Chapter 12

           Thereisoneotherseparatepointofviewfromwhichwemaylookattheshipduringthisfatefulhourbeforeallpointsofviewbecomemergedinonecommonexperience.Mr.Boxhall,theFourthOfficer,whohadbeenonthebridgeatthemomentoftheimpact,hadbeenbusysendinguprocketsandsignalsintheefforttoattracttheattentionofashipwhoselightscouldbeseensometenmilesaway;amysteriousshipwhichcannotbetraced,butwhoselightsappeartohavebeenseenbymanyindependentwitnessesontheTitanic.SosurewasheofherpositionthatMr.Boxhallspentalmostallhistimeonthebridgesignallingtoherwithrocketsandflashes;butnoanswerwasreceived.Hehad,however,alsobeenonarapidtourofinspectionoftheshipimmediatelyaftershehadstruck.Hewentdowntothesteeragequartersforwardandaft,andhewasalsodowninthedeepforwardcompartmentwherethePostOfficemenwereworkingwiththemails,andhehadatthattimefoundnothingwrong,andhisinformationcontributedmuchtothesenseofsecuritythatwasspreadamongstthepassengers.

           Mr.Pitman,theThirdOfficer,wasinhisbunkatthetimeofthecollision,havingbeenondutyonthebridgefromsixtoeight,whentheCaptainhadalsobeenonthebridge.TherehadbeentalkoficeamongtheofficersonSunday,andtheyhadexpectedtomeetwithitjustbeforemidnight,attheverytime,infact,whentheyhadmetwithit.Butverylittleicehadbeenseen,andthespeedoftheshiphadnotbeenreduced.Mr.