Lowe's actions were not unique. Let's not forget the efforts of the crew of boat 4, who stayed close enough to the wreck to take twice as many people from the water as did Lowe's boat 14.
But in the UK we have this:Senator SMITH. It fell, the bottom side upward?
Mr. BRIDE. Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH. What became of you?
Mr. BRIDE. I was inside the boat.
Senator SMITH. You were under the boat?
Mr. BRIDE. Yes.
Senator SMITH. How long did you remain in the boat?
Mr. BRIDE. I could not tell you.
Senator SMITH. About how long?
Mr. BRIDE. It seemed a lifetime to me, really.
Senator SMITH. I understand, but I would like to know, if possible, if at any time you got on top of the boat?
Mr. BRIDE. I got on top of the boat eventually.
Senator SMITH. Eventually?
Mr. BRIDE. Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH. Before anyone else got on top of it?
Mr. BRIDE. No, sir.
Senator SMITH. Who was on top of the boat when you got on?
Mr. BRIDE. There was a big crowd on top when I got on. I had to get away from under the bottom.
Senator SMITH. You remained under the boat how long?
Mr. BRIDE. I should say about three-quarters of an hour, or a half.
Senator SMITH. Was there breathing space under the boat when it was turned over in that way?
Mr. BRIDE. Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH. So that you got away from it as quickly as you could?
Mr. BRIDE. Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH. You got out free from it, or did you cling to it, pulling yourself up to the side?
Mr. BRIDE. I freed myself from it and cleared out of it.
So now the airpocket has vanished, and he was there 'two or three seconds.' Definitions of 'some time' are going to vary, but it does seem to imply a longer period of time than a few seconds. The discrepency in his UK/US evidence did not go unnoticed:16612. Do you mind telling us about it? - I was in the water, I should estimate, nearly three-quarters of an hour. It may have been more. It was some time after the "Titanic" sank.
16613. I only want you to tell us about it. I have looked up your evidence in America. Did you find yourself at the under-side of the collapsible boat? - I was on the under-side of the boat, yes.
16614. I want you to tell us about it? - I was on the underside of the boat. After I had been there two or three seconds I cleared myself and swam away from it.
16615. The collapsible boat is a flat kind of thing like a raft? - Yes.
16616. You mean, you found yourself on the underside of that? - Yes.
16617. (The Commissioner.) In the water? - Yes.
16618. Knocking your head against the bottom of it? - I was upside down myself. I was lying on my back.
16619. (The Solicitor-General.) You were lying on your back, and found yourself on the underside of this raft? - Yes.
16620. Was there an air space between the underside of that and the top of the water? - I could not find it.
16621. Then you were in the water? - Yes.
16622. (The Commissioner.) You cannot have been very long there? - Oh, no.
16623. You must have got out of that position? - Yes, I did.
The point of the flat contradiction (air pocket/no airpocket) was never cleared up.The Commissioner: What is this material to?
16624. (The Solicitor-General.) It is not very material except that one likes to be satisfied we have got hold of the same gentleman who gave evidence in America. I read here: "You remained under the boat how long?" and you are recorded as giving an answer: "I should say about three-quarters of an hour or half" Is that right? - No. Senator Smith pressed that question, and I could not give him any idea, he said: "How long did it seem"? and I said: "It seemed a life time."
16625. The next question is" "Was there a breathing space under the boat when it was turned over in that way?" and you are recorded as having answered "Yes, Sir." Did you mean, no? - No, I do not think I said anything like that.
16626. "So that you got away from it as quickly as you could? - (A.) Yes, Sir. (Q.) Then you got out of it and got on it. At any rate, there seems to be some confusion.
- Did someone actually jump or is it just in movies and documentaries?
- Wouldnt that have broken your bones? neck etc and led to death?
C'est probablement vrai. Ce n'est que récemment que les gilets de sauvetage ont été portés en toute sécurité lors d'un saut à la mer.Question: J’ai lu que certaines personnes avaient le cou cassé quand ils ont sauté dans la mer à cause du gilet de sauvetage ...