Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-02
Senator Smith Sure He Knew
Titanic's Peril Day of Crash.
HAS NAME OF INFORMANT
Every Effort Being Made to Locate
Missing Operator.
NO ONE TO BE MADE GOAT
Chairman of Inquiry In New York
Investigating Reports of
Wireless Messages.

NEW YORK, May 2.-Senator Will
liam Alden Smith of Michigan. chair
man Of the Senate committee investi-
eating the Titanic disaster announced
today that he would hold no public
hearing during the two days he will
spend in New York. but expects to in
vestigate chiefly the report that news
of the Titanic disaster reached New
York Monday morning, April Is.
THE fact that the Titanic had sunk was
announced Monday evening by p. A. S.
Franklin, vice president of the White
Star line, who has testified that he did
not learn of the vessels fate until a few
minutes before the announcement was
made.
Il am here to look up the question of
two messages said to have been received
Monday morning., said Senator smith;
'-one of these is reported to have been
received at the Marconi Office, the other
at the Office of the Western Union for the
White Star line. | want especially to
see the message said to have been re-
ceived by the Marconi company.
To Investigate Reports.
Reports of the receipt of these dis
patches have come officially to the
committees attention and we want to
discredit or confirm them"
Senator Smith added that he expect
ed during the day to see L. J. Dunn.
the New York merchant who testified
recently before the committee that he
had been Informed by the son of a
Western Union. operator that a mes
sage was received in New York Mon
day morning telling of the Titanic's
fate.
4 have the name of the operator
whose son so informed Mr.. Dunn" Sena-
tor Smith continued, but it came to me
in such a confidential way that l cannot
divulge it at this time. The operator has
not been seen since Sunday night, how
ever. but every effort will be made to
locate him."
Knows Message Was Sent.
I'VE know positively" the senator said.
that a wireless message was received by
the White Star line at 2:30 o'clock Mon
day morning, April IL. telling Of the Sc
rious character of the wreck and that
Vice President Franklin of the line ca
bled it to Liverpool. This message came
by way of the steamship Virginia. Cape
Race and Montreal to New York.
a full report of the inquiry will be
made to Congress as soon as the investi-
cation is completed. 1t will contain many
recommendations. 1t will advocate many
reforms-so many that | am not prepared
to sketch even its salient features now.
Senator Smith said the report would
not attempt to single out for the prose-
cution any one responsible for the Ii
tanic disaster.
Taught by Capt. Smith.
Il realize" said the senator, that am
no marine expert. All that l know of the
subject was taught me by the captain
of the iIl-fated Titanic, Capt. Smith, who
lost his life in .Ae disaster-six years
ago. At that time Capt. Smith COM
manded the Baltic, and when my son
and / crossed he took US through every
part of the ship and explained it all to
u.s."
Senator Smith announced that he would
issue brief statements from time to
time telling ot the progress of his in
vestigation during the two days of his