The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-26
COMMITTEE HEAn
I FACTS ABOUT TIL
WIRELESS DEN
New York Newspaper Dick
cred With Operators on y
Carpathia for Exclu-
sive Story
CHESTER OFFICER
GIVES DETAILS IN
DIRECT TESTIMONY
Marcoui Himself Advises
Men on Vessel to Keep
Their Mouths Shut
So They Could
Sell Easily
BY JAMES ]. MONTAGUE.

- 49, SSHH
by JAMES j. MONTAGUE.
WASHINGTON, April 25.--B4S
cause 1t wanted to buy for a few doll
lars an interview 1t could not a.
tain by enterprise, New Yo4l
newspaper imposed hours OF droa&%
full suspense upon the thousands GI
distressed relatives and friends z
the victims and survivors OF the T
tanic disaster. While this newur
per deliberately dickered with viCS
President Sammis, of the Marcos
Company, for the lowest terms ~
the statement of the two wireless ON
orators on board the Carpathia, h
bands, wives, sons and daughters r /
the passengers of the Titanic s0uG
In vain for news of their loved one
The President of the United Gt4t6$
endeavored to learn whether or nou&
his aide had persisted. but could 90
no information. Messages to pan
sengers that came to the Carpatht
unanswered. The United Htat0
scout cruiser, Chester. equipped wit1S
a perfect wireless plant, could e0Es
no satisfactory information for t29#
people OF the nation. And al b9
cause two wireless operators. In MI
position to know exactly who was O.
board the rescue ship, had been told
that III they kept their mouths shut
they would get four figures for their
story when they got ashore"
Marconi Admits Bargains.
The details OF this sordtd ber1atu&s
ing for news for which . whole 49,
ton was hungering were Furnishes
by the commander OF the Chester td
the navy department. Today In the
Titanic inquiry, the affair was ver3
fed by Mr.. Marconi. who said he haH3
heard of it afterward. but emphattceSl
ally stated he was not party "a INV
and did not approve of II. He a1
mitted that he gave the oper1tox
permission to sell their story ~ thA&g
got ashore, but this was before ~
knew they had sat silent at th&1
keys while the fate OF the TitAqt~N
victims or survivors could only b6
guessed at.
Gotham. the wireless opernt
aboard the Carpathia, admitted
sold his story to the newspaper II
question. after being ordered to r.
his mouth shut by Sammis, HID ~
perior. he added that he had ~
yet got his money. proving that T.
newspaper was more In q hul3
about keeping the news away fro6
the public than 1t Is about paying l9
1t. He said he had no idea ha1
much he expected, which ought
furnish this paper with q tip th6~
may operate In the interest OF ecoa
my.
Mr.. Marconi said he undemeq
from either the proprietor, or mGi
aging editor Of the ne,tspaper. tG1
each OF the wireless operators
| tam. OF the Carpathia. and Bride, 81
surviving second operator OF
Titanic---were to get. Ave humdi
dollars. The letter Gom the c
mander Of the Chester. WHOSE ore
tor had interrupted the bids for -
was read by Chairman Smith u
committee. II IN - follows:
ITO the Secretary Of the NAVY.
ION the evening Of the steaunn
Carpathia's arrival In New York.
/, four following radiograms were
terrupted BY the chief operptots
| r.. Simpson. chief alActriciah,
Az ANY, 0Hk00A ~ NV W ~
cant enough to be brought to the
tention Of the department.
'Seagate. to Carpathia. S:11
NJ.
Taken Care OF.
Say, old man. Marconi CoUr
taking good care Of you. Kaep s.
mouth shut and hold your utee5x
II fixed for you 20 you viii
money. Now please do your ~
clear
THAT was 81. r. N. Thsn
lows this one:
1T $40. to Marconi. oflc
pathia and Titanic. ArranGe ss
your exclusive story for do1fS
four figures. Mr.. Marcoui -
Say nothing until ron - me
are you nov? !. -. sammiu
tor. N. r.
80 r. u. from ssasatS ~ N
thia opAr1tor. Go 10 6tran
502 Wee Eoaxteenth StI9o
meet MI. 1earcOni. CT.
Aaat nlnsoaaf VIM
'e:34 from 6ea5
Carpathia. personal u opet81
patAia. Mot M. Marcant
mis- II Strand lctel. so3
tesHsA stseet. Ios1 yo
shirt. tAl1m q 1efs
Nareoots NO MaG| Y
mos Of - ~. al1nn
ltam bad, heem gl1ep
all hin sto4y orr m
II = c1ston1af&
|aaid. hat I 1n u
49, goin1 m