New-York tribune., 1912-04-30

Astor Charles NJ. Hays Benjamin Gug
gerheim and Major Archibald Butt
Now" said Senator Smith, "I want TO
know why YOU failed to get any reply to
these messages sent by high officials OF
the Marconi company"
II have no explanation to give" said Mr..
Marconi," except that the operators,
believe, were busy on the Carpathia all
the time sending messages from the sur
vivors on board to their families and rela-
tives and friends ashore"
Mr.. Marconi said he did not believe the
captain OF the Carpathia had any disposi-
ton to prevent the sending Of news, and
Senator Smith remarked that the captain
fatty had disavowed any such disposition.
The Senator suggested that Mr.. Marconi
find out just how much business was done
by the operators and whom It was trans
acted with. n passengers on the Car
pathia were sending as many messages as
had been claimed, the Senator thought II
strange that the public did not get the
news from relatives OF the survivors
Chief Engineer Sammis. OF the Marconi
company. interrupted to explain that he
had handled all the messages from tho
family Of &. NJ. Hays, OF the Grand Trunk,
and the Astors. and the information did
come that neither Mr.. Hays nor Mr.. Astor
vas on board
Personal Messages Sent First.
I'VE can show that during those days
personal messages we're coming from the
Carpathia at the rate OF from forty TO
nifty an hour" said Mr. Sammis. THE
captain OF the Carpathia would not handle
any other business but that getting the
news OF survivors TO relatives. These
messages were not made public to any
extent"
Mr. Marconi said Bride. the operator.
told him on landing that from four hun
dred 10 five hundred messages had been
sent from the Carpathia and acknOwl-
edged by the shore stations.
How yan We ascertain what messages
were sent by Mr.. Tsmay or others to or
from the Carpathia?" asked Senator
smith
only by getting the records from the
ships themselves" answered tho witness.
There is a prohibition against the pub
lication OF these records in the English
law"
Senator Smith said he should not be-
lieve that phase of the matter would af-
feet the present hearing.
with reference TO the Carpathia's rec
ords." he said. they now are on a for
etgn ship in foreign waters"
Senator Smith said that the committee
-, ho
Carpathia ana j. Bruce Ismay, managing
director OF the International Mercantile
Marine. and officers Of the White Star
Line
Ready to Have All Given.
p A. s. Franklin held a hurried consul
tation with Mr.. Tsmay. and then ad
dressed tho committee:
Il want 10 say I'm behalf OF Nr Ismay
for the international Mercantile Marine,
for the White Star Line. for myself per-
sonally," he said, that we absolve all
telegraph, wireless and cable companies
from Withholding from the committee any
message sent or received In connection
with the disaster"
Senator Smith thanked Mr. Franklin.
and Mr. Griggs announced that he would
issue instructions 10 all wireless stations
to transmit to the committee at once all
the messages desired
Senator Smith then read into the record
cable dispatch from tho commander of the
steamship Frankfurt. II was addressed 10
Mr. Smith, dated in Bremen to-day, and
read:
First advice from Titanic about collision
622l West. Frankfurt took position TO
Titanic after thirty minutes. Maximum
speed 10 miles Total distance 40 miles.
Arrived go morning. New York time.
Frederick NJ Sammis chief engineer of
the American Marcon Company. took the
stand when Mr.. Marcont was excused. lie
resented bitterly the imputation that he
had been the cause OF suppressing the news
from the Carpathia, which. he said. had re-
suited In ncighbors pointing the finger of
sccrn" at him. He said he told the Car
pathia's wireless operator to hold their per-
sonal stories for sale. In order 10 furnish
a reward for them.
II did not send the messages directly"
said Mr. Sammis. 'T telephoned to Mr.
Davidson. I'm charge OF the wireless station.
and instructed him to tell the boys that
arrangements were made TO care for them
] thought It would brace them up"
Mr.. Samms said the arrangement TO
care for the operators was made by Mr.
Narconi and Mr.. Bottomly, the general
manager, and he merely had carried out tho
plan as described The operators. he said,
each got $3.50 for the stories.
Company Received Nothing.