SENATOR PERKINS: She is measured to carry 65 people, is she not?
MR. HOGG: I could not answer that, sir. I did not know at the time what they were capable of carrying.
SENATOR PERKINS: She rode the sea cleverly? It was smooth through.
MR. HOGG: It was very, very smooth, sir. The sea was very smooth.
SENATOR PERKINS: Of your own judgment as a sailor man, would you have permitted any more people to get into the boat if the had been alongside of you?
MR. HOGG: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: You were ordered to pull away from the ship?
MR. HOGG: Yes, sir; I was ordered to pull away from the ship for safety, for the time being. One lady said I should not take any more in that boat. I said, "I will take all I can get."
SENATOR PERKINS: Go on with your story. Tell us the balance of that.
MR. HOGG: I stopped alongside those two. As soon as she went down, I wen to try to assist them in picking up anybody if I could. I met another boat on my way, and they said to pull away. They said: "We have done all in our power and we can not do any more." I can not remember the number of the boat or who the man was who spoke to me. I laid off, then, until I saw the lights of the Carpathia.
SENATOR PERKINS: But you pulled around in search of other people?
MR. HOGG: I pulled around in search of other people before I could pull to the wreck. One man said: "We have done our best. There are no more people around. We have pulled all around." I said: "Very good. We will get away now."
SENATOR PERKINS: And you were then within about half a mile of the Titanic?
MR. HOGG: About that, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: From what quarter was the wind drawing then?
MR. HOGG: I did not exactly take notice, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Was it cold?
MR. HOGG: It was bitter cold.
SENATOR PERKINS: There was quite a ripple on the water?
MR. HOGG: Not a ripple on the water, sir. It was as smooth as glass.
SENATOR PERKINS: After that, what did you do?
MR. HOGG: I saw the lights of the Carpathia. I said: "It is all right, now, ladies. Do not grieve. We are picked up. Now, gentlemen, see what you can do in pulling these oars for this light." It was practically daylight then. Then the passengers could see for themselves that there was a ship there. I pulled up and went alongside, and I assisted in putting a bowline around all the ladies, to haul them up aboard. After I saw all aboard the boat, me and my friend went aboard, and I put some blankets around myself and went to sleep.
SENATOR PERKINS: After this accident happened, you pulled away, and did all you could to save life?
MR. HOGG: I thought of suction first.
SENATOR PERKINS: Yes. I understand that you did not think the ship was mortally hurt?
MR. HOGG: I did not think so at the time, sir, or I should have remained in the position I was in.
SENATOR PERKINS: Did you see the Titanic disappear?
MR. HOGG: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: What was her position when she went down?
MR. HOGG: She seemed to go down by the head, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: At an angle of how many degrees?
MR. HOGG: Oh, her stern was well up in the air as she went down.
SENATOR PERKINS: You are a sailor man of a great deal of experience. In your opinion was everything done that could have been done to save life and property for the officers and men on that ship?
MR. HOGG: Everything was done, as far as I can see, sir. Everybody did their best, ladies and gentlemen and sailormen.
SENATOR PERKINS: Was there any other incident that you can think of that would be of interest to the public?
MR. HOGG: No, sir.
TESTIMONY OF WALTER JOHN PERKIS.
[Testimony taken separately before Senator Perkins on behalf of the subcommittee.]
Mr. Perkis was sworn by Senator Perkins.
SENATOR PERKINS: Where is your home port?
MR. PERKIS: In the town of Ryde, Isle of Wight.
SENATOR PERKINS: How long have you followed the sea?
MR. PERKIS: Ever since I was 16 years of age.
SENATOR PERKINS: How old are you?
MR. PERKIS: Thirty­nine years of age.
SENATOR PERKINS: In what capacities have you served?
MR. PERKIS: As a sailor, all the time, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Were you a quartermaster or a boatswain?
MR. PERKIS: I have been a quartermaster and an able seaman.
SENATOR PERKINS: You were not one of the lookout men?
MR. PERKIS: I have been on the lookout in White Star ships.
SENATOR PERKINS: But you were not on this voyage?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Where were you when the collision took place?
MR. PERKIS: I had turned in, sir; I was on the watch below.
SENATOR PERKINS: You were in the watch below at what time?
MR. PERKIS: From 8 to 12.
SENATOR PERKINS: You were one of the men for the first dog watch from 4 to 6 o'clock?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir; from 6 to 8; the last dog watch I had on deck.
SENATOR PERKINS: How many men were detailed for duty on deck aside from those on the lookout?
MR. PERKIS: There is a watch on deck.
SENATOR PERKINS: How many men was the watch composed of?
MR. PERKIS: I could not tell you exactly, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: It was given out that there were 83 sailormen on the ship. It was testified to before the committee here that there were 83 sailormen.
MR. PERKIS: I could not answer as to that.
SENATOR PERKINS: How many were there in your watch?
MR. PERKIS: There were three in my watch; and three quartermasters in the watch below.
SENATOR PERKINS: Were you one of the quartermasters?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: I did not understand that you were. Then, after you turned out the same as the other men, what occurred?
MR. PERKIS: I turned out after being called by the joiner of the ship. He came to the room and told us we had better turn out.
SENATOR PERKINS: The joiner or the carpenter of the ship told you that?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir. He told us, then, that we had struck something. I took not notice of it. I stayed there until I thought it was time to turn out to relieve the deck at 12 o'clock.
SENATOR PERKINS: Did you not feel the jar of the ship when she struck the iceberg?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir; I did not feel anything at all.
SENATOR PERKINS: When you got on deck, what was the number of the boat you were assigned to?
MR. PERKIS: No. 4.
SENATOR PERKINS: Who gave you orders to take to her, Mr. Murdock?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir; there was nobody. The boat was lowered. I lowered No. 4 into the water, and left that boat, and walked aft; and I came back, and a man that was in the boat, one of the seamen that was in the boat at the time, sung out to me, "We need another hand down here." So I slid down the life line there from the davit into the boat.
SENATOR PERKINS: How far is the distance from the upper deck down to the water?
MR. PERKIS: About seventy­odd feet.
SENATOR PERKINS: And you went hand over hand down?
MR. PERKIS: Down the life line; yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: It is quite a distance to go down in that way. You were a quartermaster?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: You had charge of the boat, did you not?
MR. PERKIS: I took charge of the boat after I got in.
SENATOR PERKINS: How many sailor men were aboard of her?
MR. PERKIS: We left the ship with three sailormen, sir, two and myself.
SENATOR PERKINS: How many were there when you lowered her down from the davits?
MR. PERKIS: One man was lowered in the boat.
SENATOR PERKINS: How many passengers?
MR. PERKIS: All the passengers were lowered in the boat from the davits.
SENATOR PERKINS: How many passengers did you have in the boat at this time?
MR. PERKIS: I should say about 42.
SENATOR PERKINS: Forty­two, all told?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: That is, besides the three sailor men?
MR. PERKIS: That is, including all hands.
SENATOR PERKINS: Did you take up any more people afterwards?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Where did you get them?
MR. PERKIS: We picked up eight, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: You picked up eight men that were swimming with life preservers.
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: How far was this away from the ship?
MR. PERKIS: I should say about the length of the ship away, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: That was soon after you went down into the boat, then?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: What number did your boat get away? How many boats did you get away from the ship first?
MR. PERKIS: No. 4 was the boat I got away in; the last big boat on the port side to leave the ship.
SENATOR PERKINS: You picked up eight in the water?
MR. PERKIS: Yes; and two died afterwards in the boat.
SENATOR PERKINS: Were they passengers or men of the crew?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir; one was a fireman and one was a steward.
SENATOR PERKINS: The others were all passengers?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Tell us what you did after that.
MR. PERKIS: After that, after we had picked up the men, I could not hear any more cries anywhere. Everything was over. I waited then until daylight, or just before daylight, when we saw the lights of the Carpathia.
SENATOR PERKINS: Did you see the Titanic go down?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: And you were how far from her at that time?
MR. PERKIS: Six lengths from her, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Did you feel any suction?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: You heard the cries of the people around her?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir; and we picked up eight out of the water.
SENATOR PERKINS: Did those people have life preservers on?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: All eight persons had life preservers on?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Could you not have found more of them?
MR. PERKIS: We stopped picking up. The last man we picked up, we heard a cry, and we did not hear any more cries after we had picked up the last man.
SENATOR PERKINS: How was the discipline on board ship?
MR. PERKIS: Excellent, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Every man knew his station and took it?
MR. PERKIS: Every man knew his station and took it.
SENATOR PERKINS: Was there any excitement among the crew?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir; none whatever.
SENATOR PERKINS: Or among the officers?
MR. PERKIS: None at all, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Or among the firemen or stewards?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir; they conducted themselves the same as they would if it were any ordinary everyday occurrence.
SENATOR PERKINS: Is there any particular incident that occurred that the public would be interested in knowing that you can relate to us?
MR. PERKIS: No, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: All three of you seem to be pretty capable young men and have had a good deal of experience at sea, and yet you have never been wrecked?
MR. PERKIS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Is there any other one of you who has been in a shipwreck?
MR. HOGG: I have been in a collision, Senator, but with no loss of life.
SENATOR PERKINS: On the lookout in the crow's nest did you see any ice?
MR. HOGG: No, sir; I never seen any ice when I relieved that lookout.
SENATOR PERKINS: Were instructions given you to keep a sharp lookout?
MR. HOGG: When I relieved the lookout at 12 o'clock that night I had instructions from my relief.
SENATOR PERKINS: You men have all had experience, more or less, as lookouts. Is it customary to furnish you with night glasses?
MR. HOGG: We never had night glasses.
SENATOR PERKINS: Just the naked eye?
MR. HOGG: Just the naked eye. I have always had night glasses in the White Star boats. I asked for the glasses, and I did not see why I should not have them. I had them from Belfast to Southampton; but from Southampton to where the accident occurred we never had them.
SENATOR PERKINS: You were instructed to report immediately to the officer on the bridge anything that occurred or any object on the horizon?
MR. HOGG: No, sir. I asked for the glasses several times.
SENATOR PERKINS: What were your instructions when you went into the crow's nest, given to you by the officer?
MR. HOGG: None; but my opposite member gave me instructions, "Keep a sharp lookout for ice."
SENATOR PERKINS: When you saw the ice ahead, you struck three bells?
MR. HOGG: The last lookout, the 6 to 8, was my lookout.
SENATOR PERKINS: That is the last dog watch.
MR. HOGG: I got a warning, then, to keep a sharp lookout for ice, and I said, "Very good."
SENATOR PERKINS: Did you discover any ice?
MR. HOGG: None, sir. It was very, very cold, and I said "There is plenty of ice about here, because it is so cold." That is what I said to my mate.
SENATOR PERKINS: How far is the foremast, that the crow's nest is on, from the bridge? What is the distance?
MR. HOGG: I am not good at judging distances, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: You know pretty nearly? This room, perhaps is 30 feet long. Was it as far from this door to that window [indicating]?
MR. HOGG: I could not swear to that. I should think, however, that it was about 50 feet. That is what I should think about it. I could not swear to it.
SENATOR PERKINS: There was a telephone from the crow's nest to the officer on the bridge?
MR. HOGG: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Was the telephone always in working order?
MR. HOGG: The telephone was in working order; yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: And where they had no telephone, then you hailed, with calls to the bridge?
MR. HOGG: No, sir; we struck a bell. We never used the phone, only in going into harbors, or into ports, or in the case of anything serious.
SENATOR PERKINS: And you struck the bell every half hour?
MR. HOGG: Yes. And for reporting ships you struck one, port; two, starboard; and three, right ahead.
SENATOR PERKINS: That is your signal to the bridge, which is understood, of course.
MR. HOGG: Yes, sir; that is the signal that you have seen something.
SENATOR PERKINS: Yes. Can either one of you men suggest anything by which this accident could have been avoided, or by which more lives could have been saved? You are all good sailormen, and have had large experience. Could anything have been done to save more lives than were saved?
MR. HOGG: No. sir. The only thing I can suggest is in regard to the glasses. If we had had the glasses, we might have seen the berg before?
SENATOR PERKINS: The officers on the bridge had glasses?
MR. HOGG: They had, yes, sir.
MR. SYMONS: It is always customary to have glasses in the crow's nest.
SENATOR PERKINS: That has been the custom of the White Star Line?
MR. SYMONS: Yes. I served three years and five months on the Oceanic, and they had glasses all the time.
SENATOR PERKINS: Did she belong to the White Star Line?
MR. SYMONS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PERKINS: Also in regard to other ships, do you know?
MR. SYMONS: As far as I have heard from other people, they have glasses in all the other ships.
SENATOR PERKINS: Your eyes were tested, were they?
MR. SYMONS: Last September they were tested by the board of trade by the new test, the latest test out.
SENATOR PERKINS: They gave you a certificate that you were qualified as a good lookout?
