EXAMINATION ON BOARD S.S. OLYMPIC, NEW YORK HARBOR,
BY SENATOR WILLIAM ALDEN SMITH, MAY 25, 1912.
CAPT. HERBERT JAMES HADDOCK, being duly sworn, deposed, and said:
Q. Will you please give your full name and place of residence?
A. Herbert James Haddock, Southampton, England.
Q. And your business?
A. Master mariner.
Q. You are captain of the steamship Olympic, of the White Star Line?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And were filling this same position on Sunday, the 14th of April last?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Can you tell me, Captain, where you were when you heard of the accident to the Titanic?
A. Roughly, we were west by south 500 miles of the Titanic.
Q. And from whom did you get your first information?
A. From Mr. Moore, the wireless operator.
Q. What time of the day or night did you get this information?
A. New York time, 10:50 p.m., Sunday [quoting from the report of the wireless operator]:
Hear Titanic signaling to some ship about striking an iceberg. Am not sure if it is the Titanic who has struck an iceberg. Am interfered by atmospherics and many stations working.
This was 10:50 p.m., New York time.
Q. At that time you were about 500 miles away?
A. About 500 miles away.
Q. From whom was this information received?
A. At 11 o'clock [quoting from report]: Hear Titanic sending out signals of distress, and I answered his calls immediately.
It was direct from the Titanic.
Q. That was a C.Q.D. call?
A. Yes.
Q. What did you do when you received that call?
A. It was 10 minutes later after I got the first call from her, and then we worked out the course and distance to where she was, altered course toward her and at the same time sent for chief engineer to get up full power.
Q. Did you hear anything further from the Titanic while you were going to her assistance?
A. [Quoting from report:]
11:10 Titanic replies and gives me his position, 41.46N, 50.14 W., and says: "We have struck and iceberg." Reported this information to bridge immediately. Our distance from the Titanic 505 miles. 11:20 p.m. signals with the Titanic. He says: "Tell captain get your boats ready and what is your position?" 11:35 p.m. sent message to Titanic: "Commander Titanic, 4:24 a.m. GMT, 40.52 N. 61.18 W. Are you steering southly to meet us? ­ Haddock. 11:40 p.m. Titanic says, "Tell captain we are putting the passengers off in small boats." 11:45 p.m. Asked Titanic what weather he had had. He says, "Clear and calm." 11:50 p.m. Message to Titanic: "Commander Titanic, am lighting up all possible boilers as fast as canHaddock."
This is the last one to Titanic.
Q. Did you have any communication with the Titanic prior to the accident on Sunday?
A. Not that I am aware of, sir.
Q. Did you have any information from any other vessel regarding ice on Sunday?
A. On Sunday, after we were informed that this had happened.
Q. With what vessel?
A. 8:30 a.m., New York time, sir. This is the first message we got re ice Sunday. The message is dated the 13th April: Iceberg reported in latitude 41.50, longitude 50.20. Signed Wood. He is the captain of the Asian.
Q. That was on Saturday the 13th?
A. It is just dated April 13. He has evidently got the report from somewhere else.
Q. Is that the only ice warning you got that day? You got this report on the 13th, on Monday morning, the day after the accident?­­
A. Yes. At least, I understood the accident was somewhere about midnight of the 14th or 15th.
Q. It was about 11:45 ship's time?
A. Yes.
Q. That is, Monday morning the 15th?
A. At 10:12 a.m. we got into communication with steamship Mesaba.
Can give no information of Titanic. Sends following service message:
Captain Olympic: In lat. 42 to lat. 41.25 N., long. 49 W. to long. 50.35 W. saw heavy pack ice and a large number of icebergs; also some field ice; weather has been very fine and clear. "CLARK."
Q. That was addressed to you?
A. Yes, sir (quoting from the report): At 10:35 a.m. received following service message from the Parisian:
Captain Olympic: Field ice extends to latitude 41.22, heavy to the northwest of that, and bergs very numerous of all sizes; had fine, clear weather. HAINS.
Q. That is the only report of ice?
A. I sent a message to the Parisian, but it is merely to advise about that ice he saw. It is not direct report of ice.
Q. When was that, Captain?
A. It was 12:25 p.m. Monday, but the next real report of ice I got from the Carpathia. It was 4 p.m., Monday (quoting from report):
Following received from Carpathia:
"Capt. HADDOCK, Olympic: CARPATHIA
"South point pack ice 41.16 north. Don't attempt to go north until 49.30 west. Many bergs, large and small, amongst pack. Also for many miles to eastward.
Continuing from the report: "ROSTRON."
Fear absolutely no hope searching Titanic's position. Left Leyland S.S. Californian searching around. All boats accounted for. About 675 souls saved, crew and passengers, latter nearly all women and children. Titanic foundered about 2:20 a.m., 5:47 GMT in 41.16 north, 50.14 west; not certain of having got through. Please forward to White Staralso to Cunard, Liverpool and New York ­ that I am returning to New York. Consider this most advisable for many considerations.
ROSTRON
Q. Have you anything further there from Capt. Rostron?
A. There are several messages from him, but this is the first one Sunday or Monday morning.
Q. It was not an official message?
A. This is what Mr. Moore received:
New York time, 2 p.m. was in communication with the steamship Carpathia. Asked for news of the Titanic. He says, "I can not do everything at once. Patience, please." Then continues, "I received distress signals from the Titanic at 11:20, and we proceeded right to the spot mentioned. On arrival at daybreak we saw field ice 25 miles apparently solid, and a quantity of wreckage and a number of boats full of people. We raised about 670 souls. The Titanic has sunk. She went down in about two hours. Captain and all engineers lost. Our captain sent order that there was no need for Baltic to come any further, so with that she returned on her course to Liverpool. Are you going to resume your course on that information? We have two or three officers aboard and the second Marconi operator, who had been creeping his way through water 30 degrees some time. Mr. Ismay aboard. This information was reported to the commander immediately. I informed the Carpathia that if he had any important traffic to get through I would take it for him, as I was then in communication with Cape Race.
Told Carpathia stand by for service message. He informs me that he had had nothing to eat since 5:30 p.m. yesterday. 2:35 p.m. sent following to Carpathia:
"CAPTAIN CARPATHIA:
7:12 p.m. G.M.T. Our position 41.17 north 53.53 west steering east, true; shall I meet you and where
"HADDOCK."
2:40 p.m. communication with the S. S. Virginian (Allan). He says: "Please tell Carpathia we have been standing by for him since he asked us to resume our course at 9 a.m., when we were within 25 miles of him. Have message for him." I told the Virginian to give the Carpathia a chance as he was so busy. 3:15 p. m., received the following from the Carpathia: "CARPATHIA.
CAPTAIN OLYMPIC ­
7:30 G.M.T. Lat. 41.15 north, long. 51.45 west. Am steering south 87 west true. Returning to New York with Titanic's passengers. "ROSTRON." "CARPATHIA.
"CAPTAIN OLYMPIC:
"Bruce Ismay is under opiate. "ROSTRON." "CARPAHIA.
"CAPTAIN OLYMPIC:
"Do you think it is advisable Titanic's passengers see Olympic? Personally I say not. "ROSTRON." "CARPATHIA.
"CAPTAIN OLYMPIC:
"Mr. Ismay'S orders Olympic not to be seen by Carpathia. No transfer to take place. "ROSTRON."
3:35 p.m., following message sent:
CAPTAIN CARPATHIA:
"Kindly inform me if there is the slightest hope of searching Titanic position at daybreak. Agree with you on not meeting; will stand on present course until you have passed and will then haul more to southward. Does this parallel of 41.17 N. lead clear of the ice? Have you communicated the disaster to our people at New York or Liverpool? Or shall I do so and what particulars can you give me to send? Sincere thanks for what you have done. "HADDOCK."
Q. Have you anything further from the captain of the Carpathia?
A. [Quoting from report:)
4:15 p.m. Told Carpathia that we would report the information to White Star immediately. 4:35 p.m., following service messages sent to Cape Race:
"OLYMPIC
"ISMAY, New York and Liverpool
"Carpathia reached Titanic position at daybreak; found boats and wreckage only. Titanic had foundered about 2:20 a.m., in 41.16 north, 50.14 west. All her boats accounted for. About 675 souls saved, crew and passengers, latter nearly all women and children. Leyland Line S.S. Californian remaining and searching position of disaster. Carpathia returning to New York with survivors. Please inform Cunard. "HADDOCK."
Q. Now, as I recollect, that was sent at 4:35 p.m.?
A. Yes; New York mean time.
Q. And no trouble getting coast station?
A. That you will have to ask Mr. Moore, the wireless operator.
MR. MOORE (Wireless operator): No, sir; none whatever.
Q. So that that was received instantly at the coast station?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. At Cape Race?
A. Yes.
Q. And these same messages you have just read, Captain?
A. These did, sir.
Q. Have you anything further from the Carpathia?
A. Yes, sir; 4:50 p.m. following service message sent to Carpathia:
CAPTAIN CARPATHIA:
Can you give me names survivors; forward? HADDOCK.
4:52 p.m. Signals with Californian, who says:
We were the second boat on the scene of disaster. All we could see there were some boxes and coats and a few empty boats and what looked like oil on the water. When we were near the Carpathia he would not answer me though I kept calling on him, as I wanted the position. He kept talking to the Baltic. The latter says he is going to report me for jamming. We were the nearer boat to the Carpathia. A boat called the Birma was still looking.
5:20 p.m. Californian sends through following ice report:
Icebergs and field ice in 42.3 north, 49.9 west, 41.34 north, 50.09 west. He tells us he is 200 miles out of his course.
5:45 p.m. Received following from Carpathia:
[Private, to Capt. Haddock]. OLYMPIC.
Captain, chief, first, and sixth officers, and all engineers gone. Also doctor, all pursers, one Marconi operator, and chief steward gone. We have second, third, fourth, and fifth officers and one Marconi operator on board. ROSTRON.
At the same time, sir, the following:
CARPATHIA.
CAPTAIN OLYMPIC:
Will send names immediately we can. You can understand we are working under considerable difficulty. Everything possible being done for comfort of survivors. Please maintain stand­by. ROSTRON.
5:45 P.M. Carpathia then starts sending names of survivors. He says: "Please excuse sending, but am half asleep."
7:35 p.m. Received 322 first and second class passengers' names from him. During the transmission of the names it was evident that the operator on Carpathia was tired out.
7:45 p.m. Sent five private messages to the Carpathia. He says the third­class passengers' names and list of crew will follow later.
7:50 p.m. Trying to read Cape Race, who has a bunch of traffic for us. His signals very weak and am interfered with by atmospherics. We tried for some time, but his signals so weak impossible to read them.
8:35 p.m. Sent one private message to Californian asking if they had any survivors on board from the Titanic.
8:45 p.m. Private message from the Californian saying no Titanic survivors on board. Standing by for the Carpathia and calling him frequently. Hear nothing from him. I informed the commander that I was unable to hear anything more of Carpathia and asked, "Should I start sending list of names to Cape Race?" He instructed me to send them. 10 p.m. on the 15th. Calling Cape Race with list of survivors, but can not hear him.
Q. The message that Rostron sent to the Associated Press I would like to have in full.
A. The time is 8:25 p.m. on Monday, the 15th.
This message was relayed through the Olympic from the Carpathia and is as follows:
CARPATHIA, Cunard New York and Liverpool:
Titanic struck iceberg Monday, 3 a.m., 41.16 north, 40.14 west. Carpathia picked up many passengers in boats. Will wire further particulars later. Proceeding back to New York. ROSTRON.
Q. Was this sent to the Cunard office or to the Associated Press?
A. It was sent to the Cunard and the Associated Press.
Q. Does your memorandum show when you transmitted this message?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Just indicate, will you please?
A. I sent them after I sent the list of survivors to Cape Race [quoting from report]:
2:30 a.m. Completed sending list of survivors' names through to Cape Race and then start sending Carpathia's service messages, after which received the following from him
Q. Did you send this message from Capt. Rostron only after you received the list of survivors?
A. Not until after I sent the list of survivors.
Q. Then you sent this message to Capt. Rostron immediately after sending the list of survivors, which is about 2:30 a.m. of Tuesday, the 16th?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you have any trouble reaching Cape Race then?
A. No, sir.
Q. That message you turned over to Cape Race Coast Station without any difficulty?
A. Yes; I presume there were five altogether, and I sent the whole five there.
Q. Do you know the reason why it was not received at the White Star office until the 15th?
A. No, sir.
Q. [To Mr. Moore, wireless operator.] Did you relay a message from Mr. Ismay to Mr. Franklin, New York?
A. No, sir.
Q. That was not relayed through the Olympic?
A. No, sir.
Q. [To Capt. Haddock] Are there any messages there, Captain, that bear upon this matter?
A. These bear on the Titanic disaster.
Q. Have you got a copy of them?
A. I think I can spare a copy of it.
Q. Now, Captain, I would like to ask you when you received the first information about the sinking of the Titanic you got this information from the Titanic direct, that indicated the serious condition she was in, and you went to her relief?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. On Sunday night or Monday morning you had a message from them?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That impressed you with its seriousness, of course?
A. Yes.
Q. At what time and at what hour did you receive your first information, whether official or unofficial, regarding the sinking?
