United States
Senate Inquiry
Day 1
Testimony of Arthur H. Rostron
Senator SMITH.
Please give your full name and address.
Mr. ROSTRON.
Arthur Henry Rostron, Woodville, Victoria Road, Crosby, Liverpool.
Senator SMITH.
What is your business, Captain?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Seaman.
Senator SMITH.
How long have you been engaged in this business?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Twenty-seven years.
Senator SMITH.
What positions have you filled?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Every rank in the merchant service up to captain.
Senator SMITH.
In what companies or on what lines?
Mr. ROSTRON.
First of all I was two years as a cadet on the training ship Conway in
the Mersey, Liverpool, after which I went under sail as an apprentice with
Williams & Milligan's ships. I was an apprentice for three years, after
which I was second mate, after passing my examinations. Then, after getting my
mates certificate, I went as mate on another sailing ship. Then I passed for
extra master and joined the Cunard Steamship Co. in 1895.
Senator SMITH.
You are now captain of the Carpathia?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I am now captain of the Carpathia, Cunard Line.
Senator SMITH.
How long have you been captain of the Carpathia?
Mr. ROSTRON.
My appointment on the Carpathia dates from the 18th of
January.
Senator SMITH.
Of this year?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Of this year; yes sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were you captain of any other vessel?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The whole of last year, from the 1st of January of last year, I was captain of
the Pannonia.
Senator SMITH.
Of the same line?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Of the same line. Previous to that I was captain of several other smaller cargo
boats running between Liverpool and the Mediterranean.
Senator SMITH.
What day did you sail with the Carpathia from New York last?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The 11th of April.
Senator SMITH.
And where were you headed?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We were bound for Liverpool, Genoa, Naples, Trieste, and Fiume.
Senator SMITH.
How many passengers did you have on board the Carpathia when
you sailed from New York?
Mr. ROSTRON.
That I am not prepared to answer, sir. I can not give you the exact number.
Senator SMITH.
About how many?
Mr. ROSTRON.
One hundred and fifty first; 50 second; and about 560 or 575, third. That is
approximately.
Senator SMITH.
Your first stop would have been Gibraltar?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Gibraltar; yes sir.
Senator SMITH.
What time in the day did you leave New York?
Mr. ROSTRON.
At noon on Thursday.
Senator SMITH.
I wish you would tell the committee what occurred after that day, as nearly as
you can, up to the present time.
Mr. ROSTRON.
We backed out from the dock at noon on Thursday. We proceeded down the river,
the weather being fine and clear, and we left the pilot at the pilot boat and
passed the Ambrose Channel Lightship about 2 o'clock p.m. I can not give you
the exact time, now, because, as a matter of fact, I have not looked at a
single date or time of any kind. I have not had the time to do so.
Senator SMITH.
I mean approximately?
Mr. ROSTRON.
From that up to Sunday midnight we had fine, clear weather, and everything was
going on without any trouble of any kind.
At 12:35 a. m. on Monday I was informed
of the urgent distress signal from the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
By whom?
Mr. ROSTRON.
By our wireless operator,
and also by the first officer.
The wireless operator had taken the message and run with it
up to the bridge, and gave it to the first officer who was in charge, with a
junior officer with him, and both ran down the ladder to my door and called me.
I had only just turned in. It was an urgent distress signal from the Titanic,
requiring immediate assistance and giving me his position.
The position of the Titanic at the time
was 41° 46' north, 50° 14' west.
I can not give you our correct position, but we were then -
Senator SMITH.
Did you give the hour?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, 12:35; that was our apparent time. I can give you the New York time, if
you would rather have it?
Senator SMITH.
Yes; please do so.
Mr. ROSTRON.
The New York time at 12:35 was 10:45 p. m. Sunday night.
Immediately on getting the message, I gave the order to turn
the ship around, and immediately I had given that order I asked the operator if
he was absolutely sure it was a distress signal from the Titanic. I
asked him twice.
Senator SMITH.
Just what was that signal?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I did not ask him. He simply told me that he had received a distress signal
from the Titanic, requiring immediate assistance, and gave me his
position; and he assured me he was absolutely certain of the message.
In the meantime I was dressing, and I picked up our position on
my chart, and set a course to pick up the Titanic. The course was
north 52 degrees west true 58 miles from my position.
I then sent for the chief engineer. In the meantime I was
dressing and seeing the ship put on her course. The chief engineer came
up. I told him to call another watch of stokers and make all possible speed to
the Titanic, as she was in trouble.
He ran down immediately and told me my orders would be
carried out at once.
After that I gave the first officer, who was in charge of
the bridge, orders to knock off all work which the men were doing on deck, the
watch on deck, and prepare all our lifeboats, take out the spare gear, and have
them all ready for turning outboard.
Immediately I had done that I sent for the heads of the
different departments, the English doctor, the purser, and the chief steward,
and they came to my cabin, and then I issued my orders. I do not know whether
you care to hear what my orders were exactly.
Senator SMITH.
Yes, sir; we would like to hear them.
Mr. ROSTRON.
As a matter of fact, I have them all written down here. We carry an English
doctor, an Italian doctor, and a Hungarian doctor. My orders were these:
- English
doctor, with assistants, to remain in first class dining room.
- Italian
doctor, with assistants, to remain in second class dining room.
- Hungarian
doctor, with assistants, to remain in third class dining room.
- Each
doctor to have supplies of restoratives, stimulants, and everything to
hand for immediate needs of probable wounded or sick.
- Purser,
with assistant purser and chief steward, to receive the passengers, etc.,
at different gangways, controlling our own stewards in assisting Titanic passengers
to the dining rooms, etc.; also to get Christian and surnames of all
survivors as soon as possible to send by wireless.
- Inspector,
steerage stewards, and master at arms to control our own steerage
passengers and keep them out of the third class dining hall, and also to
keep them out of the way and off the deck to prevent confusion.
- Chief
steward: That all hands would be called and to have coffee, etc., ready to
serve out to all our crew.
- Have
coffee, tea, soup, etc., in each saloon, blankets in saloons, at the
gangways, and some for the boats.
- To see
all rescued cared for and immediate wants attended to.
- My
cabin and all officials' cabins to be given up. Smoke rooms, library,
etc., dining rooms, would be utilized to accommodate the survivors.
- All
spare berths in steerage to be utilized for Titanic's passengers,
and get all our own steerage passengers grouped together.
- Stewards
to be placed in each alleyway to reassure our own passengers, should they
inquire about noise in getting our boats out, etc., or the working of
engines.
- To all
I strictly enjoined the necessity for order, discipline and quietness and
to avoid all confusion.
- Chief
and first officers: All the hands to be called; get coffee, etc. Prepare
and swing out all boats.
- All
gangway doors to be opened.
- Electric
sprays in each gangway and over side.
- A
block with line rove hooked in each gangway.
- A
chair sling at each gangway, for getting up sick or wounded.
- Boatswains'
chairs. Pilot ladders and canvas ash bags to be at each gangway, the
canvas ash bags for children.
I may state the canvas ash bags were of great assistance in
getting the infants and children aboard.
- Cargo
falls with both ends clear; bowlines in the ends, and bights secured along
ship's sides, for boat ropes or to help the people up.
- Heaving
lines distributed along the ship's side, and gaskets handy near gangways
for lashing people in chairs, etc.
- Forward
derricks, topped and rigged, and steam on winches; also told off officers
for different stations and for certain eventualities.
- Ordered
company's rockets to be fired at 2:45 a. m. and every quarter of an hour
after to reassure Titanic.
This is a copy of what I am sending to our own company.
Senator SMITH.
We would like to have you leave a copy of that with the committee, if you can.
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir; I shall do it with pleasure.
One more thing:
- As
each official saw everything in readiness, he reported to me personally on
the bridge that all my orders were carried out, enumerating the same, and
that everything was in readiness.
This was at 3:45. That was a quarter of an hour before we
got up to the scene of the disaster. The details of all this work I left to the
several officials, and I am glad to say that they were most efficiently carried
out.
Senator SMITH.
I should judge from what you say that you made 19 1/4 knots from the time you
got the signal of distress from the Titanic, until you reached
the scene of
the wreck or loss?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, it was 58 miles, and it took us three and a half hours.
Mr. UHLER.
From 12:35 to 3:45?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No; 3:45 is when they reported to me. I have not got to the time of arrival at
the scene of action yet. I stopped my engines at 4 o'clock, and I was then
close to the first boat.
Senator SMITH.
Just proceed, in your own way.
Mr. ROSTRON.
After interviewing the heads of the departments, I went on the bridge and
remained there. While I was up there made inquiries making sure that my orders
were all being carried out, and that everything possible was being done.
At 2:40, I saw a flare, about half a point on the port bow,
and immediately took it for granted that it was the Titanic itself,
and I remarked that she must be still afloat, as I knew we were a long way off,
and it seemed so high.
However, soon after seeing the flare I made out an iceberg
about a point on the port bow, to which I had to port to keep well clear of.
Knowing that the Titanic had struck ice, of course I had to
take extra care and every precaution to keep clear of anything that might look
like ice.
Between 2:45 and 4 o'clock, the time I stopped my engines,
we were passing icebergs on every side and making them ahead and having to
alter our course several times to clear the bergs.
At 4 o'clock I stopped.
At 4:10 I got the first boat alongside.
Previous to getting the first boat alongside, however, I saw
an iceberg close to me, right ahead, and I had to starboard to get out of the
way. And I picked him up on the weather side of the ship. I had to clear this
ice.
I am on the scene of action now. This is 4:10 with the first
boat alongside.
Senator SMITH.
You are picking up these people now?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Please describe that in your own way.
Mr. ROSTRON.
We picked up the first boat, and the boat was in charge of an officer. I saw that
he was not under full control of this boat, and the officer sung out to me that
he only had one seaman in the boat, so I had to maneuver the ship to get as
close to the boat as possible, as I knew well it would be difficult to do the
pulling. However, they got alongside, and they got them up all right.
By the time we had the first boat's people it was breaking
day, and then I could see the remaining boats all around within an area of
about 4 miles. I also saw icebergs all around me. There were about 20 icebergs
that would be anywhere from about 150 to 200 feet high and numerous smaller
bergs; also numerous what we call "growlers." You would not call them
bergs. They were anywhere from 10 to 12 feet high and 10 to 15 feet long above
the water.
I maneuvered the ship and we gradually got all the boats
together. We got all the boats alongside and all the people up aboard by 8:30.
I was then very close to where the Titanic must
have gone down, as there was a lot of hardly wreckage but small pieces of
broken-up stuff nothing in the way of anything large.
At 8 o'clock the Leyland Line steamer Californian hove
up, and we exchanged messages. I gave them the notes by semaphore about
the Titanic going down, and that I had got all the passengers
from the boats; but we were then not quite sure whether we could account for
all the boats. I told them: "Think one boat still unaccounted for."
He then asked me if he should search around, and I said, "Yes,
please." It was then 10:50.
I want to go back again, a little bit.
At 8:30 all the people were on board. I asked for the
purser, and told him that I wanted to hold a service, a short prayer of
thankfulness for those rescued and a short burial service for those who were
lost. I consulted with Mr. Ismay. I ran
down for a moment and told them that I wished to do this, and Mr. Ismay left
everything in my hands.
I then got an Episcopal clergyman, one of our passengers,
and asked him if he would do this for me, which he did, willingly.
While they were holding the service, I was on the bridge, of
course, and I maneuvered around the scene of the wreckage. We saw nothing
except one body.
Senator SMITH.
Floating?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Floating, sir.
Senator SMITH.
With a life preserver on?
Mr. ROSTRON.
With a life preserver on. That is the only body I saw.
Senator SMITH.
Was it male or female?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Male. It appeared to me to be one of the crew. He was only about 100 yards from
the ship. We could see him quite distinctly, and saw that he was absolutely
dead. He was lying on his side like this (indicating) and his head was
awash. Of course he could not possibly have been alive and remain in that
position. I did not take him aboard. For one reason, the Titanic's passengers
then were knocking about the deck and I did not want to cause any unnecessary
excitement or any more hysteria among them, so I steamed past, trying to get
them not to see it.
From the boats we took three dead men, who had died of
exposure.
Senator SMITH.
From the lifeboats?
Mr. ROSTRON.
From the lifeboats; yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know from which boats they were taken?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, sir; I am only giving you the general news now. We took three dead men from
the boats, and they were brought on board. Another man was brought up - I think
he was one of the crew - who died that morning about 10 o'clock, I think, and
he, with the other three, were buried at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Senator SMITH.
At sea?
Mr. ROSTRON.
At sea.
Senator SMITH.
Did they have anything on their persons by which they could be identified?
Mr. ROSTRON.
One of my own officers and the Titanic's officers identified
the bodies, as far as possible, and took everything from them that could be of
the slightest clue or use. Nothing was left but their clothes. There was very
little taken, of course. But, as regards details, I can not give you much. I
have been too busy.
Senator SMITH.
You have not the names of these men?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We have the names.
Senator SMITH.
You have not them here with you?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I have not got them with me; no, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were they men or women?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Men. There were several ladies in the boats. They were slightly injured about
the arms and things of that kind, of course; although I must say, from the very
start, all these people behaved magnificently. As each boat came alongside
everyone was calm, and they kept perfectly still in their boats. They were
quiet and orderly, and each person came up the ladder, or was pulled up, in
turn as they were told off. There was no confusion whatever among the
passengers. They behaved magnificently - every one of them.
As they came aboard, they were, of course, attended to. My
instructions had already been given to that effect.
Senator SMITH.
Captain, how many lifeboats were there?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We had 15 lifeboats alongside with passengers in them.
Senator SMITH.
Of both types?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Wait a moment, please.
There were 15 lifeboats alongside. We accounted for those
with passengers in them. There was one lifeboat that we saw that was close to
the ship, but it had been abandoned because it had got damaged, and was in a
sinking condition. The officer had taken all the people out of that lifeboat,
and left it absolutely vacant. There was no one in it. It was empty.
Senator SMITH.
What type of boat was it?
Mr. ROSTRON.
That was a lifeboat. It had been damaged. We had two berthon boats.
Senator SMITH.
Collapsible boats?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Hardly collapsible; it is a flat raft boat, with collapsible canvas sides,
about two feet deep.
Senator SMITH.
To hold how many people?
Mr. ROSTRON.
One of those boats would hold 60 to 75 comfortably.
Senator SMITH.
How many of those were there?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We accounted for two. One of these berthon boats capsized. That was three.
Senator SMITH.
As these boats were emptied, and the occupants taken aboard the Carpathia what was done with the boats?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The boats were kept alongside.
Senator SMITH.
Just in what shape were they left afloat, or were they in some way taken on the
decks?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir; I am going to tell you that now. As the people came out, we left the
boats alongside. Of course lots of gear had been knocked out of the boats and
thrown out of the way of the people as they were getting up; so, while they
were holding this service and while I was cruising around, I had had all of my
boats swung out, ready for lowering over, and while they were getting all the
people aboard from the boats, I got the spare men and some of my officers, and
swung my boats inboard again, and landed them on their blocks and secured them,
and swung the davits out again, disconnected the falls again, and got up
the Titanic's boats. While I was cruising around, I was also
getting these boats up. I got seven of the Titanic's boats up
in our davits, and six up on the forecastle head with the forward derricks; so
that is 13 boats in all.
Senator SMITH.
What did you do with these boats?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We pulled them up the davits.
Senator SMITH.
Did you bring them into port?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; and last night, previous to coming into the dock, we got some tenders off
and lowered all the boats in the water, and these tenders took them away. Where
they took them I do not know. But we had these boats still left on the
forecastle head, and they would have been put into the dock during the day.
Senator SMITH.
Have you examined those boats personally?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I have only been in one or two of them; looked at them.
Senator SMITH.
Can you tell from what you saw of them whether they were marked Titanic?
Mr. ROSTRON.
They were all marked "Titanic," as they came up.
Senator SMITH.
Were they apparently new boats?
Mr. ROSTRON.
They were all brand new.
Senator SMITH.
They were all brand new?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; as far as I could see. They appeared to me to be absolutely new boats.
Senator SMITH.
All conforming to the regulations of the British Board of Trade?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Absolutely.
Senator SMITH.
And as good as you would have had if you were to specify them yourself?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Quite.
Senator SMITH.
Did you see any bodies afloat, except as you have described?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Only one; no more - no others.
Senator SMITH.
Did you have any information as to whether the passengers or crew of the Titanic had
made use of their life preservers?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I had very little opportunity of being amongst the passengers or any of them.
To tell you the truth, I have been on the bridge, or about
my duties most of the time. I had, however, one or two conversations with the
passengers on Tuesday afternoon. That was the only time I had anything to do
with the people, as I heard then that all the people on the Titanic,
as far as they could see, had lifebelts on. They had all been supplied with
lifebelts.
Senator SMITH.
I assume that you kept watch to see whether there was any of these people
afloat?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Precisely. I was cruising all around the vicinity of the disaster.
Senator SMITH.
How long did you cruise around there?
Mr. ROSTRON.
In the actual vicinity of the disaster?
Senator SMITH.
Yes.
Mr. ROSTRON.
Half an hour.
Senator SMITH.
During that time was there a swirl or any unnatural condition of the sea?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Nothing whatever. The wind and sea were then beginning to get up. There was a
moderate breeze blowing then, and a little slop of the sea.
Senator SMITH.
Have you any idea how much depth of water there was about that point?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; about two thousand and odd fathoms.
Senator SMITH.
Two thousand and odd fathoms?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; I looked on the chart.
Senator SMITH.
Have you concluded that you did not see the ill-fated ship at all?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Oh, no; we arrived an hour and a half after she went down; after the last of
her was seen.
Senator SMITH.
What was the last message you
had from the ship?
Mr. ROSTRON.
"Engine room nearly full."
Senator SMITH.
"Engine room nearly full"?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
At what hour was that?
Mr. ROSTRON.
That would have been about 1 o'clock. That would be 25 minutes after.
Senator SMITH.
Was that all?
Mr. ROSTRON.
That was the last message we
got. It was either "Engine room nearly full," or "Engine room
full," or "Engine room-filling." The exact words I could not
give you. The impression was quite enough for me, as to the condition the ship
was in.
Senator SMITH.
And you then told them how near you were?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes. From the very first I sent a message to
the Titanic - telling them, "Coming immediately to your
assistance. Expect to arrive half-past 4-" No; it was, "Expect to
arrive in four hours," because I had not then got up full speed.
Senator SMITH.
Did you personally know the captain of
the Titanic?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I knew him; yes.
Senator SMITH.
How long had you known him?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I had met him 15 years ago. I have only met him about three times altogether.
Senator SMITH.
In your company, who is the master of a ship at sea?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The captain.
Senator SMITH.
In absolute control?
Mr. ROSTRON.
In absolute control, legal and otherwise. No one can interfere.
Senator SMITH.
I suppose if this had not been so, you would not have felt it proper to have
gone off your course quite so far?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Quite so.
Senator SMITH.
Are there prescribed routes at sea that are so definite in their character as
to be well understood by mariners?
Mr. ROSTRON.
They are. I may state this: That the position given
me by the Titanic was absolutely correct and she was
absolutely on her track, bound for New York.
Senator SMITH.
What would you call that course, Captain, that the Titanic was
taking for New York, as to whether it would be northerly or southerly?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Oh, she was then - I forget the true course now, but she had passed what we
call the corner on the great circle. It is some years since I was in the North
Atlantic trade. I have been in the Mediterranean trade, and I have forgotten.
Mr. UHLER.
He is not speaking of your compass course.
Mr. ROSTRON.
I am giving the true course.
Mr. UHLER.
He is asking whether the Titanic was on the northerly
course or the southerly
route?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Oh. He was on the southerly
route.
Senator SMITH.
What do you mean by that?
Mr. ROSTRON.
He makes a great circle on the most southerly
route, to avoid all ice, as nearly as possible. That is 42
north and 47 west. That is what we call the first corner.
That is the great circle track from
Queenstown down to the corner.
From there he takes a straight course - I forget, now, the actual course.
Senator SMITH.
Do you regard the route he
was taking as entirely practical and appropriate at this time of the year?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Quite so. This is most exceptional.
Senator SMITH.
Having the warning that icebergs were in that vicinity, could he, under those
circumstances have changed his course somewhat to avoid them?
Mr. ROSTRON.
That is impossible for me to tell. All I know is that he was on the track of
the western bound steamers, on his proper track, where he ought to have been.
Senator SMITH.
At this time of year?
Mr. ROSTRON.
At this time of year.
Senator SMITH.
Is not that the shortest
route from Liverpool to New York?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No; it is the longest.
Senator SMITH.
The longest?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What would have been the shortest?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The shortest
route is after August, if I remember right; from September to January.
From September to January, I think, is the shortest
route.
Senator SMITH.
But what would that be?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Oh, well; up north.
Senator SMITH.
How far north?
Mr. ROSTRON.
It would be probably a couple of hundred miles north.
Senator SMITH.
Would you regard the course taken by the Titanic in
this trial trip as appropriate and safe and wise at this time of the year?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Quite so.
Senator SMITH.
What would be a safe, reasonable speed for a vessel of that size on such a
course and in proximity of icebergs?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Of course I do not know the ship. I know absolutely nothing about her.
Senator SMITH.
How would you have felt yourself about it. Suppose you had been taking that
course with your ship; how fast would you have felt it prudent to go in such a
situation?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I can only tell you this, gentlemen, I knew there was ice about.
Senator SMITH.
How did you know it?
Mr. ROSTRON.
From the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
From the Titanic's message?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Precisely. He told me he had struck ice.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know it any other way?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, sir; that was the first intimation I had that there was ice there.
Senator SMITH.
You did not know it until you saw it yourself?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I knew the Titanic had struck ice. Therefore, I was prepared
to be in the vicinity of ice when I was getting near him, because if he had
struck a berg and I was going to his position I knew very well that there must
be ice about. I went full speed, all we could -
Senator SMITH.
You went full speed?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I did, and doubled my lookouts, and took extra precautions and exerted extra
vigilance. Every possible care was taken. We were all on the qui vive.
Senator SMITH.
You had a smaller ship, however, and it would respond more readily to a signal?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Would it not?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, sir; it would not. I do not maintain that, for one moment.
Senator SMITH.
How many men were on the bridge, on the lookout, so to speak, in that
situation, on your ship?
Mr. ROSTRON.
There were three officers with me: A quartermaster, one man in the crow's nest,
and two men in the eyes of the ship - that is, right forward on the deck,
nearer to the water than the crow's nest.
Senator SMITH.
Was that the ordinary complement, or did you put them there because of that
danger?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I put an extra lookout on forward.
Senator SMITH.
An extra lookout?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; and the officer came up extra with me. I had another officer up with me,
extra. He came up voluntarily.
Senator SMITH.
What would be the ordinary complement?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The ordinary complement of a night lookout, two men. We keep one in the crow's
nest and one in the eyes - that is, right forward.
Senator SMITH.
Was there any special suffering of the Titanic's passengers
after they got aboard the Carpathia?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I never heard of anything special. I can not give you any medical reports, as I
have not received them yet. All I know is that the second day, Tuesday morning,
the doctor came to me and said he was pleased to say that there was an entirely
clean bill of health.
Senator SMITH.
No damage, so far as you know, was done by one to the other, and there was no
trouble or difficulty?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, no; none whatever. I never heard of anything of that kind, never.
Senator SMITH.
How many lifeboats do you carry on the Carpathia?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We carry 20.
Senator SMITH.
What is their capacity?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I am not prepared to say at the present moment. I can not say; I really forget.
Senator SMITH.
Do you carry 20 in obedience to certain regulations of the British Board of
Trade?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I think it is 20; yes.
Senator SMITH.
What is your gross tonnage?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Thirteen thousand six hundred tons.
Senator SMITH.
That is the total capacity of your ship, the tonnage?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Thirteen thousand six hundred.
Senator SMITH.
What is it as to passengers?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I can not tell you. I have not come here with any data. I have not looked up
anything, and was absolutely unprepared for any questions. I have been too
busy.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say was the tonnage of your ship?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Thirteen thousand six hundred tons.
Senator SMITH.
What was the tonnage of the Titanic?
Mr. UHLER.
It was 45,629 tons.
Senator SMITH.
Are these regulations of the British Board of Trade new regulations or old
regulations?
Mr. ROSTRON.
They are of recent date.
Senator SMITH.
The fact that, under these regulations, you are obliged to carry 20 lifeboats
and the Titanic was only obliged to carry 20, with her
additional tonnage, indicates either that these regulations were prescribed
long ago -
Mr. ROSTRON. (interposing)
No, sir; it has nothing to do with that. What it has to do with is the ship
itself. The ships are built nowadays to be practically unsinkable, and each
ship is supposed to be a lifeboat in itself. The boats are merely supposed to
be put on as a standby. The ships are supposed to be built, and the naval
architects say they are, unsinkable under certain conditions. What the exact
conditions are, I do not know, as to whether it is with alternate compartments
full, or what it may be. That is why in our ship we carry more lifeboats, for
the simple reason that we are built differently from the Titanic;
differently constructed.
Senator SMITH.
Approximately how many passengers are provided for on the Carpathia?
I do not ask you to be accurate about it, but approximately how many?
Mr. ROSTRON.
How many did we approximately provide for on the voyage from New York?
Mr. UHLER.
What is your British allowance?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Two thousand two hundred third, and about 250 first and second combined.
Senator SMITH.
That makes 2,450. Give us your crew complement.
Mr. ROSTRON.
That, of course, varies. We have about 300 aboard now.
Senator SMITH.
How many officers?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Six officers.
Senator SMITH.
You say the captain of a ship is vested ordinarily with absolute control and
discretion over the movements of his vessel?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Absolutely. I wish to qualify that, however. By law, the captain of the vessel
has absolute control, but suppose we get orders from the owners of the vessel
to do a certain thing and we do not carry it out. The only thing is then that
we are liable to dismissal. I shall give you an illustration of what I mean by
that, as regards receiving orders, and so on. When I turned back to New York, I
sent my message to
the Cunard Co. telling them that I was proceeding to New York unless otherwise
ordered. You see what I mean there? I said, "For many considerations,
consider New York most advisable."
Senator SMITH.
And you immediately reversed your course?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I came right around for New York immediately, and returned to New York. Would
you like to know my reasons for coming back to New York?
Senator SMITH.
Yes.
Mr. ROSTRON.
The first and principal reason was that we had all these women aboard, and I
knew they were hysterical and in a bad state. I knew very well, also, that you
would want all the news possible. I knew very well, further, that if I went to
Halifax, we could get them there all right, but I did not know how many of
these people were half dead, how many were injured, or how many were really
sick, or anything like that. I knew, also, that if we went to Halifax, we would
have the possibility of coming across more ice, and I knew very well what the
effect of that would be on people who had had the experience these people had
had. I knew what that would be the whole time we were in the vicinity of ice. I
took that into consideration. I knew very well that if we went to Halifax it
would be a case of railway journey for these passengers, as I knew they would
have to go to New York, and there would be all the miseries of that.
Furthermore, I did not know what the condition of the
weather might be, or what accommodation I could give them in Halifax, and that
was a great consideration - one of the greatest considerations that made me
turn back.
Mr. UHLER.
And the chances for fine weather were better coming to New York than going to
Halifax?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Your message to
your company was practically notice that you had done this?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I had done it; but the message did
not get off until Monday evening.
Senator SMITH.
You were then -
Mr. ROSTRON. (interrupting).
When I sent that message we had been on our way 12 hours.
Senator SMITH.
Captain, is it customary to take orders from a director or a general officer of
the company aboard?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
From whom do you take orders?
Mr. ROSTRON.
From no one.
Senator SMITH.
Aboard ship?
Mr. ROSTRON.
At sea, immediately I leave port until I arrive at port, the captain is in
absolute control and takes orders from no one. I have never known it in our
company or any other big company when a director or a managing owner would
issue orders on that ship. It matters not who comes on board that ship they are
either passengers or crew. There is no official status and no authority
whatever with them.
Senator SMITH.
You say, Captain, that you ran under a full head of steam?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Toward the Titanic?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Would you have done so in the nighttime?
Mr. ROSTRON.
It was in the nighttime. I can confess this much, that if I had known at the
time there was so much ice about, I should not; but I was right in it then. I
could see the ice.
I knew I was perfectly clear. There is one other
consideration: Although I was running a risk with my own ship and my own
passengers, I also had to consider what I was going for.
Senator SMITH.
To save the lives of others?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; I had to consider the lives of others.
Senator SMITH.
You were prompted by your interest in humanity?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Absolutely.
Senator SMITH.
And you took the chance?
Mr. ROSTRON.
It was hardly a chance. Of course it was a chance, but at the same time I knew
quite what I was doing. I considered that I was perfectly free, and that I was
doing perfectly right in what I did.
Senator SMITH.
I suppose no criticism has been passed upon you for it?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No.
Senator SMITH.
In fact, I think I may say, for my associates, that your conduct deserves the
highest praise.
Mr. ROSTRON.
I thank you, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And we are very grateful to you, Captain, for coming here.
I understand it is your purpose to leave this afternoon?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; I think we sail at 4 o'clock.
Senator SMITH.
If we should desire to get into communication again, what are your plans for
the future? Are you headed for the south of Europe?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We go to Gibraltar. I am just going by the same old route as before -
Gibraltar, Genoa, Naples, Trieste, Fiume --
Mr. UHLER.
Fifty days back to New York?
Mr. ROSTRON.
A little less than that. About 43 days back. We sail about every seven weeks.
Senator SMITH.
Did I ask you about the number of passengers that died aboard ship on your way
to New York?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, sir. None died on the ship; so far as I am aware. We took three bodies from
the boats, already dead, and the third [fourth] man who died on board from
exposure, who was taken on board from the lifeboat, was a seaman. I am almost
sure of my statement that he was a seaman.
Senator SMITH.
In the first lifeboat you say there was only one man?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No; only one seaman. I think there were two more men. To tell the truth, I am
not quite sure how many men there were.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any officers?
Mr. ROSTRON.
One officer.
Senator SMITH.
One officer and one seaman?
Mr. ROSTRON.
And one seaman, yes.
Senator SMITH.
How many men?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I can not tell you. I can not give you the number of any men or seamen in any
of the boats, even approximately, now.
Senator SMITH.
These lifeboats, of course, were being propelled by oars?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were there any women using these oars?
Mr. ROSTRON.
There were.
Senator SMITH.
In how many boats?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I saw women, I think, in at least two boats rowing.
Senator SMITH.
How many women using the oars?
Mr. ROSTRON.
In one I saw two. It is very hard to give the exact number, because one or two
of the boats were rather crowded, especially one boat that had got damaged and
was foundering. That boat was very crowded. I could not say how many women were
pulling. I saw certainly two or three women pulling at the oars. I know, as a
matter of fact, in one boat there were two or three women pulling.
Senator SMITH.
In what boat did Mr.
Ismay come?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I have not the faintest idea. The first I knew that Mr. Ismay was aboard was
when we got the last boat alongside, and we were getting the last passengers
aboard.
Senator SMITH.
You do not remember the number of seamen in that boat?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I have not the faintest idea.
Senator SMITH.
Do you remember the number of men in the other boats?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I can give you no details of the seamen or anything else. Remember one thing:
Unless the sailors were dressed in some distinctive uniform, I could not tell
the seamen, firemen, stewards, or passengers.
Senator NEWLANDS.
When your ship arrived in New York, were any of the passengers dangerously ill?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Not to my knowledge.
Senator NEWLANDS.
How many died after you rescued them?
Mr. ROSTRON.
None. No passengers died. Only the one seaman.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know who took the lifeboats from the Carpathia?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No.
Senator SMITH.
It was probably done by the owners?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No; I had previously to this sent a wireless to
the White Star Line asking them to send a couple of tugboats down to quarantine
to take these boats away, as I would not be able to come into dock with those
boats up in the davits or on the forecastle head. There were none there, and so
I was worrying about these. It was a dirty night, coming up the river last
night, and I was worrying about what I was going to do with the boats. I had
the boats lowered half way to the water, to avoid any waste of time. When we
got right off the dock, I asked them to send some tugboats out to take the
boats away, as I could not dock until they were gotten out of the way. After
that I do not know anything about them.
Senator SMITH.
Some complaint has been made because the message of the President of the United
States, which was sent the Carpathia, was not answered. Do you know
anything about that?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I heard last night that there was a message about a Maj. Butt. I asked
my purser this morning if he remembers any message asking if Maj. Butt was on
board, and it was answered: "Not on board." That is the only thing I
know about that message of that name. I do not remember anything else.
Senator SMITH.
Was there any attempt to communicate with the Carpathia from
any Government vessel?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; from the Chester.
I got a message from
the Chester. The exact words of it I quite forget now; but there
was something in it about the President; something, as far as I remember, about
his being anxious about the passengers, if I remember right. I was rather
worried at the time, as it was foggy, and these messages came up to me on the
bridge. I had my hands full. He gave me his position and told me he was coming
to take the names of the passengers and wanted my position. I answered him with
my position and asked him if he could take the passengers names.
I told him the names of the first and second cabin
passengers and crew had already gone. I said: "Can you take third class
names now?" I got a reply back:
"Yes, yes."
Senator SMITH.
From the Chester?
Mr. ROSTRON.
From the Chester. Those are the two messages I got from the Chester.
Senator SMITH.
Was there any attempt made by anyone to influence you in sending or receiving
wireless messages?
Mr. ROSTRON.
From the very commencement I took charge of the whole thing and issued orders
that every message sent would be sent under my authority, and no message was to
be sent unless authorized by me. My orders were: First of all, the two official
messages. The two official messages were to the Cunard Co. and the White Star
Co., as regards the accident, telling them that I had got an approximate number
of passengers aboard and was returning to New York. That was to the White Star
Co., and the other one
was to our company, of course, telling them that I was proceeding to New York
unless otherwise ordered, and considered New York the best, for many
considerations.
After those two messages were sent, I sent a press message to
the Associated Press, practically in the same words as I had sent to the
companies, over my signature.
Those were the three first messages that were sent. After
these messages were sent, we began sending in the names of the first class
passengers. This was by the Olympic on
Monday evening. We got the first, and I think all the second off by the Olympic.
Then we lost touch.
Senator SMITH.
You lost touch?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We lost touch; yes.
Senator SMITH.
When was that?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The hour I could not tell you. It was Tuesday morning some time very early in
the morning, between 1 and 2, I think.
Senator SMITH.
How many operators did you have on the Carpathia?
Mr. ROSTRON.
One.
Senator SMITH.
Was he in
constant service from the time you received this first message from the Titanic?
Mr. ROSTRON.
He was constantly at his instrument, the whole time.
Senator SMITH.
How old a man was he?
Mr. ROSTRON.
He is a young man. I should think he is about 25 years old.
Senator SMITH.
Under whose employ?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The Marconi Co.
Senator SMITH.
What is his name?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I can not tell you. I do not know his name.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know, of your own knowledge, of the attempt of the President of the
United States to communicate directly with your ship?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Absolutely not; nothing whatever of that.
Senator SMITH.
I guess that there was no intention whatever of either ignoring his message -
Mr. ROSTRON. (interposing)
My word, I hope not, sir.
Senator SMITH. (continuing)
Or neglecting it?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Absolutely no intention of any such thing, sir. It never entered the minds of
anyone.
Senator SMITH.
And no one attempted in any way to put a censorship over the wireless service
on your ship?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Absolutely no censorship whatever. I controlled the whole thing, through my
orders. I said I placed official messages first. After they had gone, and the
first press message, then the names of the passengers. After the names of the
passengers and crew had been sent my orders were to send all private messages
from the Titanic's passengers first in the order in which they
were given in to the purser; no preference to any message.
Senator SMITH.
You picked up a message from the Californian,
did you not?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No, we did not pick up a message. Wait a minute. We knew the Californian was
about, because the operator had told me he had heard the Californian reply
to those signals. That is all.
At 8 o'clock in the morning he hove in sight. This was at
the wreck, and I left him when I returned to New York at 8.50, I think it was,
when I put on full speed to come back. He was searching the vicinity of the
wreckage, and I left for New York.
The next day I got a message from
the Californian saying:
Have searched position carefully up to noon and found
nothing and seen no bodies.
Senator SMITH.
Did your wireless work right up to the time you intended to use it last?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I do not follow your question, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did your wireless fail you at all?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Never. The only thing is that we were not fitted up with a long-distance
installation. It is only a short-distance outfit, for what we call ship
messages, and close to land stations.
Senator SMITH.
How far can you communicate?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Under good conditions, 200 miles. We only reckon, under ordinary conditions, on
150 miles. Fog, mist, haze, snow, or any other unfavorable weather conditions
make it so that we may not get more that 90 to 100 miles.
Senator SMITH.
It was rather accidental, then, that you happened to be within the radius of
your instrument when you got the Titanic?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; we were only 58 miles away from them.
Senator SMITH.
It was providential?
Mr. ROSTRON.
The whole thing was absolutely providential. I will tell you this, that the
wireless operator was in his cabin, at the time, not on official business at
all, but just simply listening as he was undressing. He was unlacing his boots
at the time. He had this apparatus on his ear, and the message came. That was
the whole thing. In 10 minutes, maybe he would have been in bed, and we would
not have heard the messages.
Senator SMITH.
It was a very remarkable coincidence
Mr. ROSTRON.
It was very remarkable, and, as I say, the whole thing was providential, as
regards our being able to get there.
Mr. UHLER.
You could receive from a long distance, but you could not send a response?
Mr. ROSTRON.
We can always take from a long distance, yes.
Mr. UHLER.
You have a low powered machine?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
From what you have heard from the passengers or crew of the Titanic,
do you know whether any of them saw the Titanic sink finally?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, several of the passengers to whom I have spoken saw the ship sink.
Senator SMITH.
Do you remember who they were?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I think Mrs. Thayer was one.
Senator SMITH.
Mrs. J. B. Thayer?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes; and her son Jack; and Mrs. Wagner.
[Widener]
Senator SMITH.
And Col. Gracie?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I do not remember. I do not know the names of any of the people who were saved.
I never came across them.
Senator SMITH.
You never talked with them?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I had no opportunity to do so.
Senator SMITH.
You were kept very busy?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Captain, how many more lifeboats could you accommodate on the Carpathia than
you have now?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Under the present conditions, and of course if they were ordinary lifeboats, I
do not believe we could take more than six, at the very outside. Of course,
that is absolutely lumbering the deck up as it is.
Senator NEWLANDS.
It would be lumbering the deck up, and you would only have space for 26 in all?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes.
Senator NEWLANDS.
And that would lumber up the deck to some extent?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes. Not the passenger decks. It has nothing to do with the passenger decks. It
would be the deck space that is not utilized by the passengers that would be
lumbered up, not the promenade decks.
Senator NEWLANDS.
I see. Would that additional number work much additional inconvenience upon the
deck?
Mr. ROSTRON.
No: I do not think so.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Take the case of the Titanic, whose tonnage was more than three
times as great as that of the Carpathia, which had, I believe, the
same number of lifeboats as the Carpathia?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir.
Senator NEWLANDS.
How many additional lifeboats could that vessel accommodate without
inconvenience?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I have not the faintest idea, sir, what the Titanic was like.
I believe she is a sister ship of the Olympic. I have seen
the Olympic once, when she was at the end of our dock. I have
no idea of her construction. That is all I have seen of her.
Senator NEWLANDS.
You think she could accommodate considerably more, do you not?
Mr. ROSTRON.
If she could not accommodate them she could be made to accommodate them. If
they build the ship knowing that she is only to carry 16 lifeboats they will
utilize the space otherwise.
Senator NEWLANDS.
How do you account for the fact that the Board of Trade of England, as the size
of these ships has increased, has not compelled an increase in the number of
lifeboats? Your maximum, as I understand, is 20 boats, is it not?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, I believe it is. But they have compelled a different construction of the
ship itself. That is where the thing has come in.
Senator NEWLANDS.
You regard each ship itself as a lifeboat?
Mr. ROSTRON.
Yes, sir.
Senator NEWLANDS.
That expectation was not realized in the case of this ship?
Mr. ROSTRON.
It has been an abnormal experience as regards the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
Have you any kind of knowledge at all regarding the force of the impact which
wrecked the Titanic?
Mr. ROSTRON.
I know nothing about it, sir. I have not asked any questions about this kind of
business. I knew it was not my affair, and I had little desire to make any of
the officers feel it any more than they did. Mind you sir, there is only this:
I know nothing, but I have heard rumors of different passengers; some will say
one thing and some another. I would, therefore, rather say nothing. I do not
know anything. From the officers I know nothing. I could give you silly rumors
of passengers, but I know they are not reliable, from my own experience; so, if
you will excuse me, I would prefer to say nothing.
Senator SMITH.
I think that is all, Captain, and I want to thank you for your courtesy in
appearing before the committee and giving us the information at your disposal.
Senator NEWLANDS.
As to the equipment of these lifeboats, what are the requirements as to food
and compass, and so on?
Mr. ROSTRON.
They are all supplied with compass, and with water breakers and with bread
tanks.
Mr. UHLER.
And with mast and sail?
Mr. ROSTRON.
And with mast and sail.
Mr. UHLER.
And gear?
Mr. ROSTRON.
And all of the necessary gear.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Do you know whether those conditions were complied with reference to these
boats on the Titanic?
Mr. ROSTRON.
As far as I can see, yes. I can tell you this, that I saw myself both water and
biscuits in the boats, not all, of course, but one or two where the men were
working about when we secured them. We put them on board our ship and we had to
secure them, and under certain circumstances, we had to come up against the
boat and look into them, and there were two or three boats where I did see both
water and bread in the boats; and all of the boats had the bread tanks. That I
know for certain. And they also had water breakers.
Senator SMITH.
We are very much obliged to you, Capt. Rostron.
Mr. ROSTRON.
You are quite welcome, sir. If there is anything further I can do, I shall be
very glad.