Bismarck daily tribune., 1912-04-22
INVESTIGATION AT
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and proceeded to begin reading to
them lengthy Marconigrams from the
Carpathia, giving the grewsome news
in considerable detail.
II began to read" said Franklin,
Titanic went down this morning at
2:2O,' and then I looked up. There
wasn't a reporter in the room. They
were all racing for phones to get the
news out to the world
Franklin described business opera
tions and the extent of the 1nterna-
tional Marine. He asserted its capt.
talization was $10O,000,000 common
and preferred shares, $22,000,000 AZ
per cent bonds, $19,000,000 five per
cent bonds, and about 100000 un-
derlying bonds.
The witness said he received no
communication from ] Bruce 1smay,
managing director of the Mercantile
Marine, except one by cable from
Southampton. This, he said, was
merely a cablegram announcing the
complete success of the Titanic's trial
trip. and the Favorable prospect for
successful voyage.
(Signed) "WHuTE STAR LINE.
Franklin was shown a telegram re-
ceived by Congressman Hughes OF
West Virginia from the White Star
line, dated New York, April Is, and
addressed J. A. Hughes, Huntington,
w. Va, as follows:
Titanic proceeding to Halifax. All
passengers probably land Wednesday.
All safe.
Franklin said he knew nothing
about sending that telegram, that
probably some junior clerk who had
no absolute information might have
sent it in the confusion attending the
news of the isaster.
The witness then told Of receiving
messages from the Olympic, Partisan
and other liners, bearing the intelli-
gence that the Carpathia was in at
tendance, and picked up twenty boats
with passengers. Early reassuring
reports were given out by the COM
pany, Mr.. Franklin said, were based
on rumors only, and intended not to
cause unnecessary alarm
WASHINGTON, April 22VThe sen-
ate investigation of the Titanic disas-
ter, begun in New York last week,
was resumed here today. J. Bruce
Ismay, president Of the International
Marine company; P. A. S. Franklin,
vice president Of White 6tar line. and
H. T. Cotton wireless operator on the
Carpathia, we're among the witnesses
The first witness, Thomas, wireless
operator of the Carpathia, who was re-
called to the stand and said he had
been without sleep Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday and until late Wednesday. He
asserted he lost track of the hours
and days.
Cotton, after rehearsing the mes
sages exchanged between the Titanic
and Carpat1ia, was excused. Wireless
Operator Bride of the Titanic, propped
up in a wheel chair, was next called
to testify, and after testifying he
made no permanent record Of the ice.
berg warnings, Bride insisted that he
made memorandum of the warning to
the officer on watch.
Bride said he was in bed when the
impact came, and said he was not
alarmed at the time. He testified that
the captain came into his room and
said distress calls had better be sent
out. He said he heard Phillips, chief
wireless operator of: the Titanic, send
C. @. D."
When the inquiry was resumed,
great crowds swarmed the senate Of
flee building and standing room was
early exhausted, even senators and
representatives seeking places for
their families, being unable to find
them
J S. Boxall, the fourth officer on
the Titanic, was the first witness
called today.
Franklin testified that he received
positive information of the sinking of
the Titanic at 6:27 p. m. Monday.
The message stated that the Car
pathia reached the Titanic's location,
and found nothing but wreckage and
boats, and that the survivors said
the Titanic had foundered at 2:20 a.
m. He then told how the company
wired the Olympic to get the names
of the survivors, and to stand by and
relay them from the Carpathia.
Franklin testified his company had
no intention of spiriting surviving off,
GERS. or members of the crew of the
Tiatnic out of the country.