The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-20
Senate Committee InVestigat-
ing the Loss of the Titanic.
Questions Wireless Operators
Who Were on Carpathia.
ALL KNOWLEDGE is DENIED
Regarding Message That Sunk
en- Steamer Was Safe.
One Witness Was Without
Sleep Four Days, He Says.

New York, April 20.-Just pefor'
the senate committee investlga tlhs Iil'
Titanic disaster met an lnVahu cAlaii
was wheeled into the room. IN
was Harold Bride, the assistant WIRE
less onerator on the Titanic, whose
feet were wrenched and badly lhJuree
when he was rushed on the life raft
that picked him up. He was salloNH
and hollow checked and lay proppeo
up with pillows awaiting ms call -
the witness chair.
Immediately behind Bride came
Bruce Isnay, president of the Mercan-
file Marine. and ?. A. Franklin, wee
president of the organization. 1slllea islle ;, :
announced before the inquiry pegan
that he had given Instructions TO al
the lines of international mercanllle
marine which include the Whlte StdI'
the American, the Red star, the Ley
land the Atlantic Transport ana tne
Dominion lines, to equip all steamers
with sufficient lifebOats and raft podus
for every passenger and every mernoer
of the crews without regard TO gov
ernrnent regulations
tam the wireless operator on the Gar
pathia, who was recalled to the stand u
senator Smith sought to clear up the
messages that passed between the Gar
pathia and the Titanic.
ssWhat was the last message sent
"a the Titanic?" asked Senator Smith
1--WE sent it word to have its NE
boats ready" said the witness; ~that ~
our nfeboats were ready and that we
we're steaming TO them as fast as we
Senator Smith asked questions to
discover whether any official had
sought to keep back news OF the dls-
aster.
Sent No such Message.
Did you send any message that all
+re messengers had been saved or that
the Titanic was being towed to Hall
fax?''
NO. sir"
Nor anything like it %
Did You know such reports were
being published to the world?"
NO, sir"
IF the White. Star line sent a mes
sage Monday reading Representative
J. H. Hughes, Huntington, W. Va II
tanic proceeding to Halifax Passen-
gers probably will land there Wednes-
dav. All safe They did not obtain
the information on which that is based
from you?"
No"
Nor do you know that it obtained It
from any other operator on the Car
pathia?"
No"
Senator Smith asked the witness if
he had received any message from the
time the Carpathia left the scene of the
disaster until it reached New York.
No. sir" answered Cottam.
L reported the entire matter myself
TO the steamship Baltic at 1870 O'Clock
Monday morning. I told them we had
been to the wreck and had picked up as
many of the passengers as We could
Four Days without Sleep.
Cottam said he had been without
sleep throughout Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday and until late Wednesday
afternoon. Senator Smith sought to
hour when he was relieved by Opera
tor Bride. who had been taken aboard
the Carpathia from the Titanic.
'I don't know, sir said Cottam in
extenuation. Il was up continuously
and lost track of the hours and days.
I had from eight to ten hours sleep
from the time we left the wreck un-
til we arrived in New York
Did Bride do any sending in that
time?" Smith asked.
Yes, sir, he sent the list of the third
class passengers to the cruiser Ches-
ter"
ANY other message ?''
they were The records are on the
Carpathia-"
Did you or Bride send any message
declaring the Titanic was being towed
into Halifax?''
NO, SIR said the witness with en-
phasis.
Cottam after rehearsing again the
1lnal messages exchanged between the
Titanic and Carpathia was excused.
He is to be recalled.
Bride Is Called.
Senator Smith then called what he
evidently expected to be one of the
most important witnesses, Harold S
Bride, the sole surviving wireless
operator of the Titanic. Crippled as a
result of his experiences, he was
wheeled in an invalid's chair to the
table where the committee sat
Contrary to the usual procedure =
said Senator Smith, L must place YOU
under OATH
The witness, hand uplifted listened
while the senator repeated the oath
Then he bowed assent Bride said
he was native of London, was ?.
years of age and had learned his pro
fession in British school of telegra-
phx-
What practical experience have YOU
had?"
I have crossed to the states three
times and to Brazil twice. said Bride
Bride rem mbered receiving and
sending messages regarding the speed
Of the Titanic on its trial tests At
ter leaving Southampton on the Ii
ttanic's fatal trip he could not remem-
per receiving or sending any messages
for 1smay- Senator Smith asked par
hcularly about messages on Sunday
I don't remember, sir said Bride
There was SO much business Sunday
He was asked if Captain Smith re-
ceiyed or sent any MESA ges. Sunday
No, sir" was the reply.
How do you krow he did not?''
Because see the messages Mr.
Phillips takes when the are made up -
lose dax 10