The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-04
SMITHS EFFORTS
 PROVE FRU|TLESS Cannot Locate Message Tell
 ing of Disaster
JACK BINNS TESTIFIES
Steerage Passenger Says Fireman Told Him Steamer Did Not Hit Iceberg, But Boiler Burst
 Under Pressure

New York, May s.-The efforts of Sem ator William Alden Smith, chairman of the Senate committee Investigating the Titanic disaster, to confirm the report that a message telling of the Titanic's fate was received in New York early on the Monday morning after the wreck, have proved fruitless after two days of examination of witnesses here.
 What concerns me most" said MT. Smith tonight Ifs the Postal telegram given to the operator on the carpathia early Monday morning addressed to Isle frank and signed 'Yamsi, which told of the sinking of the vessel and of the se- rious loss of life.
 T am most desirous of knowing where that message was the following two days and why it was held up Mr. Franklin says he didn't receive it till Wednesday. The Californian, which was in easy reach of the Carpathia, could have sent it. and the Carpathia's operator, cottam, testified that he had sent it.
 Jack Binns Testifies
 Jack Binns, wireless operator on the ill-fated steamer Republic. called to tes- tify today concerning the wireless equip ment of the vessels in the vicinity of the Titanic, said the responsibility for the lack of news rested with Operator Cottam. While the Carpathia's equipment could only send message 200 miles, he said, she was in touch with the Cali fQrnian and the Californian could have relayed the news to the Olympic. which could have sent it ashore.
 Melville F. Stone, general manager of the Associated Press, was called to testify concerning the efforts of the Associated Press to obtain news. MT. Stone pre- sented documentary records showing the source of various news dispatches con- corning the disaster which the Associated Press sent out.
 George A. Harder of Brooklyn, who, with his wife, was one of those saved from the Titanic, testified concerning the apparent failure of the mechanism of one of the ships water tight compart- ments to work.
 Senator Smith will take the testi- mony of other witnesses tomorrow.
 Did She Hit Iceberg?
 Daniel Buckley who was a steerag ge passenger on the Titanic in his testi- mony today before Senator Smith, chairman of the Senate committee in- vestigating the cause of the wreck  steamer told him that the Titanic did not hit an iceberg, he believed, but while trying to make a record the boiler burst. He did not know the name of the fireman. He said that he thought steerage passengers were given as good an opportunity to escape death as the first and second class pas sengers.
 fmposters Detected
 Addiu8nal survivors" of the Titanic disasHr are turning up daily at the i WhiH Star line offices an dat the .hsAdquarters of various relief com snittees only to be proved to be im- posters. Some do not try to get money, but seem only to have curi- ous desire to be recorded as among the survivors
 A middle aged couple from Buffalo appeared at the White Star line offices today. They refused money but told credible stories of how they escaped from the vessel and were picked up by the Carpathia, but their names had not appeared in the lists. Investigation proved, according to the steamship of fcials, that the couple had not been outside of Buffalo for seven years until their present visit to the city. <There have been number of inn posters seeking aid, but the checking system Is so minute that 1t is not be- lieved that a single one has succeeded In obtaining money by false stories.