SENATOR BOURNE: How far away, would you think, from the Titanic?
MR. COLLINS: I guess it would be about 4 miles; I am sure, 3 or 4 miles.
SENATOR BOURNE: You say you were swept off the Titanic's deck by a wave?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long after the accident occurred or at what time would you judge it was that you were swept off of the deck?
MR. COLLINS: Well, sir, I could not say; I am sure it was close on to 1 o'clock.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was the ship sinking when you were swept off?
MR. COLLINS: She was, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: When you came up from the water and go on this collapsible boat, did you see any evidence of the ship as she sunk, then?
MR. COLLINS: I did, sir; I saw her stern end.
SENATOR BOURNE: Were you on the boat at the time that you were washed off the ship?
MR. COLLINS: Amidships, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You say you saw the stern end after you go on the collapsible boat?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you see the bow?
MR. COLLINS: No, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: How far were you from the stern end of the ship when you came up and got into the collapsible boat, would you judge?
MR. COLLINS: We were about ­ I could not exactly state how far I was from the Titanic when I come up to the surface. I was not far, because her lights went out then. Her lights went out until the water almost got to amidships on her.
SENATOR BOURNE: As I understand, you were amidships on the bow as the ship sank.
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You were washed off by a wave. You were under water, as you think, for two or three minutes, and then swam 5 or 6 yards to the collapsible boat and go aboard ­ and got into the boat. The stern of the ship was still afloat?
MR. COLLINS: The stern of the ship was still afloat.
SENATOR BOURNE: The lights were burning?
MR. COLLINS: I came to the surface, sir, and I happened to look around and I just saw the lights and nothing more, and I looked in front of me and I saw the collapsible boat and I made for it.
SENATOR BOURNE: After you got in the boat, did you see any lights on the Titanic?
MR. COLLINS: No, Sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: When you were in the water, after you came up above the surface of the water, you saw the lights of the Titanic?
MR. COLLINS: Just as I came up to the surface, sir. Her bow was in the water. She had not exploded then. Her bow as in the water, and I just looked around and saw the lights.
SENATOR BOURNE: Had she broken in two?
MR. COLLINS: Her bow as in the water and her stern was up.
SENATOR BOURNE: But you did not seen any break? You did not think she had parted, and broken in two?
MR. COLLINS: Her bow was in the water. She exploded in the water. She exploded once in the water, and her stern end was up out of the water; and with the explosion out of the water it blew her stern up.
SENATOR BOURNE: You saw it while it was?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir; saw her stern up.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long?
MR. COLLINS: I am sure it floated for at least a minute.
SENATOR BOURNE: The lights were still burning?
MR. COLLINS: No, sir; the lights was out.
SENATOR BOURNE: How could you see it?
MR. COLLINS: I was on the collapsible boat at the time.
SENATOR BOURNE: If it was dark, how could you see?
MR. COLLINS: We were not too far off. I saw the white of the funnel. Then she turned over again, and down she went.
SENATOR BOURNE: There was not much of a sea on at the time of the accident?
MR. COLLINS: It was as calm as that board.
SENATOR BOURNE: How do you account for this wave that washed you off amidships?
MR. COLLINS: By the suction which took place when the bow went down in the water.
SENATOR BOURNE: And the waves broke over the deck and washed you off?
MR. COLLINS: Washed the decks clear.
SENATOR BOURNE: How many were around you at that time that were washed off?
MR. COLLINS: There were hundreds on the starboard side.
SENATOR BOURNE: And you think every one of the hundreds were washed in the water?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir; they were washed off into the water.
SENATOR BOURNE: The order had been given that every passenger and member of the crew should put on a life belt?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: What became of those hundreds that were washed off at the same time you were?
MR. COLLINS: I got on to the raft. I could see when I go on to the raft. I saw the stern of the boat, and I saw a mass of people and wreckage and heard cries.
SENATOR BOURNE: In the water?
MR. COLLINS: In the water.
SENATOR BOURNE: How many were rescued from the water besides yourself, on the boat you got into, which I understand was No. 16.
MR. COLLINS: No, sir; the boat we got into was not No. 16.
SENATOR BOURNE: What was the number?
MR. COLLINS: It was a collapsible boat.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was it not numbered?
MR. COLLINS: No, sir; not that I know of.
SENATOR BOURNE: The collapsible boats were not numbered?
MR. COLLINS: No, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: How many of the hundreds that were washed off the ship at the same time with you got into the collapsible boat with you?
MR. COLLINS: Well, sir, the boat was taken off the saloon deck, and the wave came up and washed the boat right off, and she was upside down, sir, and the water washed over her. She was turned over, and we were standing on her.
SENATOR BOURNE: You were standing on the bottom of the boat?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: The boat being upset?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: How many got on to the bottom of the boat with you?
MR. COLLINS: We lifted four people.
SENATOR BOURNE: There were five on there; four beside yourself?
MR. COLLINS: Oh, sir; there was more.
SENATOR BOURNE: There were probably 15 on there at the time you got on?
MR. COLLINS: Exactly, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Then what did you do?
MR. COLLINS: We were drifting about there; we drifted, I am sure, a mile and a half from the Titanic, from where she sank, and there was some lifeboat that had a green light on it, and we thought it was a boat after the Titanic had sunk. We thought this green light was some boat, and we commenced to shout. All we saw was the green light. We were drifting about for two hours, and then we saw the lights of the Carpathia. We saw her topmast lights. Then came daylight, and we saw our own lifeboats, and we were very close to them. We were about from this window here to over there, almost opposite them; but in the dark we could not see them. When it became daylight, we spied them and shouted to them, and they came over to us, and there was two of our lifeboats that lifted the whole lot that were on the collapsible boats. Then the Carpathia came into sight. We saw her masthead lights first and saw her starboard and port side lights. When she came near us, we saw her, and we did not know what boat it was. Then there was one of our own boats had got a sail, and we put up the sail. The fellow that was guiding this boat put up the sail. When he put up the sail, he told us he would come back and take us in tow. He did what he said; but we rowed for the Carpathia, and whenever we go in amongst a lot of wreckage we rowed on ahead. The wind rose, and the waves were coming up, and we were rowing for all we were worth. Then the Carpathia blew her horn, and all seen the Carpathia. She stopped in the one place. We were at this time within a mile of her, and she did not make any sign of coming over near to us. She stopped in the one place, and, I think, lowered two or three of her own boats, and her own boats were kept in the water when one of our boats, the sailboat, went up alongside of her.
SENATOR BOURNE: Why did the Carpathia lower any of her boats as long as none of your boats were in distress?
MR. COLLINS: To take up some of the bodies that had been washed up by the side of her.
SENATOR BOURNE: How near was she to the place where the Titanic sank?
MR. COLLINS: I could not say; it was dark when the Titanic sank.
SENATOR BOURNE: I understand; but it was light when you go on the Carpathia?
MR. COLLINS: Yes. I could not say.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did the men on the bottom of the collapsible boat refuse to let others get on from the water?
MR. COLLINS: Only one, sir. If a gentleman had got on we would have all been turned over. We were all on the boat. One was running from one side to the other to keep her steady. If this man had caught hold of her he would have tumbled the whole lot of us off.
SENATOR BOURNE: Who prevented him?
MR. COLLINS: We were all telling him not to get on. He said, "That is all right, boys, keep cool," he said; "God bless you," and he bid us good­bye and he swam along for about two minutes and we seen him but did not see him moving off; we saw his head, but we did not see him moving his hands. Then we were washed out of his road.
SENATOR BOURNE: There was only this one instance, then, when one tried to get on?
MR. COLLINS: There were others that tried to get on, but we would not let them on. A big foreigner came up; I think he was a Dutchman. He came up to the stern and he hung on to me all the time.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was he saved?
MR. COLLINS: He was, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Then all those who wanted to get on and tried to get on, got on, with the exception of only one?
MR. COLLINS: Only one, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: That was when you had all on the boat that she could support?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: He was not pushed off by anyone, but those on the boat asked him not to try to get on?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: And he acquiesced?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You do not know whether he was saved or not?
MR. COLLINS: No, sir; I do not think he was.
SENATOR BOURNE: You say this was your first cruise?
MR. COLLINS: It was.
SENATOR BOURNE: On any ship?
MR. COLLINS: On any ship.
SENATOR BOURNE: How do you know you had a numbered boat?
MR. COLLINS: By my companion, sir; by my companion on the saloon deck.
SENATOR BOURNE: By your companion, you mean whom?
MR. COLLINS: My mate.
SENATOR BOURNE: And he had sailed a number of voyages, I suppose, and he was familiar?
MR. COLLINS: Yes; he was an old hand at it.
SENATOR BOURNE: And he told you­­
MR. COLLINS: My number was No. 16.
SENATOR BOURNE: Did you know where No. 16 was located, or did he show you?
MR. COLLINS: He showed me, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: You two went together?
MR. COLLINS: The two of us went together, sir, until I was washed off the deck.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was he saved?
MR. COLLINS: No, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: He was washed off at the same time you were?
MR. COLLINS: He was washed off at the same time.
SENATOR BOURNE: Why did you wait until Sunday morning to find your boat number?
MR. COLLINS: Sir, the boat had struck, sir, before I heard tell of my number.
SENATOR BOURNE: No one informed you that you were assigned to any boat at all until your mate told you, the night of the accident?
MR. COLLINS: Yes, sir; we were to muster on Sunday at 11 o'clock for the fire and boat drill, and it did not come off.
SENATOR BOURNE: That is all. We are very much obliged to you.
TESTIMONY OF FREDERICK CLENCH.
[Testimony taken separately before Senator Bourne on behalf of the subcommittee]
The witness was sworn by Senator Bourne.
SENATOR BOURNE: Kindly state your age, residence, and occupation.
MR. CLENCH: Able­bodied seaman; I live at No. 10, The Flats, Chantry Road, Southampton.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long have you followed the sea?
MR. CLENCH: About nineteen years now, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long have you been rated as an able­bodied seaman?
MR. CLENCH: Well, I think I have been about 16 years as able seaman.
SENATOR BOURNE: Have you been altogether on steam lines, or have you been on sailing vessels?
MR. CLENCH: No, sir; I have all the time been on steam boats­­different lines, you know.
SENATOR BOURNE: How long have you been on the White Star?
MR. CLENCH: Well, I done six voyages with the Olympic. This would make the seventh one.
SENATOR BOURNE: Have you sailed on other lines besides the White Star?
MR. CLENCH: I have been on the Elder­Dempster line.
SENATOR BOURNE: You were on the Titanic on her maiden voyage, were you?
MR. CLENCH: Yes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: What day did you join the ship?
MR. CLENCH: On a Wednesday, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Was that the day of the sailing?
MR. CLENCH: The day of the sailing, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: Will you kindly explain in your own way what occurred just prior and subsequent to the catastrophe?
MR. CLENCH: I was asleep in my bunk when the accident occurred, and I was awakened by the crunching and jarring, as if it was hitting up against something.
SENATOR BOURNE: Were you sound asleep?
MR. CLENCH: I was sound asleep.
SENATOR BOURNE: Are you a heavy sleeper?
MR. CLENCH: No, sir; it did not take much to wake me. I am a light sleeper. If anybody touches me, I will jump quick. Of course I put on my trousers and I went on deck on the starboard side of the well deck and I saw a lot of ice.
SENATOR BOURNE: On the deck itself?
MR. CLENCH: On the deck itself.
SENATOR BOURNE: What deck was that?
MR. CLENCH: The well deck, sir. With that, I went in the alleyway again under the forecastle head to come down and put on my shoes. Some one said to me, "Did you hear the rush of water?" I looked down under the hatchway and I saw the tarpaulin belly out as if there was a lot of wind under it, and I heard the rush of water coming through.
SENATOR BOURNE: You heard that?
MR. CLENCH: Yes.
SENATOR BOURNE: How soon after you struck? How many minutes, would you think?
MR. CLENCH: I should say about 10 minutes, sir.
SENATOR BOURNE: After you were awake?
MR. CLENCH: After I was awake, yes. I went down below and put my guernsey on, my round hat on, and after that I sat down on a stool having a smoke.
SENATOR BOURNE: Down in the forecastle?
MR. CLENCH: Down in the forecastle.
SENATOR BOURNE: Although you had seen this water coming in?
MR. CLENCH: I seen the water coming in, and I thought it was all right.
SENATOR BOURNE: You thought she would not sink, Mr. Clench?
MR. CLENCH: I thought she would not sink then, sir. Then after I lighted the pipe, I heard the boatswain's pipe call all hands out on deck. We went up to where he stood under the forecastle, and he ordered all hands to the boat deck. We proceeded up on the boat deck, and when we got up there he told us to go the starboard side and uncover the boats. I went down to No. 11 boat, unlacing the cover, and just as I started to unlace, along come an officer.
