Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-04-22
He TAKES WITNESS STAND
TELLS HOW HE GAVE OUT FALSE
NEWS TO "REAssURE THE
WORLD
KNEW BUT LITTLE HIMSELF
A sHEAF OF WIRELESS MESS
AGES LAST MONDAY CON-
TANNED NOTHING USEFUL

Washington, April 22.-Vice Presi
dent p. A. S. Franklin of the Inter
national Mercantile Company, told
the senate investigating committee
today how he had asked to have the
earlier reports of the Titanic discs
ter held up to avoid unnecessary
alarm. He denied any knowledge of
the message addressed to Representa-
tive Hughes of West Virginia, about
the ships being towed to Halifax and
gave other details. Senator william
Alden Smith of Michigan, presided.
After denying that officials of the
White Star line had any knowledge
of misleading telegram to Mr.
Hughes, it was acknowledged by
Mr.. Franklin that he had issued re-
assuring statements when he had no
facts on which to base them. The
witness read from great sheaf CT
wireless kilograms received Monday
morning. None of them contained
any information Of value, but it was
on this data that the line issued its
statements in an effort. said Mr.
Franklin, to reassure inquirers.
Later when the news came, he said,
he sent Immediately for the reporters
and began reading to them the long
Marconigram from the Carpathia
giving the grewsome news in consid
cradle detail.
Il began to read: Titanic went
down this morning at 1920, and then
I looked up" said Mr.. Franklin
There was not a reporter in the
room. They were all racing for tele-
phones to get the news out to the
world"
Bit by bit, Mr. Franklin contribut-
ed to the evidence the senate is
seeking to thfNw on the catastrophe
that sank the Titanic, sent almost ], :
500 persons to their death and plung-
ed the world into mourning Mr..
Franklin denied that the White Star
company had any intention to spirit
away from the country any Titanic
officers or crew or that the plans to
return the survivors of the crew
were prompted by any desire to sup
press the facts. He said that moth
ing that the officers or crew could
tell would affect what might be toll
by surviving passengers.
The inquiry christened the luxu-
rious caucus room of the senate, re
garded as perhaps the handsomest
executive hearing room in the world.
In its center sat the subcommittee
with Senator William Alden Smith Of
Michigan presiding. Jammed about
the long table which the committee
occupied were witnesses and spec
tators. Among them were senators
and representatives and their wives,
Baron Won HengelMuller. the Aus
trian ambassador, and other represen-
tatives of diplomatic and official cir
cles. and many women. mostly drawn
from the national gathering of tho
Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion.
Many of the Titanic's surviving
passengers will be called to give evil
dence before the committee. 1t Is
expected that among the notable wit
nesses will be Mrs. John Jacob As
tor, Mrs J. B. Thayer and Colonel
Archibald Oracle. After Senator
smith had cautioned the crowd
against demonstrations, J. 5. Ro<-
hall. third officer of the Titanic, and
one of the four officers to survive the
disaster. was called as the first wit
ness.
When Third Officer BoxhaIl en-
tered the room. Senator Smith asked
him to step aside and called P, A. s.
Franklin, vice president of the Inter