The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-23
MYSTERIOUS STEAMER
REFUSED TO ASSIST
THE SINKING TITANIC
STEAMED ACROSS BOW
OF FOUNDERING LINER
Sensation Sprung by Ship Officer
at Senatorial Inquiry Into
Disaster.
Boat Was Within Five Miles and
Could Easily Have Saved
Every Victim.

WASHINGTON. April 22.-witt
succor only Ave miles away, the
Titanic slid into the watery grave. car
rying with IL more than 1,600 of its
passengers and crew. while an un-
Identified steamer that might have
saved all failed or refused to see the
frantic signals flashed to II for aid.
This phase of the tragic disaster was
brought out to-day, before the senate
Investigating committee. when j. b.
Boxhal1. fourth officer of the Titanic.
told of his unsuccessful attempts to
attract the strangers attention. This
ship. according to Boxhall. could not
have been more than five miles away,
and was steaming toward the Titanic.
So close was II that from the bridge
Boxhall plainly saw its. masthead
lights and then its red side light.
Both with rockets and with the
Morse electric signal. did the young
officer hail the stranger Captain
Smith and several others In the yicin-
ity OF the bridge. declared at the time
their belief that the vessel had seen
them and was signalling in reply. Box
hall failed to see the replies. however.
and IN any case the steamer kept on
its course obliquely past the Titanic
without extending, aid.
This. and the declaration by p. A.
s. Franklin. vice president Of the
White Star line. that there was not
sufficient lifeboats aboard the Titanic
TO care for the ships company at one
time we're easily the features OF the
hearing.
ouizzed About Messages.
Tht official was quizzed throughout
the morning session on the messages
exchanged between the CArpathia and
himself. after the ship had started fer
New York. with the Titanic's sur
vivors aboard. Among the survivors
was j. Bruce Ismay. managing director
OF the line. .
Mr. Franklin said he had received
no communication from Mr.. Ismay sx-s
cept one by cable from Southampton.
This. he said. was merely . cabis-
gram announcing the complste sue
cess of the Titanic's trial trip and
the favorable prospects for a success
full voyhge.
This is the only attempt at com
munication, and SO far as you know
any attempt from officers. crew or
passengers to communicate with you
after they left Southampton" ths
senator continued.
Yes"
Senator Smith thes showed Mr..
Franklin the telegram received by
Congressman Hughes, Of West vir-
ginia. from the White Star line, dated
New York. April Is, and addressed 70
J. A. Hughes. Huntington, w. Va. as
follows:
Titanic proceeding to Halifax.
Passengers probably land on Wednes-
day. All safe. (SignedD
The White Star Line
Il ask YOU" continued the senator.
whether you know about the sending
OF that telegram. by whom II was
authorized and from whom It was
sent?r
Denies Knowing Of Message.
II do not. SIR" said Franklin. Since
II was mentioned at the Waldorf Sat.
urday we have had the entire pas
senger stan examined and we cannot
find out. We appreciate the fact that
on that Monday there were many
junior clerks at work and there was
great confusion. II Is possible that
some one who had no absolute infor-
nation might have sent f. wish you
would have the telegraph company
turn over all the White Star messages
10 you so that we can see just what
happened"
Asked when he FIRST knew that the
Titanic had sunk. Franklin said he
first knew II al ss27 D. an. Monday
4 Among the wireless kilograms read
into the record was one from Mr.
Coontinusd On Elsvsnsh Pags.J