So records for everything that occurred on the Californian in terms of general orders and commands are a bit scarce, but in general operations were for the most part standard. Changing of the watch still occurred as normal, of course as we all know the Californian had a single Marconi operator and did not keep a 24 hours watch via wireless, so the wireless operator, Cyril Evans, retired for the evening around 20 minutes after 11:00.
Earlier in the day when ice was first spotted by the Californian, an additional lookout was placed on the focsle, but that additional lookout was withdrawn for the evening after the ship stopped and just one lookout was maintained in the crow's nest.
We do know that captain Lord was concerned about being in the vicinity of ice and issued orders for steam to be kept up in the event the Californian had to be moved due to drifting ice. This was repeated in both inquiries.
The engines were not running then.
The engines were stopped; perfectly stopped.
But you could have gone to the Titanic?
The engines were ready. I gave instructions to the chief engineer and told him I had decided to stay there all night. I did not think it safe to go ahead.
I said, "We will keep handy in case some of those big fellows come crunching along and get into it."
Did you keep lookout men on duty after your engines were stopped?
A man on the lookout; only one, the man in the crow's nest.
On that Sunday night, the 14th of April, one man was relieved and the other was kept on duty?
We discontinued the one on the forecastle head. We just kept the one on the crow's nest.
May I take it that you were not anxious if you could help it, between 10 o'clock and 5 o'clock, to move your engines?
I did not want to move them if I could help it. They were ready to move at a moment's notice.
In short, watches and operations were for the most part standard for a ship at night, once stopped there was a reduction in lookouts from when the ship was trying to move in the vicinity of ice, and steam was maintained should the ship find itself in a position of needing to move, but that was about it.
Hopefully that gives you a better understanding as to how things looked on the Californian. If you have any additional questions I'd be more than happy to try answering them.