanic was in the exact position that she ought to have been on the track.
SENATOR BOURNE: Do none of the trans­Atlantic liners carry a searchlight?
MR. FRANKLIN: I have never heard of it.
SENATOR BOURNE: Do you not think it would be an improvement if they did, in view of the experience they have had?
MR. FRANKLIN: Well, I do not know. If it was up to me, I would rather get the advice of the technical people; I would rather ask the marine superintendents and the captains. I do not know just where it could be located to advantage. The idea always is not to have the light shining forward, because we have on each ship, as this ship had, three officers on the bridge, each one of whom has an officer's certificate, a master's certificate.
SENATOR BOURNE: They could not pierce the darkness of the fog.
MR. FRANKLIN: I say you would have to be careful where you should locate such a light so as not to prevent the officers on watch from seeing ahead. That is a matter of investigation and practical people ought to give you that.
SENATOR BOURNE: The steamer was going about 21 knots at the time?
MR. FRANKLIN: All I know about it is what I have heard. I have no information at all.
SENATOR BOURNE: Going at such a speed, have they any evidence as to the time required to stop her?
MR. FRANKLIN: They have that.
SENATOR BOURNE: In what distance could she be stopped?
MR. FRANKLIN: I could not tell you that, but the builders could give you all that.
SENATOR SMITH: In making your answer to my inquiry this morning regarding the telegraphic and wireless communication between yourself and the officers of your ship and the officers of other ships and the passengers and crews of other ships, did your answer include all cable messages as well as cablegrams and wireless messages?
MR. FRANKLIN: We did not send any cable message asking for any information or anything of that kind regarding the position of any ship or anybody on any ship.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you send any relating to this matter at all?
MR. FRANKLIN: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: To whom?
MR. FRANKLIN: To Liverpool. We sent them various cables.
SENATOR SMITH: And you have copies of them?
MR. FRANKLIN: Yes, sir. I will put them in as a whole or read them off, whichever you like.
SENATOR SMITH: All right; you may; file these messages with the reporter, unless there is some one which you desire to explain.
MR. FRANKLIN: There is nothing here that there is anything we could do to explain. They are only advising them of whatever we had; that is really all they are. You might glance through them and see if anything strikes you.
SENATOR SMITH: Senator Bourne, will you kindly examine those papers to see if there is anything important in them [handing the papers to Senator Bourne]. That will be all at the present time, Mr. Franklin, and you may hold yourself subject to the orders of the committee.
TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH GROVES BOXHALL
The witness was sworn by the chairman.
SENATOR SMITH: Where do you reside?
MR. BOXHALL: Hull, England.
SENATOR SMITH: What is your vocation?
MR. BOXHALL: Mariner.
SENATOR SMITH: How old are you?
MR. BOXHALL: Twenty­eight years old.
SENATOR SMITH: What experience have you had in marine employment?
MR. BOXHALL: Thirteen years' experience at sea.
SENATOR SMITH: Of what has you experience consisted?
MR. BOXHALL: The first four years as an apprentice and the remainder of the time as an officer.
SENATOR SMITH: On what ships?
MR. BOXHALL: I served in William Thomas's in Liverpool, and was then an officer on the Wilson Line of Hull; and after that on the White Star Line.
SENATOR SMITH: How long have you been with the White Star Line?
MR. BOXHALL: Five years next November.
SENATOR SMITH: In what capacity have you served?
MR. BOXHALL: As junior officer.
SENATOR SMITH: All of the time?
MR. BOXHALL: All of the time while on the White Star Line.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you especially educated in marine service before you entered the employ of the companies you have named?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes. I had 12 months' training in a navigation school.
SENATOR SMITH: Where?
MR. BOXHALL: In Hull, England.
SENATOR SMITH: What did the training consist of?
MR. BOXHALL: Navigation and nautical astronomy.
SENATOR SMITH: Please state for the information of the committee what positions you have filled on the White Star Line. Please state that again.
MR. BOXHALL: As junior officer, ranking as fifth and sixth officer, and third officer; and then as fourth officer on the last ship.
SENATOR SMITH: Tell the committee, so that our records may be complete, the duties performed in each of these different employments.
MR. BOXHALL: To generally assist the senior officer of the watch in all cases.
SENATOR SMITH: When was this duty assigned to you?
MR. BOXHALL: When the Titanic left Belfast Lough. His duty is assigned to a man when he is assigned to his ship, and he grows up with it. He learns the different duties he has to perform in whatever rank he is on board ship.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you join the ship at Belfast Lough?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes; at Belfast.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you with her when the training tests were made?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Can you tell the committee of what those tests consisted?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Why?
MR. BOXHALL: Because I do not know what those tests were for. There were the builder's men on board, and I was just there to keep a lookout and do anything I was told to do.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you on board during the maneuvers of this ship in Belfast Lough?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: On what deck?
MR. BOXHALL: On the bridge deck.
SENATOR SMITH: On the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: When on duty; yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know how much time was spent in those maneuvers, turning and in a straight course, the day these tests were made?
MR. BOXHALL: I can tell you approximately.
SENATOR SMITH: Do so.
MR. BOXHALL: We left Belfast about noon, and we steamed­­
SENATOR SMITH: On what day?
MR. BOXHALL: I have forgotten the date.
SENATOR SMITH: The 4th of April, or the 5th or 6th of April?
MR. BOXHALL: I do not know, sir. I would tell you if I knew.
SENATOR SMITH: Or the day of the week?
MR. BOXHALL: It was on a Tuesday.
SENATOR SMITH: Go ahead.
MR. BOXHALL: And we steamed until about between 7 and 8 o'clock at night. We finally left Belfast about 8 o'clock at night.
SENATOR SMITH: Where were you headed for?
MR. BOXHALL: For Southampton.
SENATOR SMITH: What time did you reach Southampton?
MR. BOXHALL: Thursday about midnight.
SENATOR SMITH: What was the condition of the weather on your trip from Belfast to Southampton?
MR. BOXHALL: The weather was fine until about 2 o'clock in the morning.
SENATOR SMITH: Of what day?
MR. BOXHALL: Thursday; I should say Wednesday morning, until about 2 o'clock. I want to correct that.
SENATOR SMITH: What happened then; that is, how did you distinguish between the conditions of the weather?
MR. BOXHALL: When I came on duty at 4 o'clock in the morning it was foggy.
SENATOR SMITH: Was there any sea?
MR. BOXHALL: No; there was practically no sea, and little wind.
SENATOR SMITH: And when you say that the weather was not good you meant that it was foggy?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: All the way?
MR. BOXHALL: No; it cleared up about 6 o'clock in the morning.
SENATOR SMITH: When you went on at 4 o'clock it was foggy?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: And the fog lifted about 6 o'clock?
MR. BOXHALL: About 6.
SENATOR SMITH: And you proceeded to Southampton without any change in the weather?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes; without any change in the weather.
SENATOR SMITH: And the water, the sea­­
MR. BOXHALL: Was smooth all the way.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you do when you reached Southampton?
MR. BOXHALL: I kept my usual watch on board the ship. I really do not remember what watch I did keep until the time of sailing.
SENATOR SMITH: You did not leave the ship?
MR. BOXHALL: Oh, yes; oh, yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Where did you go when you left the ship?
MR. BOXHALL: Well, I went around the town. I went ashore.
SENATOR SMITH: After your watch?
MR. BOXHALL: When my watch was over.
SENATOR SMITH: And when did you return to the Titanic, with reference to the hour of her departure?
MR. BOXHALL: The last time I was ashore I returned the night previous to sailing, about 11 o'clock, I suppose.
SENATOR SMITH: Were there others with you at that time?
MR. BOXHALL: No; I do not think so.
SENATOR SMITH: Other officers or crew?
MR. BOXHALL: No.
SENATOR SMITH: In the performance of your duty while at Southampton did you have any authority over the men; and if so, over whom?
MR. BOXHALL: When I was on duty on board ship whilst at Southampton during the day there was always a senior officer along with me; so that any questions that were to be asked could be answered by him, or if anything was to be found out I would always refer to him, to the senior officer. At nighttime the two junior officers were in charge of the ship, with men on watch with them.
SENATOR SMITH: You say there was always a senior officer on duty?
MR. BOXHALL: And a junior officer, in port.
SENATOR SMITH: But you did not give any orders­­
MR. BOXHALL: No.
SENATOR SMITH: Because there were senior officers on board all the time up to the time of sailing? Who were those officers?
MR. BOXHALL: Sometimes the first, sometimes the chief, and sometimes the second.
