The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-29
Before the Committee Investi-
eating the Titanic Disaster.
SOMETHING THAT He FORGOT
Sent a Message to Operator on
the Carpathia
Urging Him to Forward News
of the Disaster.

washington, April 29.-EndeaVoring
further to repudiate any intimaIons
that he had sought to suppress or de-
Law news of the sinking of the Titanic
Guliegnao Marconi, inventor of wire
less teIegraphy, appeared today for
third time before the senate commit
tee of inquiry.
Mr.. Marconi had discovered after
leaving Washington last week that ne
had sent a message to the operator OF
the steamship Carpathia urging MIN 10
send news of the disaster to the Wlre-
less station at SiasconSet, Mass, or tMo
vessels of the United states navy ne
read copies of these messages ana ue-
clared that when he was examined De-
fore he had forgotten about that mes
sage Mr.. Marconi also prouuceu
copies of many other messages WHICH
passed between the MarcOni office ana
the Carpathia in an endeaVor TO get
definite information.
Mr. Marconi was excused by the
committee in order that he might sail
tomorrow for England
Mr. MarcOni read several addltlondl
MESA ges asking for news of ind1Vld-
uaIs. among them Mr. and Mrs. Isador
Straus. Colonel John Jacob Astor'
Charles NJ. Hays, Benjamin Guggeh-
helm and Major Archibald Butt.
why did you not get any reply to
these messages, sent by nigh ofhclaIs
of the Marconi system?"
ssT have no explanation to give eX-
cept that the operators l believe were
busy on the Carpathia all the time
sending message from the survivors
on board to their families and relatives
and friends ashore"
MT. Marconi said he did not believe
the captain of the Carpathla had any
disposition to prevent the SendlhS o1
news.
F. NJ. Sammis. chief engineer of the
American Marconi company, also tes-
titled explaining what had actuated
him in sending messages TO operators
Bride and Cottam on the Carpath1a TO
hold their stories for -four figures.
He had made an arrangement with |
newspaper for them to sell their per-
sonaI stories and had sent the mes.
sages to "the boys" informing them of
that fact.
Sent Hundreds of Messages.
eff. as a matter of fact the wireless |
operators on the Carpathia were busy |
so busy they could not answer mes
sages from the managers of the COM
panv which employed them is there |
not some means of checking up the |
exact amount of the business they ac-
tuaIly transmitted during those four
days." the senator asked.
Yes" Mr.. Marconi answered, 'it
would take time We would nave to
check up with the Carpathia."
The senator suggested that Mr.. Mar
conf find out just how much business
was done by the operators and with
whom it was transacted. He said IL
passengers on the Carpathria were
sending as many messages as had
been claimed the senator thought it
that the public did not get
the news from relatives of the sur
Vivors.
Chief Engineer Sammis interrupted
to explain that he handled all the
messages from the family of c. NJ.
Hays of the Grand Trunk and the As
tors and that the information did
come that neither Mr.. Hays nor Mr..
Astor was on board.
I'VE can show during these days
personal messages were coming from
the Carpathia at the rate of 40 to so
an hour said Mr.. Samis. THE cap
tain of the Carpathia would not han
die any other business but that of
getting the news of survivors to rela-
tiVeS. These MESA geS were not made
public to any extent
Mr.. Marconi said that Operator
400 to 500 messages had been sent
from the Carpathia and acknowledged
by the shore stations.
How can We ascertain what mes
sages were sent by Mr.. Ismay or 9TH
ers to or from the Carpathia? ?' asked
Smith.
only by getting the records from
the ship themselves" answered Mar
conf.
Against the Law.
There is a prohibition against the
publication of these records in the
English law"
Smith said he did not believe that
phase of the matter would affect the
present question.
With reference to the Carpathia
records" said Mr.. Marconf, they now
are on foreign ship in foreign wat
ters''
Senator Smith said the committee
desired all messages passing between
the Carpathia and ]. Bruce Tsmav
manager of the International Mercan-
tile Marine and officers of the White
Star line.
nADIF OIIIn nrIAvrn