k-
"Absolutely no," replied Ismay.
"Were you on deck when the
v order to lower life boats was
given ?"
"I heard Captaih Smith- giye
the order," said Ismay. 'I saw
three boats lowered. I got in the
fourth. 'Women and children
first' was the order given. About
45 passengers were in the boat
with me, practically its full ca
pacity." "Was there any struggling or
jostling or attempts yby men to
get into the boats?" as"ked Smith,
significantly.
"I saw nbne," Ismay replied, in
a low voice, fiddling nervously
with his glasses. "Wfc simply
picked up the, first women we
could lay our hands on. I'helped
put some in myself." '
"It is said that the. women in
- the second boal had no oarsmen
and were forced to row from
11:30 at night Wtil dawn,"
Smith suggested.
"Of that I have no knowledge,"
Jsmay replied.
"Did you see any passengers on
the1 Titanic just before she sank?"
"I saw them, but Iclid not rec
ognize any of them," said Ismay.
"Did you see Charles M. Hays,
or know of the presence of any
other prominent American or
Canadian on the boat prior to the
sinking?".
"I knew Hays was on board,
but I did not see him."
'Senator Smith asked under
what circumstances Ismay left
the Titanic.
"Iwas opposite the last boat
-the sajIors'Were trying to"lower,o
replied Ismay. There was an iufc
filled space in the boat The cap
tain asked, 'Are there any wom
en?' There was no answer. There
were no male passengers on that
part of the ship. Just before she
was lowered, I jumped in."
Jsmay said h"e v did npt know
where the Titanic was struck by
the iceberg.
"All the men passengers I saw
were provided with life preserv
ers'' Ismay continued. "When I
entefed the lifeboat from the star
board side there were no other
passengers in sight. I saw no
struggle, no confusion. I saw no
one jump into the sea from the
Titanic- We were in the open
sea in the lifeboat for about four
hours. We hailed, another life
boat, but got no answer.
"There were no rafts aboard the
Titanjc. T!te White Star line
discontinued their use some years
ago.
"There were twenty lifeboats
sixteen wooden, four collapsable.
"I do not know what happened
to the iifeboats I did not look
to see after we left the Titanic,
whether she had broken in two. I
did not look to see if there Was a
panic. After I left the bridge, I
did not see the captain."
''There has been a suggestion
thatthere was an explosion be
fore the ship went down," said
Senator Smith.
"I know nothing of it," said
Ismay.
At -the conclusion of his testi
mony, Ismay was ordered - to
himself subject to the call of the,
cbmmitJtee..," .,,.
ifcA