The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-04-22

sells to stand by. Other messages were
sent appealing for lists Of names of
survivors and asking when the Car
pathia expected to reach New York. %
At 2:45 A. NJ, April 16, Franklin said
a wireless from the Olympic was re-
ceived. It led him to believe other
| survivors were on the Olympic OF
ST emphatically say I did not know
Of any censorship of the wireless of
the Carpathia Or any other vessel p
Franklin asserted almost angrily.
When asked if any officer of the
White Star Line Company tried
to control the conduct of the Carpa-
thia's wireless operator, Franklin re-
piled:
Most emphaticaIly no.
Franklin insisted that the White
Star Company tried Through every
source at it's command ito get infor-
nation regarding the fate. OF the third
class passengers and the crew. He
had also been unable to get definite
news concerning the fate of Major
Butt before the Carpathia landed.
'tDid you or any<of your Officers at
any time before the Carpathia arrived
frem anyone asking that the Cedric
be held at New York until the Car
pathia nwived?" asked Senator
Smith.
Eyes SIR said Fraklin r. E.
Then Franklin read the following
message he received from J. Bruce
Ismay: Most desirable Titanic crew
aboard Carrathia be returned home
early possible Propose hold Cedric
until they can board. L propose re-
turn with them. Please send clothes,
@dgned) YAAsN."
'sYamsi is Ismay, isn't it?' asked
Cvppif ctv ENsoY nh In
IT sent the following reply: Have ar
ranged to forward crew on Lapland
which sails Saturday. We all con-.
slider it most unwise to delay Cedric
considering circumstances
'Ismay replied to this as follows:
to sail on Cedric. Most undesirable
to keep the crew in New York 50
long, (Signed) YAMSI."
Another "Yamsi" message was:
'Send responsible ships officers and
IA White Star sailors and two boats
to take charge Of Ii Titanic's lifeboats
at quarantine
This was received at 5:35 a. m,
April 1S. Another at a. m. Thurs
day, from "Yamsi", again urged the
detention of the Cedric.
Franklin read his reply, saying it
was inadvisa,ble to detain the Cedric
He also read a message from Ismay
asking him to meet him at Quaran-
tine in New York. At 4:45 p. m,
April IS, Franklin said he sent a
message to Ismay urgently appealing
for an authentic story of the disas-
ter.
Senator Smiths questioning brought
out the admission from Franklin that
Ismay had never before used the
signature "Yamsi" in sending mes
sages.
ut was an address, not a sigma
ture," he said. "It was his code
word abroad and was never used in
this country, I understand"
1--WE thought it would be a very
| unfortunate thing to hold the Cedric.
We knew what was being said and
we knew how the removal of the
crew. of the Titanic would be con-
strued," Franklin continued. Frank
lin said he had not told Ismay that
the Senate investigation was ordered
until he saw the managing director
on the Carpathia.
Senator Perkins, of California, ask
ed Franklin if the regulations for
| lifeboats were observed on the I'll
tanic. eve observed every rule of
| the British Board of Trade" said
Franklin. I'VE did not know just
what those regulations were." Frank
| lin said any recommendations for in
vestment in new boats would be made
| by Ismay. The witness denied that
any attempt had been made to have
the Titanic make a record on her
first trip.
Nobody for one moment ever be-
| lieved an accident of this kind could
| happen he continued. "We never
| thought that the ship could go down.
| We considered the Titanic a tremen-
dous lifeboat in itself-unsinkable.
IT do not see how you can blame
anybody for the wreck" he added.
I'VE had the best commander. the
| ship was constructed as only three
| ing her as near unsinkable as possi-
ble."
| franklin said he had no direct
knowledge of lifesaving devices on
| the Titanic and that such matters did
not come within his jurisdiction. He
denied, however, that the company
had tried to economic on lifeboats.
WAS this ship equipped with a
searchlight? asked Senator Smith.
.'I do not think So replied Franklin.
"I never heard of a transatlantic
| liner that was"
Franklin urgently asked the COM
| mittee to hear the Titanic's crew i'm
mediataely. He said it was their
duty to get through with them and
let them go home. ''As far as Mr..
Ismay and 1 are concerned, we are
at your disposal, but the seamen
ought not be detained one minute
longer than is necessary" he said.
Has there been any attempt on
members of the crew or officers?'
asked Smith. ITO the best of my
knowledge and belief, no." said Frank
lin.
When pressed for his reasons for
wanting to get the members of the