Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-29
APPEALS TO CARPATHIA
WERE IGNORED, HE SAYS
Was Told Operators Were Engaged
in Sending Dispatches for Survivors.
SAMMIs' "H0LD.UP" MESSAGE
Chief Engineer of Marconi Company
Would Blame Carpathia's Cap
tain, If Any, for Sup
pressing News.

pressing News.
Enoeavoring to further repudiate any
intimations that he had sought in any
way to suppress or delay news of the
sinking OF the Titanic, Guglielmo Mar
conf. inventor OF wireless telegraphy. an
peared today before the Senate commit
tee of inquiry into the Titanic disaster.
for the third time just before sailing
for England.
Mr.. Marconi had discovered after leay-
ing Washington last week that he had
sent message to the operator OF the
steamship Carpathia urging him to send
news Of the disaster to the wireless sta
tion at Siasconset, Mass, or to vessels of
the United States Navy.
He read copies of these messages. and
declared that when he was examined by
the committee before he had forgotten
about that message. Mr.. Marconi also
produced copies of many other messages
which passed between the Marconi office
and the Carpathia in an endeavor to get
definite information of the wreck and the
survivors. Mr.. Marconi was excused by
the committee in order that he might sail
tomorrow for England. Chairman Smith
thanked Mr.. Marconi for the aid he had
given the committee.
F. M. Sammis, chief engineer of the
American Marconi company, also testi-
fled. explaining what had actuated him
In sending messages to Operators Bride
and Cottam on the Carpathia to hold
their stories for -four figures" He said
he had made an ARRANGEMENT with q New
York paper for them to sell their personal
stories and had sent the messages to the
boys informing them of that.
Marconi Ofacials on Hand.
Guglielmo Marconi. F. M. Sammis, chief
engineer of the American Marconi Com
pany. with Operator Bride of the ILL
fated Titanic reached the committee
room early. They were accompanied by
John w. Griggs. formerly Attorney Gen
eral. counsel for the American Marconi
Company. They were followed by p. A.
8. Franklin. vice president of the In
ternational Mercantile Marine, who re-
turned to New York Saturday to look
after the press of business that had piled
up in his office since the inquiry enforced
his absence from his desk. ]. Bruce Is
may, managing director of the Mercantile
Marine. was also on hand early. His
anxiety to get away from Washington
has greatly increased during the last few
days, as he has received urgent COM
munications from England to return there
as soon as possible to look after the
tangled state of transatlantic transporta-
inn ~,s~~
aster.
Senator William Alden Smith, chair
man of the investigating committee,
recalled to the stand Mr.. Marconi as
Smith asked Mr.. Marconi last week IL
he had Sent any messages to the Carpa-
thia and Mr.. Marconi had said no.
would like to correct the state
to the Carpathia." said Mr.. Marconi
'On my return to New York 1 found
had sent one message l Immediately
wrote letter to you, senator, inclos-
ing the message"
Vain Efforts to Get the News.
'Is this the message?" Senator Smith
asked, handing a telegram to MIR. Mar
conf
YES" said Mr.. Marconi, and he read
the message as follows: April 1s-
conf station, Siasconset Mass. Send
the following Immediately: Advise us
delivery, wire news dispatches imme-
diately to Siasconset or to naval boats.
II this impossible ask captain give
reason why no news allowed to be
transmitted
"(signed) GUGLIELMO MARcoNI."
that he believed his office likewise re-
ceived no answer. He said that he
had talked with Bride, the Titanic
operator on board the Carpathia. and
that the latter said he had received
the message.
Did he give or did you ask his rea-
sons for not answering?" asked Sena-
tor Smith.
mo" answered the witness
The difference in the code used by
the Marconi operators and that en-
ployed by the United States cruiser
said Mr.. Marconi, rendered al
most impossible the transmission of
messages between the Carpathia and
the warship. He said his company
used the International code, while the
United States navy had code of its
own.
'.Did you not infer that the failure of
the Carpathia operators to communicate
with other ships or with shore to give
influenced by the hope of reward in the
shape of money for exclusive matter
sold to the newspapers"
mo, / do not think So" said the wit
ness. They did not know that there
was any reward for them.'
Operator Cottam of the Carpathia was
In the room while Senator Smith was
questioning, Mr.. Marconi. On Sem
ator Smiths request. Cottam stepped out
In the hall
81 would like to ask you." the senator
continued, whether from the develop
nents of this inquiry you do not feel
L is incumbent upon you to discourage
the practice Of operators selling stories
of big news events such as this dis
aster?"
Certainly. am entirely in favor Of
the practice and naturally
give very great weight to the opinion
expressed by the chairman Of this COM
nittee," said Mr. Marconi
Asked II he had anything further to
ell the committee, Mr.. Marconi asked to
.ead some messages which his company
rad sent after the. disaster vainly en-
leavoring to get information from the
-arpathia. He was permitted to read the
Mr.. Harconi read also . / essage ssat