MR. BOXHALL: It is a boat that is built to be swung out all the time, the emergency boat, so that it can be lowered quickly at a moment's notice in case anyone falls over the side.
SENATOR SMITH: Is it a boat between the size of an ordinary rowboat and a lifeboat?
MR. BOXHALL: It is considerably larger than an ordinary rowboat.
SENATOR SMITH: Oh, yes; I understand that.
MR. BOXHALL: It is a good, seaworthy boat.
SENATOR SMITH: How many people will one of these boats hold?
MR. BOXHALL: I should say about between 25 and 30; probably 30 at the most.
SENATOR SMITH: Thirty at the most?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes; that is approximate.
SENATOR SMITH: Are these boats equipped in the same manner as the lifeboats?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes; just the same.
SENATOR SMITH: And all under the regulations of the British Board of Trade?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: As to inspection and equipment?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Mr. Boxhall, these were all the lifeboats and these were the three types on the Titanic?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: When she sailed?
MR. BOXHALL: Just so.
SENATOR SMITH: How many people will the collapsible boat carry?
MR. BOXHALL: I could not say.
SENATOR SMITH: About how many?
MR. BOXHALL: I do not know; I would not say; I would not like to form an opinion.
SENATOR SMITH: Why is it called collapsible? Can it be folded up?
MR. BOXHALL: The upper structure of the boat is collapsible.
SENATOR SMITH: But the lower part is­­
MR. BOXHALL: The lower part is the bottom of the boat.
SENATOR SMITH: Can you not tell us about how many people these boats will hold?
MR. BOXHALL: They seemed to be pretty well packed, those that came alongside of the Carpathia. I did not count the people, but there seemed to be a lot of people. I should think they would hold more than one of the emergency boats, or about the same number.
SENATOR SMITH: Which one of these three types of boats were you in?
MR. BOXHALL: The emergency boat.
SENATOR SMITH: The emergency boat?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you see Officer Murdock, Officer Lightoller, Officer Lowe, and Officer Pitman aboard the Titanic?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: The day this inspection was made?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Can you state whether they were all present at that time?
MR. BOXHALL: All the officers were on board the ship doing various duties. I can not say whether they were present when these boats were lowered; but they were all there on board.
SENATOR SMITH: So far as you know did each perform his particular duty?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: After leaving Southampton until the catastrophe occurred?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know the habits of these men?
MR. BOXHALL: Only what I have seen since I joined the ship. I had never seen them before, except Mr. Lightoller.
SENATOR SMITH: And what can you say as to their habits?
MR. BOXHALL: Good, steady, reliable men.
SENATOR SMITH: What about your own habits?
MR. BOXHALL: You had better ask someone else.
SENATOR SMITH: You must be cognizant of your own habits.
MR. BOXHALL: Pardon me.
SENATOR SMITH: You may be too modest to describe them, but you know whether you are a temperate man or not.
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Are you?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Are you a man of family?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Between Southampton and the place where the Titanic sank were you frequently thrown in contact with your superior officers?
MR. BOXHALL: Oh, yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you see the captain frequently?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Had you never sailed with him before?
MR. BOXHALL: No; never.
SENATOR SMITH: Did your duties necessitate your being near his customary place on the ship?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: As a matter of fact, did you render any service at any time from the bridge? Did you have the right to go on the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: Oh, yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Was it your duty to go there?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes; it was my duty. When I was on watch I was always on the bridgeon the bridge or inside of the chart room.
SENATOR SMITH: How often did you see the captain between Southampton and the place where the ship sank?
MR. BOXHALL: Whenever I was on duty I saw him.
SENATOR SMITH: And you were on duty how much of the time?
MR. BOXHALL: Every other four hours after we left Southampton.
SENATOR SMITH: Every other four hours after we left Southampton?
MR. BOXHALL: Every other four hours.
SENATOR SMITH: When did you go on duty Sunday?
MR. BOXHALL: Eight p.m.
SENATOR SMITH: The day of the accident?
MR. BOXHALL: Eight p.m.
SENATOR SMITH: Where was your station?
MR. BOXHALL: I had no particular station.
SENATOR SMITH: Upon what deck?
MR. BOXHALL: On the bridge deck.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you on the bridge deck?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Where was the bridge deck with reference to the boat deck and the A deck and the B deck?
MR. BOXHALL: The bridge deck and the boat deck were all one.
SENATOR SMITH: All one?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: The boat deck extended forward?
MR. BOXHALL: It was all one deck.
SENATOR SMITH: It completed the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: You say you went on watch, and that was your post Sunday evening at what hour?
MR. BOXHALL: Eight p.m.
SENATOR SMITH: Eight p.m.?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And you were required to remain how long?
MR. BOXHALL: Until midnight.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you spend all of that time that night at your post, on duty?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you on the bridge all that time?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What proportion of the time?
MR. BOXHALL: Most of the time I was on the bridge.
SENATOR SMITH: Most of the time?
MR. BOXHALL: The greater part of the watch.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know whether the customary officers were at their posts of duty at the forward end of that boat?
MR. BOXHALL: They were, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: During your watch?
MR. BOXHALL: They were.
SENATOR SMITH: Give their names, if you can, and just what their service consisted of.
MR. BOXHALL: Mr. Lightoller was on the bridge when I went up there along with the sixth officer at 8 o'clockalong with sixth officer Moody.
SENATOR SMITH: A little louder, please.
MR. BOXHALL: Mr. Lightoller was on watch on the bridge when I went on watch at 8 o'clock with sixth officer Moody. Mr. Lightoller was relieved at 10 o'clock by Mr. Murdock. Mr. Murdock was on watch until the accident happened.
SENATOR SMITH: Who else was forward on that deck or on the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: Mr. Moody, the sixth officer.
SENATOR SMITH: Where was the crow's nest, with reference to the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: The crow's nest was up the foremast.
SENATOR SMITH: How far forward of the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: I would say about 120 feet.
SENATOR SMITH: How high above the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: I could not say what height it was, but the plan will give it to you there.
SENATOR SMITH: Can you not say approximately?
MR. BOXHALL: No; I would not like to say.
SENATOR SMITH: What is the crow's nest?
MR. BOXHALL: The crow's nest is the lookout box.
SENATOR SMITH: How high up on the mast?
MR. BOXHALL: I could not say.
SENATOR SMITH: Is it a part of the mast?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Who occupied the crow's nest during your watch Sunday night?
MR. BOXHALL: The lookout men.
SENATOR BURTON: What is that?
MR. BOXHALL: The lookout men.
SENATOR SMITH: Who were they?
MR. BOXHALL: Fleet and Leigh were the lookout men at the time of the accident. I can not say who were the lookout men before 10 o'clock.
SENATOR BURTON: How do you spell that first name?
MR. BOXHALL: F­l­e­e­t.
SENATOR BURTON: How do you spell Leigh?
MR. BOXHALL: L­e­i­g­h.
SENATOR SMITH: Two men were at the crow's nest?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you see them there?
MR. BOXHALL: You could not see them from the bridge.
SENATOR SMITH: How do you know they were there?
MR. BOXHALL: Because they answered the bells from the bridge?
SENATOR SMITH: Did they both answer the bells?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: How do you know they both answered?
MR. BOXHALL: You could hear them.
SENATOR SMITH: How could you distinguish between one answer and the other?
MR. BOXHALL: Different voices.
SENATOR SMITH: And from that you are satisfied that they were both at their posts?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Who was on the lookout? Who was on the lookout, if anyone, besides these two men.
MR. BOXHALL: On the bridge?
SENATOR SMITH: Yes; on the bridge.
MR. BOXHALL: The first officer.
SENATOR SMITH: Mr. Murdock?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes; Mr. Murdock.
SENATOR SMITH: Anyone else?
MR. BOXHALL: Not that I know of.
SENATOR BURTON: I understood that you were there.
MR. BOXHALL: Yes. I was not on the lookout, though.
SENATOR BURTON: You were not on the lookout there, forward?
MR. BOXHALL: No; I was there if I was called.
SENATOR SMITH: One moment. I will get along to that. Was the ordinary complement of officers at their posts of duty­­
MR. BOXHALL: The ordinary complement of officers?
SENATOR SMITH: ( continuing). At the forward end of that boat, in the crow's­nest, and on the bridge?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: If this lookout had been increased on that night you would have known it?
MR. BOXHALL: No; I do not know. I am not sure whether they were increased or not.
SENATOR SMITH: You say there were two men in the crow's­nest?
MR. BOXHALL: There were two men in the crow's­nest; yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know of any increased vigilance?
MR. BOXHALL: I do not know. I did not hear of it.
SENATOR SMITH: You did not hear of it?
MR. BOXHALL: I did not hear of it, but possibly there were extra men on the lookout.
SENATOR SMITH: Were these men that were on the lookout the men who performed that service customarily?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: That was their special position?
MR. BOXHALL: That was their special position.
SENATOR SMITH: Was there anyone up in the eyes, so­called?
MR. BOXHALL: I do not know.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you see anyone there?
MR. BOXHALL: I did not see anyone there.
SENATOR SMITH: Where are the eyes?
MR. BOXHALL: On the forecastle head.
SENATOR SMITH: That is out forward?
MR. BOXHALL: As far forward as they can possibly get.
SENATOR SMITH: Forward of the bridge, and in the bow?
MR. BOXHALL: As far as they can possibly get, sir, forward.
SENATOR SMITH: You say that you do not know whether there was anyone in the eyes, so­called?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir; I do not know.
SENATOR SMITH: Once more, for the information of my colleague, will you state the location of the eyes on this particular boat?
MR. BOXHALL: It is the stemhead, we usually term it. The stemhead is as far forward on board the ship as you can possibly get ­ the forward extremity of the ship.
SENATOR SMITH: It is not in advance of the ship's bow?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: But as far forward as­­
MR. BOXHALL: As the taffrail will allow you to go, and the deck extends.
SENATOR SMITH: Would the occupants of that point on the boat have been visible to you if they had been there that night?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Why?
MR. BOXHALL: Because I was not looking for it. I was not looking for them.
SENATOR SMITH: Could you have looked ahead and not seen them?
MR. BOXHALL: If I had looked ahead I should have seen them.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you mean that you did not look ahead?
MR. BOXHALL: I did not notice them. I was in the chart room working out positions, most of the evening ­ working navigation.
SENATOR SMITH: Sunday night?
MR. BOXHALL: Sunday night.
SENATOR SMITH: But you said you were frequently at the bridge that night.
MR. BOXHALL: Just so.
SENATOR SMITH: During the time that you were at the bridge, or on the forward deck, you did not see anyone­­
MR. BOXHALL: I did not look to see them.
SENATOR SMITH: (continuing). At the eyes. Well, answer my question. I want you to answer in your own way, of course.
MR. BOXHALL: Just so.
SENATOR SMITH: You did not see anyone there?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And you did not look to see?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you know you were in the vicinity of icebergs that night?
MR. BOXHALL: No; I did not know we were in the vicinity of icebergs.
SENATOR SMITH: Did not the second or first officer apprise you of the fact that they had information that you were in the vicinity of icebergs?
MR. BOXHALL: I knew we had had information. They did not apprise me that evening of it.
SENATOR SMITH: When did they apprise you?
MR. BOXHALL: As a matter of fact they did not mention it to me.
SENATOR SMITH: Had it never been mentioned to you?
MR. BOXHALL: Oh, yes; the captain mentioned it.
SENATOR SMITH: The captain mentioned it to you?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: When?
MR. BOXHALL: I do not know whether it was the day before or two days before. He gave me some positions of icebergs, which I put on the chart.
SENATOR SMITH: Which you put on the chart?
MR. BOXHALL: On his chart.
SENATOR SMITH: Did the captain tell you that the Californian had wired the Titanic that they were in the vicinity of icebergs?
MR. BOXHALL: No. The captain gave me some wireless messages from Southampton, I think, that we had had before we had sailed, and asked me to put these positions on the chart.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you know whether a wireless had been received from the Amerika that the Titanic was in the vicinity of icebergs?
MR. BOXHALL: No, I could not say.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you want us to understand that you had no knowledge of the proximity of this ship to icebergs immediately preceding the­­
MR. BOXHALL: I had no knowledge.
SENATOR SMITH: One moment. [Continuing.] Immediately preceding the , or during the hours of your watch from 8 o'clock until the collision occurred?
MR. BOXHALL: I did not realize the ship was so near the ice field.
SENATOR SMITH: You knew you were in the vicinity of the Grand Banks?
MR. BOXHALL: I knew we were in the vicinity of the Grand Banks.
SENATOR SMITH: What was the weather at that time?
MR. BOXHALL: Very fine and clear.
SENATOR SMITH: Cold?
MR. BOXHALL: Yes; very cold.
SENATOR SMITH: Unusually cold?
MR. BOXHALL: No; not for that time of year.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you realize that you were out of the particular influence of the Gulf Stream?
MR. BOXHALL: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know that the water was taken from the sea frequently that night?
MR. BOXHALL: I knew the water and the temperature of the air was taken every two hours after the ship left port.
