The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-02

sation for am exclusive story. detail !
ing the horror of the greatest marine
disaster that eyer occurred I'm the his
tory of the world. do YOU mean that
an operator under your company'S d.
reCtion shall have the right to prevent
the public from knowing of that ca
lamitv except through the exclusive
appropriation of the facts by the Op-
orator who is cOgnizant of them?
| ~ Not at all. I gave no instructions
/ in regard to Withholding information
and I gave no advice or instruction in
regard 20 any exclusive story to any
body. The only thing I did authorize
was that if Gotham was offered pay
ment for story OF the disaster. he was
permitted. so far as the English com
pany was concerned, to take the
money.
! .. If the mouth of this operator
were TO he closed so that the details
| Of that catastrophe could not be
printed. might not the English Gov
eminent and people be deprived Of
the knowledge which was in the pos
session of these operators
a. You assume that l wished these
men to withhold information. 1 did
not.
Q. Do you know that the President
Of the United States tried to get in
formation through the Chester?
a. 1 heard of that through a paper
and asked Bride what he knew about
il. He stated the Chester did ask for
and that he told the Chester that this
list had already been sent and ac-
knowledSed by shore station. I un-
derstand he gave the Chester some
additional names. / asked him also
regarding the inquiry made.
Makes a Denial.
Marconi denied absolutely that he
had authorized the sale of any ex-
elusive stories by the two operators
whom he stOutly defended. After
the arrival of the Carpathia." he said
Il talked with Sammis. who said, in
reference to the message intercepted.
You know 1 didn't authorize that
message What l meant and intend
ed TO say when 1 said operators could
take something for a story of the dis
asters was that newspapers and re-
porters would be so interested in
what they had to say and in them
selves personally, and especially as
far as Bride, who acted gallantly, is
concerned, that they would he will
ing to pay for a story that the opera
tors would give them.
L did not expect the operators to
give it exclusively nor put II up TO
the highest bidder or to sell to any
special news agency or paper"
He added that ne did not know
what Gotham received for his story,
but had heard that Bride got $500
from the New York Times.
He said that he did not know
whether any officer of the American
Marconi company is interested in
this newspaper, but was sure no COM
pany director was interested.
.. The Information that Gotham re-
ceived was gotten from the operator
Of the Titanic, and that information
was sold To the New York Times upon
arrival for $500?
A. Absolutely no. Bride was an as
sistant operator on the Titanic and he
assisted the operator on the Carpathia.
He was not compelled to withhold
anything concerning his experiences
on the Titanic or the Carpathia. With
regard TO Gotham, I did not see him
and gave him no instructions as TO
what he should or should not do. He
was entitled to tell his story. l was
particularly anxious that the public
should have the details of the disas-
ter as quickly and as accurately as
possible.
Il should also state that the mes
sage by Sammis, mentioning four fig.
ures was sent when the Carpathia was
coming into New York and not when
she was far out at sea"
Senator Smith: Il thank you for
your full and frank statement. l was
not trying TO impute TO you any crit
icism."
In answer to questions by Senator
Newlands, MarcOni said that only the
fragments of a story could have been
sent by the operators If they had had
an opportunity to send one. The wit
ness said he believed Bride, Phillips
and Gotham had sufficient experience
to make them thoroughly competent
operators, and added the Marconi
company did all it could to get the
news.
Marconi, before leaving the stand.
was asked whether he could get copies
of all aerograms received and sent
from the Carpathia.
we tried TO set Them" he said
but the Carpathia's captain would not
give them up. They are now on their
way TO the Mediterranean"
Q. Can you ask the Carpathia's op-
orator for the copy of these wireless
essages?
soon be In the hands of the British
government"
Senator Fletcher asked Marconi a
number of questions concerning the
| future regulation of wireless so that
the different stations would not con-
met. The witness suggested that the
Government license wireless stations
and give them an individual length.
Marconi spoke in the highest terms
| OF the demeanor of Bride, the junior
operator of the Titanic, and indicated
that some special recognition will be
| made for both Gotham and Bride
Harold T. Gotham, wireless opera
tor of the Carpathia, twenty-one years
old, was next called. 1t was 1920
O'Clock, New York time, when he got
the first message from the Titanic.
He had the receiver to his ear await
| ing confirmation of time on a mes
sage previously sent to the Partisan.
AS soon as 1t was received he intend
ed to retire.
The first message" said the wit
ness, was Come at once. We have
struck berg. c. @. D. I confirm
ed this by asking them if 1 should go
to the bridge and ask the captain to
turn around Immediately and he re-
piled, Yes"
Witness said the Titanic gave her
position and he returned to the Car
pathia's captain.
He helped the Titanic operator pick
up other ships The Titanic could
not hear this message because of es-
Gaping steam. He picked up the
olympic and Baltic, but could not get
the Frankfort.
He had gotten good night" from
the Mount Temple at 1920. He had
had no communication from any ships