Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-20
Carpathia's Wireless Man
Tells of GETTING Appeal

4
| Thomas Gotham, aged twenty-one, Of
Liverpool. the Marconi operator on the
Carpathia, was the first witness at The
| evening session.
| He denied himself some glory by say
ing he had no stated hours for labor on
the Carpathia. Previous witnesses had
testified he was not ION duty when he
received the Titanic's appeal for help.
He was uncertain whether he was re-
Quired to work at night. finally saying
1t depended on whether he had CONNER
cial or ships business to get of.
What were you doing last Sunday
evening, about 10 o'clock?'' asked Sem
ator Smith.
Receiving news from Cape Cod said
| Gotham. He said he had also been send
ing lot of messages for the titanic
'Iad you closed your station for the
night7'.
| NO
You say the Carpathia wireless instru-
ments would send message about go
miles with accuracy"
| Yes. SIR
~Weil, how did you happen to catch
the THAMES message Of distress?"
i Il was looking out for q confirmation
by the steamer Partisan of q previous
message from the Parisian-a message
that came some time in the afternoon"
Il
pathia testify here today?"
| NO.
About Ready to Retire.
He said you were about to retire and
caught this Titanic distress message
rather providentially?'
Yes, SIR
How far had you gotten along in your
| arrangements to retire? Had you taken
of your clothes?'
Yes; my coat
Ibid you have any instruments then?
Yes, the telephones were On my head.
I was waiting for the Parisian's answer
| had Just called her."
How long would you have waited?"
| Several minutes"
Would you have retired pretty soon
you Think"
| Yes"
| We'll. what did you hear?'
| Il didn't hear anything from the Pari-
1 sian just then. but first picked up Cape
| Cod again sending Marconi news Cot
tenn said. THE Cape Cod relay service
messages for the Titanic, which / hoped
to transfer the next morning"
| We'll, when you got the distress mes
sage from the titanic Sunday night. how
did you get it?'
Il called the Titanic myself, sir"
WHO told you to call the Titanic?"
mo one. sir did 1t Of my own free
will. l asked the Titanic operator il he
ing messages for the Titanic
What was the answer
Gets Appeal for Help.
leone at once. was the message, sir. .
said Gotham.
WAS that all of it?''
NO" the operator said. II think
Come at once'-this Is q distress message
&c. Q. D." Gotham testified.
What did you do then?"
Il confirmed the distress message by
asking the Titanic II / should report the
distress message to the captain Of the
Ca-pathia."
What prompted you to confirm the
message before delivering 1t to the cap
tain?"
Because 1t Is always wise to confirm
q message of that description
Are you instructed to do that or is II
matter Of discretion:"
Matter OF discretion"
"Have you ever been misled by mes
sages that were without foundationr
hat would you have done II the tt
tanic had not confirmed her message?"
Il would have reported the message te
the commander" said Cottam.
How much time elapsed after YOU re-
fore you reported it to Capt Rostron?'
About a couple Of minutes"
Promises Rescue.
When word Of the Titanic's distress
was received Operator Gotham said he
Immediately sent them the position of the
Carpathia, and added that they would
hurry to the rescue.
Get any reply to that?" asked Sena.
tor Smith
Yes. sir; Immediately. They acknowl
| edged receipt of it."
The witness said the next communica.
tion with the Titanic was four minutes
| later, when he confirmed the positions
|, of both vessels. At this juncture the
Frankfurt Of the North German LLOYD
line. broke in on the communication
having heard the Titanics call for helm
Later the steamship Olympic also replied
What did you do them" asked Sena.
| tor Smith.
, Il called the attention of the Titanic
to the Olympic's efforts to raise it," an
, swered the witness. .'Tne Titanic re.
piled 1t could not hear because of the
rush of air and the noise made by the
escaping steam"
n Immediately after telling the Titanic
( / of the Olympic's attempt to get in COM
municatioh with her. the former. the wit.
ness said. sought the Olympic's aid, re.
porting that IL was head down." and
0 giving its position. The Baltic broke IL
at this time. but its efforts to reach ths
! Titanic were without avail.
r II was in communication with the Tt.