The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-26
THEY HAD TO JUMP.
tcontinued from Page one,

P. A. S. Franklin, vice president of
the White Star line, was the first wit
ness before the main session of the in
Quiry.
Senator Smith read telegram from
United States Marshal Mertchie at
Boston, saying he had served subpoe-
mas on the captain and the wireless
operator of the Californian but they
were prevented from coming to Wash
ington by officials of the - hite Star
line.
What do you know about this, Mr..
Franklin" asked the senator.
They Are Coming.
Last night replied Mr.. Franklin,
ST received a message from Boston
saying the two men had been summon
ed to Washington and that this might
interfere with the steamers sailing on
Saturday. 1 called up Senator Smith
who replied that the men must come
and that no dispositions would be ia
ken in Boston. 1 telephoned to Bos-
ton that the men must come on.
1.-The Californians captain and oper-
ator left Boston early today for Wash
ington.'
Senator Smith asked the witness if
in exchanging messages with ]. Bruce
1Smay, head of the White Star line,
inward bound on the Carpathia, he
had enjoined secrecy or silence"
with reference to the messages.
'Emphatically no. Nothing of the
sort was attempted
The testimony taken from the I'll
tanic's sailors by individual members
of the senate committee was incorpor-
ated in the record of the hearings.
Much of this was repetition of expert
ences similar to many already re-
lated.
An interesting bit of testimony was
that of Samuel S. Hemming, a sea-
man who said he was asleep when the
Chi CIV H. Cd
out he went back to bed. A store
keeper did the same. Later the boat
swain came and said: Turn out, you
fellows, you have not half an hour to
live. That is from Mr.. Andrews.
Keep it to yourselves and let no one
know
Mr.. Andrews. he said, was one of
the firm of Harland & Wolff. the
builders of the ship.
Story of Diaster Read.
Senator Smith had read into the re-
cord a description of the disaster pub
lished in the Anaconda, Mont, Stand
ard, April Is. He did so he said to
seemed to have more informa ton than
the officials of the White Star line.
Senator Smith then had the witness
read a cable message which he sent to
the Liverpool office telling of the acct
dent and declaring that the Virginian
ance. The cablegram was sent at 6:15
Monday morning.
DO you not Think said the senator.
that If the information you cabled
abroad was worth reporting to Liver
pool it certainly was importane enough
to give to the public?"
Mr. Franklin said he based his report
entirely on telephone communication
with the lines agent in Montreal and
on reports received by the Associated
Press and the newspapers. Mr. Frank
lin said he lost no time after receiving
telephone reports from Montreal in in
forming Liverpool of the rumors
Senator Smith suggested Franklin
had received the information from
Montreal at $3.50 and did not send a
dispatch until 6:15.
had to wait until goe to the Office
before I cabled." said Mr.. Franklin
1t was a matter of expediency.'
Cabled inquiry from England for his
company Mr.. Franklin said was re-
ceived in New York before he sent the
cable but not delivered at his Office
until after he sent his message. Sena-
tor Smith asked if he had directed
the cable companies not to deliver i'm
portant messages al New York.
No, sir. Thev would be delivering
messages all night if they were to de-
liver all as they came in"
Senator Smith inquired of Mr..
Franklin what authority his company
had over wireless operators on their
ships.
''I presume if any one was objec-
he could be removed"
do you approve of the custom
which has been revealed by Binns,
Gotham and Bride receiving pecuniary
reward for information of diSasters?"
81 think it is rather unfortunate"
Senator Smith questioned the wit
ness as to the rules governing the du-
ties of the wireless operators with
So1 aof - L
whom they reported and by whose
authority he left his post.
81 think these things are regulated
by the company and not by the ship"
said Franklin.
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