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

Mr.. Morgan, and sent for the repOrt-
ers. started to read the message /
and got on the first line. saying the |
Titanic sank at 2:20 A. NJ, and there /
wesn't a reporter left I'm the room. /
They were all so anxious to get out
and telephone the news"
The next message read was one
from Haddock, in which he said: /
on voyage. Carpathia informs me no
hope In searching"
A wireless from the New York office
to Haddock, dated 7:15 A NJ. Mon
day, read: ut is vitality important
that we have names OF every survivor
on Carpathia Immediately. II YOU
can expedite this by standing by Car
pathia, kindly do so. (Signed)
Franklin"
At the same time another message
was sent to Captain Haddock bv
Franklin, expressing distress that no
other vessel, except the Carpathia.
had passengers as he had understood
that the Virginian also had passen-
gers.
Thought Ship UnsinkabIe.
During the entire day." continued
the witness, 1--WE considered the shin
unsuitable. and it never entered our
minds that there had been a serious
loss of life until we got the message
from Haddock at 6:15. We thought
there might have been some loss I'm
taking off passengers, and transfer
ring them, but we had no idea that
the boat would sink"
Several other messages regarding
position and movement were read.
and then this one from Haddock adj
dressed 'Ismay": PLEASE alIay rumor
that Virginian has any Titanic pas
sengers; only on Carpathia."
After that" said the witness. I'VE
had no further communication from
Captain Haddock."
@. Did you have any communica-
ton with the Carpathia?"
A. mo, SIR
@. AT any timer"
A. Il sent the commander a mos
sage on April 10th. at 1926, to do his
utmost to wire White Star Line names
OF Titanic survivors on the Carpathia.
That message was signed by sum-
mers, of the Cunard Line. He is the
agent of the Cunard Line. and he had
told us we could use his name to
facilitate matters in communicating
with the Carpathia.
q. Did you receive any reply?
A. We never received any commu-
nicatiOn from the Carpathia direct
ourselves. We received the names of
through the Olympic.
Q. Did you on Monday have any
conference with Mr.. Marconi or Mr..
Sammis?
A. never saw Mr.. Sammis until
the investigation on Saturday.
q. Do you know Of your own
knowledge, or otherwise, whether ST.
lence regarding the catastrophe was
enjoined upon Operator Gotham. of
the Carpathia, or Bride. OF the Ii
tanic?
A. I emphatically do not. I know
nothing about a censorship OF wire
less.
No Interest in Ship Yards.
q. Who was the first person YOU
saw when the Carpathia docked?
A. The first one I remember who
attracted my attention was the can
tain. / met him in a passa geway and
asked him to take me 10 Mr.. Ismav's
room. which he did.
Q. Did you see the wireless opera
All did not.
Q. or Mr.. Marconi or Mr.. Sammis?
ships?
A.NO. Most of the ships are bunt
by Harlan & Wolff. of Belfast, on a
percentage basis.
.. is any officer OF your company
interested in this building company?
A. 1 never heard of any.
q. Have you an interest?
A. Not a cent.
q. Has Mr.. Ismay?
A. 1 do not know.
The witness told the committee thar
he could not furnish list OF the pas
sengers and crew of the Titanic who
left southampton, but has cabled for
such list He said he knew OF no
record or log Of the Titanic that had
been saved.
Favorable to Ismay.
MT. Franklin read the "Yamsi'
wireless messages which were sent
by Ismay from the Carpathia 10 the
White Star offices, and said:
Mr.. Ismay left the question of
ms departure TO us and we de-
cided IL would be unwiSe for Mr..
Ismay to depart as soon as ne
arrived. He did not know what
was going on in New York. We
were there and knew what was
being said, and we realized that
his anxiety TO get the crew of
was simply the anxiety that any
owner would have 10 start a shin
wrecked crew homeward"
Mr. Franklin said he knew Of this
investigation about > o'clock on
Thursday and communicated thar facr
10 Liverpool by cable.
In answer to question by Senator
Perklns, Franklin said the Titanic ex-
ceeded the requirements of the Brit
ish Board Of Trade. Senator Bourne
asked about the control of the White
Star line. Witness then told of the
control being exercised through the
bondholders of the corporation. IN
answer to questions he said the reeu-
lauons should be changed TO minimize
the danger of a repetition OF like ac-
cidents in future.
Ismay, he said, had already given
orders to equip all boats with suffi-
clent life boats to accommodate all
hands on board.
This disaster has presented an en-
urely new problem. We thought the
Iltanic was a life boat in herself"
said Franklin.
witness said company officials had
no opportunity to discuss what should
be done to avert like disasters; that
the company would give the commit
tee all assistance in its power and the
beneht OF the experience of all ex-
perts employed: that in the light of
what he knew now, il seemed impossi-
pie 10 build an unsuitable ship.
FRANKLIN said he never heard of a
transatlantic liner being equipped
with searchlights. He then tried to
clear lsmay of any impression that
ne had made that Ismay had any hid
den purpose in holding secret the at
tempt to rush the crew of the Titanic
back to England
lie assured Senator Smith that any
witnesses they controlled would be at