“I went on watch at eight o’clock Sunday night and stood by the man at the wheel until ten. At ten I took the wheel for two hours.
“On the bridge from ten o’clock on were First Officer Murdock, Fourth Officer Boxhall and Sixth Officer Moody. In the crow’s nest (lookout tower) were Fleet and another man whose name I don’t know.
SECOND OFFICER ON WATCH.
“Second Officer Lightoller, who was on watch while I stood by, carrying messages and the like, from eight to ten, sent me soon after eight to tell the carpenter to look out for the fresh water supply, as it might be in danger of freezing. The temperature was then 31 degrees. He gave the crow’s nest a strict order to look out for small icebergs.
“Second Officer Lightoller was relieved by First Officer Murdock at ten, and I took the wheel then. At 11.40 three gongs sounded from the crow’s nest, the signal for ‘something right ahead.’
“At the same time one of the men in the nest telephoned to the bridge that there was a large iceberg right ahead. As Officer Murdoch’s hand was on the lever to stop the engines the crash came. He stopped the engines, then immediately by another lever closed the water-tight doors.
“The skipper (Captain Smith) came from the chart room on to the bridge. His first words were ‘Close the emergency doors.’
“‘They’re already closed, sir,’ Mr. Murdock replied.
“‘Send to the carpenter and tell him to sound the ship,’ was the skipper’s next order. The message was sent to the carpenter. The carpenter never came up to report. He was probably the first man on that ship to lose his life.
