Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-28
ICE HOLDS BACK
RELIEF VESSELS
Three Ships Were in Immediate
Vicinity Of the Titanic When
it Went Down.
CAPTAIN MOORE TESTIFIES
Head officer of Mount Temple
Reads Last Messages Sent Out
by sinking ship-BoiIers
Flooded at 1tlI.

WASHINGTON. April 1.-Two steamers
and a schooner were only short distance
away from the Titanic wnen II sank, ac-
cording to the testimony of Captain Moore
of the steamship Mount Temple today.
before the senate committee investigating
the tragedy. Ice was the barrier that held
back vessels hurrying TO the rescue and
the Mount Temple did not arrive at the
spot where the Titanic sank until twelve
hours after 1t had gone down.
The Mount Temple intercepted the IT.
tanio's calls for help. Captain Moore said
and Immediately he turned his ships
course toward the crippled liner, on his
way he say the lights Of schooner
within few miles OF the scene Of the
tragedy and coming from that direction
When day broke to disclose great field
OF ice head, the Mount Temple discovered
a tramp steamer close by. The Identity OF
neither schooner nor tramp was fixed
Messages from Titanic.
Captain Moore read a long list OF mes
sages from the Titanic intercepted by the
Mount Temples operator. II was vir-
tually complete record OF the wireless
appeals sent out by the doomed vessel.
AT 1;io the Titanic was stll calling C.
2. D." said Captain Moore. AT 40
raised the olympic and said: Get your
oats ready; going down fast by the
tad.' Frankfurt replied at l35: start
! for you. Six minutes later the IT,
mic flashed C. Q. H. Boilers flooded
"a message from ID. F, f. then fol-
lowed, Are there any boats around you
alreadyT There was no answer.
Other ships then began calling but
could get no anrwer Later the Birma
raised the olympic and reported All
quiet now. TNvnio has not spoken since
l:f7' The carpathia at 1.20 sent the
message. Are you stlll there?
Did Not See Rockets.
Other ships then began calling but
could get no answer. Later the Blrma
raised the Olympic and reported AN
quiet now. Titanic has not spoken since
lar The carpathla at 30 sent the mes
sage. Are you still there. We are firing |
rockets?'
Did you see those rockets?'' interrupted |
Senator Smith. ....
Il saw no rockets at all that night. I |
thought Of sending up rockets myself,
but did not do so because | feared that
L might divert other ships hurrying to |
the Titanic"
The witness said that the Titanic un-
had not fixed its position
He said that 1t must have
been eight miles east OF the spot re-
ported.
Captain Moore then told Of arriving
1t the scene Of the Titanlc's burial about
I:5o in the morning. two hours after the
liner went down.
Il saw no wreckage and no bodies. sir"
he said. There was nothing but ice and
he tramp steamer. The ice was so thick
hat was compelled TO hoist men to the
nastheads to seek a lane out Of the field"
First News from Associated Press.
p. A. $. Franklin. vice president Of the
International Mercantile was recalled. TO
estIfy about the time the White Star
Inc had first received authentic news Of
he sinking Of the Titanic. The senator
vas the sole member Of the committee
present.
Il consider that the first official in
ormation was received from Captain
iaddock of the Olympic We had viftu-
lily the same information from the
associated Press
The first information. however, from
iontreal was correet?'
'MarveIously correct. but you must re-
1ember We had the news previously from
he Associated Press
Andrew Cunningham. stateroom stew
rd on the Titanic. next took the stand.
Il l2:3o. he said, the order was given to
rouse all the passengers who were in
heir staterooms
Not until half past 12?" asked Sem
tor smith. why. that was fifty min
ties after the accident"
Yes. sir"
The witness was asked II he was
otkled Of the seriousness OF the situa-
on.
NO. sir. saw water in the postoffIce
nd formed my own conclusion
Helped stead with Life BELT.
said that at l2:so O'Clock
I his passengers had gone on deck ex-
fToutintsaa - ssacora rl..r-- " 4