[Deposition of "John Timmons, cabin steward, late of S.S. Iphigenia," taken by the Port Hume County Coroner's clerk J.A. Fairfax, 4 January 1913. Marked in red at the top: "NOT USED." Lower margin: "Copy to Clarion morgue per R., 9 Jan. / filed 1913 drawer 7."]
[Preliminary questions of identification omitted.]
Q. State your service on board.
A. Cabin steward to the captain's quarters and to berths 1 through 7 of the upper deck, sir. I had been aboard since February of last year. Before that I was a lodging-house porter here in Port Hume. This was my first berth at sea.
Q. You attended upon Captain Hume.
A. Yes, sir. I brought his supper to his cabin, and his breakfast. He did not take meals in the saloon on that trip.
Q. On what occasions did you attend him on the voyage of 5 through 7 November.
A. Five times, sir. Once at supper on the 5th, once at a late glass on the 5th, once at breakfast on the 6th, once at a glass at about seven in the evening on the 6th, and once — the last — at about ten o'clock that night, when he rang for me.
Q. What did he ring for.
A. For another glass, sir.
Q. And what had he had to drink to that point, so far as you are able to say.
A. Sir, I could only say as to what I brought him. I brought him whisky with his supper on the 5th, a brandy at the late glass, nothing with breakfast on the 6th but coffee, a whisky at seven that evening. And a brandy at ten. There was a bottle of his own in the cabin. I do not know how much was in it when we left Port Hume and I do not know how much was in it at ten o'clock.
Q. At ten o'clock — when you brought him the brandy — describe his condition.
A. He was sitting at his chart table, sir. He was not standing. His collar was opened. He was saying something under his breath that I did not catch. When I set the brandy he said — I will tell you the words — he said "I should have taken the north like the Irishman said. I didn't. That's my bed." And he took the glass and he said thank you and he sent me out.
Q. He said those words. You are certain.
A. I am certain, sir.
Q. Did you, at any point thereafter, see Mr. McCausland in conversation with the Captain.
A. Yes, sir. It was maybe twenty minutes after I left the cabin, maybe less. I was in the passage outside the wardroom getting down plates, and Mr. McCausland came past me and he stopped and he looked at me — he was a hard-looking man at that moment, sir, I will say it — and he said "Young man. Did he ring for another?" I said he had. Mr. McCausland said "Of course he did." And he went on to the cabin.
Q. Could you hear what was said in the cabin.
A. Some of it, sir. Voices raised. I heard Mr. McCausland say "You need to lie down, sir." I heard the Captain say no, loud. I heard Mr. McCausland say something I could not make out. I heard the Captain say "This is my ship, Ewan, and I will not." I heard the door shut. That was the last of it.
Q. Did the Captain come on the bridge thereafter.
A. I was told he did, sir, about two hours later. I did not see him. I was in my own berth by then.
Q. Did you at any point, before or after the sinking, speak of what you have stated to any representative of the Hume Shipping Company.
A. I — sir, I have been advised not to answer.
Q. Advised by whom.
A. I have been advised by counsel for the Company, sir. I was told at the time that my position with the Company and the payment for my service of the voyage was subject to my saying nothing of this to the Inquest in open session or to the newspapers. I was told I could tell the Coroner's clerk in writing if my conscience required it. I am telling him.
[Deposition ends. Signed "John Timmons" in a shaking hand. Clerk's initials: J.A.F.]
[The Coroner did not call Mr. Timmons to testify. Motion to seal made 8 Jan. 1913 by Mr. Reddick, granted. Mr. Timmons was reported to have departed Port Hume for San Francisco on or about 20 January 1913; forwarding address not on record.]