was blown I was on the upper deck within20 feet of the pilot house lashing a gang-plank. I can not say who had charge of the navigation of the vessel. The quartermaster was in the pilot house. I think the Captain was at lunch. When the quarter master blew the whistle I asked him if he the course in that locality. He said he did. I then went on with my own duties. I can not say whether the Enterprise answered the whistle. I looked ahead and saw her- saw nothing ? in her position at that time. About two minutes aftrods the quartermaster said My God he's trying to cross our bow. I then looked ahead and saw the Enterprise was taking a sheer right across our bow. The was between 50 and 100 yards away. I then decided to stop the engines. I went into the pilot house and stopped and reversed her full speed. I asked the quartermaster How's your helm. He said It is hard a port. I tried it and found it so. The engines were backing 15 to 20 seconds before the collision. I then stopped the engine to keep the two boats together. I then left the pilot house and went to the boats. I think the Enterprise was carried by the tide across our bows. Her starboard side was towards us at an angle about 21 or 22 degrees. If her helm had been a starboard they would not have been able to get her round so fast to port. Therefore I think she was porting but the tide carried her. I was not paying particular attention to the two boats coming towards each other as I was not in charge of the boat nor yet in charge of
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