SENATOR SMITH: Where were you when the collision came?
MR. ETCHES: Asleep, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: In what part of the ship?
MR. ETCHES: In our apartments, which were about the middle of E deck, in what we call the working alleyway.
SENATOR SMITH: How many people slept in the same room with you?
MR. ETCHES: Nineteen of us, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What time did you retire that night?
MR. ETCHES: At half past 9, sir. I was due again at 12 o'clock.
SENATOR SMITH: Due on watch or on duty at 12 o'clock midnight?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How were you awakened?
MR. ETCHES: I was awakened by something, but I did not know what it was, and I called to my mate, and I said "What time is it that they are going to call us next?" It was then between 25 minutes and 20 minutes to 12. He said, "I don't know." I turned over to go to sleep again. At that minute I heard a loud shout, "Close water­tight bulkheads." I recognized it as our boatswain's voice; it was extra loud. I looked out and he was running from fore to aft.
SENATOR SMITH: What was he saying?
MR. ETCHES: The one shout, "Close water­tight bulkhead doors."
SENATOR SMITH: How long was that after the impact?
MR. ETCHES: That would be under 10 minutes, sir. Seven minutes, I would say, as near as possible.
SENATOR SMITH: Was there any other signal that you know for that action except the word of mouth?
MR. ETCHES: That is the only word, sir. My bed was next to the door.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know whether that was done or not?
MR. ETCHES: Well, a seaman was running with him from forward to aft, and so I took it they were going along to close those doors, but my business did not take me so far as that door.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you do then?
MR. ETCHES: I partly dressed and looked out of the door, and I saw the third­class passengers coming along from forward with their portmanteaus. I had gotten about 30 yards, probably, when I met a passenger with a piece of ice that size [indicating], and he said, "Will you believe it now?" And threw it down on the deck. With that I went back and finished dressing, and then went up on deck.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you do then?
MR. ETCHES: As I was going through the door I met a bedroom steward named Stone. He was the man my mate was supposed to relieve. He was bedroom steward on E deck. I said, "What is the time?" He said, "Never mind about that; there is something else for you to do." I saw them pull up bags of mail, and the water was running out of the bottom of them." My mate called down to E deck and I went to the other ladder to A deck, where I was to relieve the man. When I got on A deck the bedroom steward was assisting passengers then, and most of the doors were open. That was the forward end of A deck. I said, "Have you called all of your people?" He said, "Yes, but I can't get them to dress." They were standing in the corridors partly dressed. I said, "I will go down on my deck."; and with that I went down to B deck, arousing my passengers. That is when I met Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Andrews the builder.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you arouse your passengers in their staterooms?
MR. ETCHES: I aroused the passengers in my staterooms; yes. I saw them all out, except Mr. Carter's family, and Mr. Harrison told me they were already up.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you assist in putting life belts on them?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir; but more on C deck. I threw the life belts down, and then threw some of then into the corridor. Mr. Andrews said to be sure there were no life belts left. The first cabin I went to was at the foot of the pantry stairs. I pulled the bottom drawer out there and stood on it, and got out life belts, and as a gentleman was passing there, I gave him one of those.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know who he was?
MR. ETCHES: No; I gave him one. He was a stout gentleman; appeared to be an Englishman. He said, "Show me how to put this on," and I showed him how; and then he said, "Tie it for me." I said, "Pull the strings around to the front and tie it," and as he was doing it I ran outside and opened other doors and then most of the doors were opened along C deck.
SENATOR SMITH: When you got to your deck ­ to these staterooms you have enumerated ­ did you find your passengers there or had they gotten out? You have spoken of Mr. and Mrs. Carter having gone.
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What about Mr. Guggenheim and his secretary and others?
MR. ETCHES: They were in their room. I took the life belts out. The life belts in this cabin were in the wardrobe, in a small rack, and the cabin was only occupied by two. There were three life belts there, and took the three out and put one on Mr. Guggenheim. He apparently had only gone to his room, for he answered the first knock. He said: "This will hurt." I said, "You have plenty of time, put on some clothes and I will be back in a few minutes."
SENATOR SMITH: Did you get back there?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was he there?
MR. ETCHES: Yes; he followed me along. I then found No. 78 cabin door shut, and I banged with both hands on the door loudly, and a voice answered, "What is it?" Then a lady's voice said, "Tell me what the trouble is?" I said, "It is necessary that you should open this door, and I will explain everything, but please put the life belts on or bring them in the corridor." They said, "I want to know what is the matter." I said, "Kindly open the door," and I still kept banging. I passed along, and I found one cabin empty, and then I came to another cabin and a lady and a gentleman stood at the door. They were swinging a life belt with their hands.
SENATOR SMITH: When you know who they were please name them.
MR. ETCHES: I do not know anyone outside of the people in my section.
SENATOR SMITH: Did this woman open the door when you pounded so hard?
MR. ETCHES: I did not see the door opened.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know who was in that room?
MR. ETCHES: Well, I don't know the name. It was a shortish name, and I fancy it began with an S. They were a stiff­built gentleman and a rather short, thin lady. They were undoubtedly Americans.
SENATOR SMITH: Have you learned who they were?
MR. ETCHES: I have made no inquiry since then.
SENATOR SMITH: Have you ever seen them since?
MR. ETCHES: No, sir; but I think I should recognize them if I saw them.
SENATOR SMITH: You did not see them aboard the Carpathia?
MR. ETCHES: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you do after that?
MR. ETCHES: I went along to the purser's place. He said, "It is necessary to go up on the boat deck," and he said, "Tell all the other bedroom stewards to assemble their passengers on the boat deck and stand by." I went on the boat deck, and they were just loading boat No. 7. I said to the quartermaster, "Is this boat No. 5?" He said, "No; it is the next boat."
SENATOR SMITH: You were on the starboard side?
MR. ETCHES: On the starboard side; yes.
SENATOR SMITH: You went then to No. 9 lifeboat?
MR. ETCHES: No. 7, I went to, and asked him, "Is this No. 5?" He said, "No; it is the next boat." I looked at No. 5, and they were taking the covers off and preparing her, and I assisted to launch No. 7 boat. There was Mr. Murdock, Mr. Ismay, Mr. Pitman, and a quartermaster (Oliver), two stewards, and myself there.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you all working?
MR. ETCHES: My part was that I was clearing the falls. They were catching in the falls, or at least the falls were catching in people's feet, as they were jumping around, and I cleared the falls as they were lowering them away. I went down to do it.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Murdock assist in loading that boat or lowering it?
MR. ETCHES: Mr. Murdock stood there the whole time, giving orders.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Pitman assist?
MR. ETCHES: Mr. Pitman assisted, yes; and Mr. Ismay was assisting with the falls.
SENATOR SMITH: What did Mr. Ismay do?
MR. ETCHES: Mr. Ismay, in the first place, was asking the gentlemen to kindly keep back, as it was ladies first in this boat; and they wanted to get the boat clear.
SENATOR SMITH: Go ahead.
MR. ETCHES: After we lowered the boat­­
SENATOR SMITH: Just a moment. That boat was filled from the boat deck?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was it difficult to get into it from the deck?
MR. ETCHES: There was not the slightest difficulty, sir. A child could have stepped over.
SENATOR SMITH: Ws it a full­sized lifeboat?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And were the women put into it first?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir. The gentlemen were lined up, those that were trying to assist, and Mr. Ismay said, "Kindly make a line here and allow the ladies to pass through"; and I think it was Mr. Murdock's voice that was calling out, "Ladies, this way; is there any more ladies before this boat goes?" The boat was three parts full of ladies, to my knowledge.
SENATOR SMITH: Were there any more to get in? Did any more get in?
MR. ETCHES: There were, because No. 5 boat, which I went to next took over 36 ladies.
SENATOR SMITH: That was the next boat?
MR. ETCHES: That was the next boat, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And you went to No. 5 boat, then, from No. 7?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: You did not get into No. 7?
MR. ETCHES: No; I did not attempt to get into No. 7. My boat was No. 5, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Your boat was No. 5; that was your station?
MR. ETCHES: That was my station, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What men got into No. 7, if you know?
MR. ETCHES: I did not see the men that got in there, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Pitman get in there?
MR. ETCHES: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: No officer got in?
MR. ETCHES: Not to my knowledge, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How many men were in No. 7?
MR. ETCHES: I could not say, sir, because the position of the ladies sitting there was such that there may have been more men back in the stern of the boat, and I was not able to see them.
SENATOR SMITH: About how many men?
MR. ETCHES: I could only say for certain that there were three men there, the men forward, but who they were I could not say.
SENATOR SMITH: And those men manned the boat?
MR. ETCHES: They were the men to attend the forward fall, I take it, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And no other men got in?
MR. ETCHES: Not to my knowledge, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was it lowered in safety?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir. It was lowered perfectly, and it seemed to me that the boat went down extra level and very clear in the blocks.
SENATOR SMITH: That was the first boat that you assisted in filling?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Were there any children in that boat?
MR. ETCHES: In No. 7 boat I saw one child, sir, a baby boy, with a small woolen cap over his head. I remember it well.
SENATOR SMITH: Then you proceeded to boat No. 5?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir. The next boat on the same side.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you do there?
MR. ETCHES: I assisted as I had assisted at No. 7. I stood by the forward fall with the quartermaster and three more stewards.
SENATOR SMITH: Who was the quartermaster?
MR. ETCHES: Mr. Olliver, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did he survive?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And two others?
MR. ETCHES: Two other stewards. I have not seen them since, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was the same course taken with that boat?
MR. ETCHES: That was the same, sir. After getting all the women that were there they called out three times ­ Mr. Ismay called out twice, I know, in a loud voice ­ "Are there any more women before this boat goes," and there was no answer. Mr. Murdock called out; and at that moment a female came up whom I did not recognize. Mr. Ismay said: "Come along; jump in." She said, "I am only a stewardess." He said, "Never mind, you are a woman, take your place." That was the last woman I saw get into No. 5 boat, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What men got into it?
MR. ETCHES: There were two firemen in the bow of the boat, Mr. Pitman was standing in the center on the deck waiting, and one steward was standing with myself at the forward fall. Olliver, the sailor, the quartermaster who had been assisting, stepped back with myself into the crowd of gentlemen. Mr. Murdock said to me: "Are you the steward appointed to this boat?" I said: "Yes, sir; No. 5 boat is mine." He said: "Then jump in and assist those men with the forward fall." I took my place. At the same moment Mr. Pitman called out: "Is there a sailor in the boat?" I looked around and I said: "No, sir." He said to this man Olliver, who was standing on the deck: "Are you a sailor?" He said: "Yes, sir." He said: "Take your place in this boat;" and he jumped in. Mr. Murdock then stepped up and said: "Are you the officer going in this boat?" He said: "Yes, sir." Then he said: "Take your place," held out his hand and shook hands and said: "Good­by and good luck;" and he took his place and the order was given to lower the boat?
SENATOR SMITH: Who was that officer to whom Mr. Murdock spoke?
MR. ETCHES: Mr. Pitman.
SENATOR SMITH: The third officer?
MR. ETCHES: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What other men got into that boat?
MR. ETCHES: There was a stout gentleman, sir, stepped forward then. He had assisted to put his wife in the boat. He leaned forward and she stood up in the boat, put her arms around his neck and kissed him, and I heard her say, "I can't leave you." And with that I turned my head. The next moment I saw him sitting beside her in the bottom of the boat, and some voice said, "Throw that man out of the boat." But at the moment they started lowering her away, and the man remained.
SENATOR SMITH: Who was he?
MR. ETCHES: I do not know his name, sir; but he was a very stout gentleman, an American.
SENATOR SMITH: Was the boat lowered in safety?
MR. ETCHES: Perfect, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What was done after you reached the water?
MR. ETCHES: Just as we got about 20 feet down a voice called out, "Be sure and see the plug is in that boat," and I passed the word around. I see, "See the plug is in that boat." Olliver crawled into the bottom of the boat, and I suppose he put the plug in, for when we touched water I crawled about in the bottom of the boat and found no water. So I took it the plug had been put in in safely.
SENATOR SMITH: Did the boat go away from the side of the Titanic?
MR. ETCHES: He cut the trigger that released the falls, and the order was given to pull of, to lay off from the ship. We laid off about 100 yards and waited, and the ship started going down; seemed to be going down at the head, and Mr. Pitman gave us the order to head away from the ship, and we pulled off then, I should say, about a quarter of a mile and laid on our oars.
SENATOR SMITH: How long?
MR. ETCHES: We remained until the Titanic sank?
SENATOR SMITH: Did you see it go down?
MR. ETCHES: I saw it go down, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: You could not see who was on the decks from your distance?
