MR. CROWE: It has always been the custom to put a notice in various parts of the ship that fire drill will be held at a certain time on a certain day. Five minutes previous to this time the bugle is sounded for fire drill, and all men go to fire drill. Either the chief officer or the officer in charge visits the various stations and sees that all members of the crew are present. They satisfy themselves that all members of the crew are present, and report to the bridge to that effect. The fog horn or siren is blown for boat drill. All men proceed to boats. The captain, after the men are in readiness, inspects all men at the boats and sees if all men are present. In some cases he orders boats to be lowered and put back into their sockets if satisfactory at the time. If not, repeat. That is the custom of the American line.
SENATOR BOURNE: That is the custom of the American line?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: So far as you know, there is the same custom on the English lines, ordinarily?
MR. CROWE: Well, I believe so, ordinarily. I have not been on the English lines for quite a while. I ran out of London on the P. & O. Line to Australia some 12 years ago, but since then I have been on the American line.
SENATOR BOURNE: The fact that they had no drills did not that create comment among your associates and the other stewards?
MR. CROWE: That I could not say, sir; it appears from everybody here that I know, that they were assigned.
SENATOR BOURNE: Then you heard no comment among the men on the ship?
MR. CROWE: None whatever, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Occasioned by the fact that there was no drill?
MR. CROWE: No, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: What explanation did you hear, if any, as to the reason why the call for muster and fire drill for Sunday at 11:30 was not carried out in accordance with your notice?
MR. CROWE: Well, I can not say, with the exception that they held church service at 10:30 Sunday morning.
SENATOR BOURNE: And the service continued over the time?
MR. CROWE: No, sir; it was over soon after 11 o'clock.
SENATOR BOURNE: And there was no explanation given for the suspension of the order?
MR. CROWE: None whatever, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You know, however, the order was not carried out and there was no drill at that time, and you saw the official notice for the drill at that time?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You saw that notice a day or two before Sunday
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir; I saw two notices, one put up in the crew's department ­ crew's quarters ­ and one in the first­class service pantry.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you hear among the men or passengers any criticism toward any officer because of the accident, in any way?
MR. CROWE: None whatever, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was there any blame centralized on the company or any individual because of the accident?
MR. CROWE: Not that I know of, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you yourself see the iceberg?
MR. CROWE: No, sir; not the one that struck the ship ­ or, the ship struck the berg. Of course, there were two or three bergs around, and one man pointed out that that must have been the berg, and another man pointed out another berg. Really, I do not think anybody knew which one struck the ship.
SENATOR BOURNE: When it became daylight and you could see, were there a number of bergs around you?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir; I think there were three very large bergs.
SENATOR BOURNE: Where was the station drill for fire and boats posted?
MR. CROWE: In the first­class service pantry and in the crew's quarters.
SENATOR BOURNE: Do you know when the bills were posted?
MR. CROWE: Either Thursday or Friday?
SENATOR BOURNE: After sailing?
MR. CROWE: After sailing; yes.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you and boat No. 14, with those that were with you manning the boat, return to the wreckage as soon as your passengers were shifted into the other boat?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir; almost immediately. There might have been a lapse of 5 or 10 minutes, perhaps.
SENATOR BOURNE: For what reason was that lapse; for the purpose of shifting your passengers to the other boat so you could return to the wreckage?
MR. CROWE: Because, endeavoring to get the other boats together, we were making a circle after each other, and consequently we lost our bearing, and we did not know in which direction to go.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you know of any water on E deck?
MR. CROWE: Only from hearing other people speak of it.
SENATOR BOURNE: Would you state what you heard in reference to water being on E deck?
MR. CROWE: A stewardess ­ I do not know her name ­ said that as she came from her cabin she could see the water coming up.
SENATOR BOURNE: Could see it coming up?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: On E deck?
MR. CROWE: On E deck.
SENATOR BOURNE: And that was all?
MR. CROWE: That was all; yes.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you see the ship sink?
MR. CROWE: I did, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Would you explain in your own way how it appeared to you?
MR. CROWE: When we left the ship her head was down in the water probably several feet; I could not say the distance, or any angle.
SENATOR BOURNE: And you left the ship how many minutes or hours after she struck?
MR. CROWE: It might have been an hour; it might have been more. After getting clear of the ship the lights were still burning very bright, but as we got away she seemed to go lower and lower, and she almost stood up perpendicular, and her lights went dim, and presently she broke clean in two, probably two thirds of the length of the ship.
SENATOR BOURNE: That is, two thirds out of the water or two­thirds in the water?
MR. CROWE: Two­thirds in the water, one third of the aft funnel sticking up.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long did that third stick up?
MR. CROWE: After she floated back again.
SENATOR BOURNE: She floated back?
MR. CROWE: She broke, and the after part floated back.
SENATOR BOURNE: And the bow part, two­thirds of the ship, sank.
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir; then there was an explosion, and the aft part turned on end and sank.
SENATOR BOURNE: Then you attribute the sinking to the explosion. You believe it would have floated, had it not been for the explosion?
MR. CROWE: I can not say, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did the officer in charge of your boat express any opinion on that at all?
MR. CROWE: He said he thought it best to return back to the wreckage and see if we could save lives. At that time we had not put our people into the other boats.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long a time after you left the ship did it break and the explosion and sinking of the aft part of the ship take place, would you judge?
MR. CROWE: She sank around half past 2, from statements made by a man that was supposed to have jumped from the poop of the ship ­ that is, the quarter deck ­ into the water. He had a watch on, and as his watch stopped at 10 minutes past 2, he said she was in a sinking condition then and her stern on end ­ a man named Burnett, a storekeeper aboard the ship.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you, yourself, hear the explosion?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was there one, or more?
MR. CROWE: There were several explosions.
SENATOR BOURNE: Were they loud, like a cannon?
MR. CROWE: Not so loud as that, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Muffled?
MR. CROWE: A kind of muffled explosion. It seemed to be an explosion at a very great distance, although we were not very far away.
SENATOR BOURNE: How far, would you judge; about a quarter of a mile?
MR. CROWE: About a mile.
SENATOR BOURNE: You were about a mile away.
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Officer Lowe, you say, was in charge of your boat?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir; I am certain of it.
SENATOR BOURNE: The fifth officer?
MR. CROWE: The fifth officer, Mr. Lowe.
SENATOR BOURNE: And that was his boat?
MR. CROWE: That was his boat.
SENATOR BOURNE: There were six officers on the ship, were there?
MR. CROWE: Seven, I think, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: And the captain?
MR. CROWE: And the captain.
SENATOR BOURNE: Now, taking the 20 boats, were there several of the boats allotted to each officer, under his direction?
MR. CROWE: Each officer takes charge of one boat, including the captain.
SENATOR BOURNE: That would account for 8 out of the 20 boats. Who had charge of the remaining 12 boats?
MR. CROWE: Either a quartermaster, or an engineer, or a senior man that may likely be in the boat.
SENATOR BOURNE: They have their allotment prior to sailing, or soon after sailing?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: So that each man knows his station?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: And is responsible for that boat?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did Officer Lowe call for volunteers to return to the wreck?
MR. CROWE: No, sir; he impressed upon us that we must go back to the wreck.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was there any protest?
MR. CROWE: None whatever, sir. A second­class passenger named Williams, the champion racket player of England, returned with us.
SENATOR BOURNE: He volunteered his service?
MR. CROWE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: He was not requested by Officer Lowe?
MR. CROWE: Not at all, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: He did so of his own volition?
MR. CROWE: Yes.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you find ice on the ship before you left it?
MR. CROWE: I did not find it myself, sir. Another man brought a piece along from the forward part of the ship.
SENATOR BOURNE: On what deck?
MR. CROWE: On E deck.
SENATOR BOURNE: He took it from E deck?
MR. CROWE: I could not be certain about that, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: But it is your impression he got it from E deck, but you do not know?
MR. CROWE: I was on E deck when he came along with it.
SENATOR BOURNE: Do you know of ice being found on any of the higher decks above E deck?
MR. CROWE: I heard there was several hundred tons of ice found.
SENATOR BOURNE: That will be all now, thank you.
TESTIMONY OF C. E. ANDREWS.
[Testimony taken separately before Senator Bourne on behalf of the subcommittee.]
The witness was sworn by Senator Bourne.
SENATOR BOURNE: Please your name, age and occupation?
MR. ANDREWS: C. E. Andrews; age 20; 125 Millbook Road, Southampton; occupation, steward.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long have you followed the sea?
MR. ANDREWS: This is my fourth year, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long have you been a steward?
MR. ANDREWS: I have been a steward now, sir ­ this is my fourth year, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: When you started to sea, you started in the capacity of a steward, did you?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir; officer's steward.
SENATOR BOURNE: Were you on the Titanic on her maiden voyage?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: When did you join the ship?
MR. ANDREWS: On Wednesday morning, sir, the day of the sailing, the 10th of April.
SENATOR BOURNE: And you were with her up until the time of the catastrophe?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Were you allotted to any of the lifeboats or emergency boats or rafts?
MR. ANDREWS: I do not know anything about that, sir; but a friend of mine, a steward second class, he told me to go and see what my boat was, on Sunday morning, and just before breakfast he came back and told me it was No. 16.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you go to no. 16 at the time of the accident?
MR. ANDREWS: I did, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: What officer was in charge of No. 16?
MR. ANDREWS: I could not tell you what officer, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was it an officer, or one of the petty officers?
MR. ANDREWS: An officer, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Had you sailed with the White Star Line prior to this voyage?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir; I had been with the White Star Line just four years.
SENATOR BOURNE: And your service has been with them?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: In all of the four years' service as steward with them have you participated in any of their fire or boat drills?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: How often have they been held?
MR. ANDREWS: Well, they have been held on Sunday. They muster in New York, or hold muster in New York, and then there is one on the Sunday home, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: During your voyages have you held any of these drills?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was there any held on the maiden voyage of the Titanic?
MR. ANDREWS: No, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was there any notice of any drill?
MR. ANDREWS: That I do not know, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You saw none?
MR. ANDREWS: No, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You know that no drills were held?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: If there had been, you would have had to participate?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: And you would have been censured for not being at the drill if one was held?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Will you explain for the information of the committee what knowledge you have of what occurred immediately prior to and following the catastrophe of the Titanic?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir. I came off watch about a quarter to 11 and went down and turned in. About 20 minutes after that I was wakened up by a movement of the ship. Several of the boys woke up with the shock also. So with that I got out of my bunk and went into the working alleyway, seeing lots of stewards out. I walked up and down the alleyway several times with another steward. After that I went back to the quarters. I went back and laid down for a few minutes and then got up again. I had no sooner gotten there than somebody came and said, "All hands on deck."
SENATOR BOURNE: How severe was the shock? Did it awaken you? Were you asleep at the time?
MR. ANDREWS: I was just dozing off, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did it throw you out of your bunk?
MR. ANDREWS: No, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you think that the ship was in a serious condition, at all?
MR. ANDREWS: No, sir; I thought something might have gone wrong with the engines.
SENATOR BOURNE: When you went out on deck, you assumed that there was no danger, and went back to bed again, did you?
MR. ANDREWS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Until the call came for "All hands on deck"?
MR. ANDREWS: I got out of my bunk just before that, because I heard the rush of water, and I thought to myself, I guess I had better dress and go out; so I had just got to the door when somebody said, "All hands on deck."
SENATOR BOURNE: Now, will you go on?
MR. ANDREWS: With that I walked up on deck and stood by my boat. There were lots of people around, and I saw stores brought to the boat, and bread. I did not see the stores put in the boat. I assisted in helping the ladies and children into the boat. After the boat was full the officer called out for able seamen, or any individuals then, to man the boat. After several had got into the boat­­
SENATOR BOURNE: How many?
MR. ANDREWS: Six, sir. Five, sir had got into the boat, and I was the sixth.
SENATOR BOURNE: Five besides yourself?
MR. ANDREWS: Five besides myself. The master­at­arms ­ there were two masters­at­arms, and one was in charge of our boat.
SENATOR BOURNE: What was the name of the one in charge of your boat?
