Michael, I'm sure you have read all 'this' before. There is no dispute concerning what was sent up and what was seen by the officers of Californian. However when you accuse someone of lying, you should be ready to back-up your accusations with hard evidence.
I have not 'made my mind up' as you suggest. I have come to my conclusions after reading all the available evidence over and over again.
I am a fully qualified Marine Accident Investigator with over 55 years experience in the Marine world. Believe me, if I thought for a single moment that Captain Lord or any of his officers had been guilty of what they are accused of, then I would be the first person to pursue the truth relentlessly.
Let me illustrate a little of the nonsense that was written by Lord Mersey regarding his conclusion concerning the sighting of rockets:
"The evidence from the "Californian" speaks of eight rockets having been seen between 12.30 and 1.40. (Gill, 18156-61) (Stone, 7830 et seq.) "
That Stone saw 8 rockets is not in dispute. However, here is the relevant evidence from Gill upon which the good Commissioner also based his findings:
"
I had been on deck about 10 minutes [Between half-past 12 and 1.]
when I saw a white rocket about 10 miles away on the starboard side. I thought it must be a shooting star. In seven or eight minutes I saw distinctly a second rocket in the same place, and I said to myself, "That must be a vessel in distress."
Now compare what Gill said with the following fact
: The regulation distress signal, is a rocket throwing stars.
If as Gill claimed, he saw
Titanic's rockets then he would have seen exactly the same as did
Californian's 2nd Officer Stone:
"
They had the appearance of white rockets bursting in the sky...At intervals of about three or four minutes."
Not only would Gill have seen bright, white showers of stars, but if the ship firing these rockets had been 10 or less miles away, it is likely that the entire crew of the
Californian would have been aware of them since each signal was accompanied by an ear shattering detonation which could have been heard as much as 13 miles away. Gill had a vivid imagination and it got him a healthy bank balance.
The foregoing are hard facts, Michael. Upon what 'hard facts' have you based your conclusions?
Here's another fact. Captain Lord consistently offered to stand trial in a court of law. His offer was never taken up. Why?