United States Senate Inquiry
Page 2
TESTIMONY OF Mr. J. BRUCE ISMAY.
Mr. J. Bruce Ismay, being duly sworn by the chairman, testified as follows:
Senator SMITH. Mr. Ismay, for the purpose of simplifying this hearing, I will ask you a few preliminary questions. First state your full name, please?
Mr. ISMAY. Joseph Bruce Ismay.
Senator SMITH. And your place of residence?
Mr. ISMAY. Liverpool.
Senator SMITH. And your age?
Mr. ISMAY. I shall be 50 on the 12th of December.
Senator SMITH. And your occupation?
Mr. ISMAY. Ship owner.
Senator SMITH. Are you an officer of the White Star Line?
Mr. ISMAY. I am.
Senator SMITH. In what capacity?
Mr. ISMAY. Managing Director.
Senator SMITH. As such officer, were you officially designated to make the trial trip of the Titanic?
Mr. ISMAY. No.
Senator SMITH. Were you a voluntary passenger?
Mr. ISMAY. A voluntary passenger, yes.
Senator SMITH. Where did you board the ship?
Mr. ISMAY. At Southampton.
Senator SMITH. At what time?
Mr. ISMAY. I think it was 9.30 in the morning.
Senator SMITH. Of what day?
Mr. Ismay. The 10th of April.
Senator SMITH. The port of destination was New York?
Mr. ISMAY. New York.
Senator SMITH. Will you kindly tell the committee the circumstances surrounding your voyage, and, as succinctly as possible, beginning with your going aboard the vessel at Liverpool, your place on the ship on the voyage, together with any circumstances you feel would be helpful to us in this inquiry?
Mr. ISMAY. In the first place, I would like to express my sincere grief at this deplorable
catastrophe. I understand that you gentlemen have been appointed as a committee of the Senate to
inquire into the circumstances. So far as we are concerned, we welcome it. We court the fullest inquiry.
We have nothing to conceal; nothing to hide.
The ship was built in Belfast. She was the latest thing in the art of shipbuilding; absolutely no
money was spared in her construction. She was not built by contract. She was simply built on a
commission. She left Belfast, as far as I remember - I am not absolutely clear about these
dates - I think it was on the 1st of April. She underwent her trials, which were entirely
satisfactory. She then proceeded to Southampton; arriving there on Wednesday.
Senator SMITH. Will you describe the trials she went through?
Mr. ISMAY. I was not present. She arrived at Southampton on Wednesday, the 3rd, I think, and sailed on Wednesday, the 10th. She left Southampton at 12 o'clock.