New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-26
WIRELESS OPERATORS TOLD
TO SELL TITANIC STORIES

Of the C'arpathia telling him TO meet YOU
and Sammis at the Strand Hotel and "a
keep your mouth shut" witness was
asked.
II did not he replied
Did YOU hear 81 such message
"Yes. frop the newspapers.
Told 10 1keep Mouth Shut"
Senator Smith read the messages picked
M by the hattIeship Florida and sent to
the Secretary Of the Navy, as follows:
s:12 D. m.-Operator Carrathia Say. old
man, Marconi company taking good care
OF YOU. Keep your mouth shut us nh"n
for you 10 get good money. DO your best
to clear
$50 p. m.-Operators carpathia and IT,
tanic-Arrsnged for your exclusive story
for dollars in four figures. Mr.. Marconi
agreeing. Say nothing until you see me.
Where are you now J ". SAMMIS.
p m.-From Sea Gate 10 Carpathia .
Go to Strand Hotel, No. M2 West I'm
$50 p. M Sea Gate 10 Carpathla "a per
sonal operator on Carpathial Meet Mr..
Marconi and Mr.. samniis, No. zoe West
18th street. Keep your mouth shut.
(SignedD MR.. MARCONI.
What can you say about that. Mr.. Mar
conf" Senator Smith asked.
Il don't know anything about any OF
those messages" was the answer. They
are not in phraseology that 7 approve. I
wish to say that did tell Mr.. Samnis as
a representative OF the British company,
We would not prevent any Of the opera tors
making any money that they could out OF
their stories"
Mr.. MarconI explained that this was not
a rule Of his company, but II was done in
the case Of the Republic disaster. when Mr..
Binns. the operator was permitted to sell
his story
DO you wish the committee TO under
stand that YOU approve that
Yes. ] was anxious that the operator :
get something"
But Mr.. Marconi." Senator Smith OK
claimed, do you mean that the details OF
the greatest sea horror Of the world should
be withheld from the world except through
an exclusive story told by one OF your
operators"
NO. i gave no instructions whatever.
but / did say that II the operators werc
offered money they could take IT," said
! Mr.. Marconi. II gave that permission as an
officer OF the British company. With every
Difference to you. sir, | do not quite under
stand your motive. You, / think. are as
suming that ! ordered information with
held ] wish TO state that Is wrong.
withheld nothing"
Heard No Presidents MESSAGE.
did YOU know of an attempt of the
United States steamer Chester TO get in
communication with the Carpathla." asked
Senator Smith. for the President Of the
United States?"
II asked the operator about IL and he
told me that the Chester asked for a list OF
the survivors, and he told the Chester that
it had been sent and then gave them soma
additional names. ] also asked him II he
had received any message from the Presi-
dent Of the United States. He said no such
message was ever received and II II had
been he certainly would have answered
it."
Referring again to the subject OF sell
ing stories. Mr.. Marconi declared he felt
that the experiences OF Bride and Gotham
were of such interest that they had the
right 10 sell their stories. He insister that
IL always was his understanding that the
news Of the disaster was not 10 be sup
pressed.
do you know how much these opera tors
got for their stories?" asked Senator
Smith
II don't know how much Gotham got.
but understand Bride received $500 from
New York newspaper"
Mr.. Marconi said the operators were
never instructed not to give out news" I
have no knowledge whatever" he added.
about these messages that were inter
cepted by the Navy Department.
Have you talked to Sammis about IL
slnce?"
II saw him for few minutes a little
while ago. and told him You know that
! did not authorize those messages What
I meant when / told the operator to take
something for story was that newspapers
and reporters would be so interested In