Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
news OF DISASTER
WAS WITHHELD
Chief Admits Advising Operator
to Hold Back.
BALTIcLEARNED THE DETAILS
senat, Committee AdIourns Inquiry
to Washlnoton and WI Make II
Mora Thor uah--Titanic Had
Warning 81 5erss.

New York. - The startling dis
closure was made through the publi-
cation of three wireless dispatches
sent by T. W. Sammis, chief engineer
of the Marconi Wireless Company, to
the operator on the Carpathfa, that
the former had cautioned the young
man to SAY nothing, but to hold
your story for dollars in four figures. 4"
In other words, the news from which
the whole world waited with breath
less interest and agonizing suspense
was deliberately kept back from mer-
cenary motives.
Mr.. Sammis admitted sending the
dispatches and said he believed it
proper for him to get as much as pos
sible for the operator.
Hardly less amazing. was the dis
closure that the White Star liner Baltic
learned all the details of the disaster
by wireless on Monday morning from
the Carpathia, and that the steamship
Frankfurt, freighter. was in COM
munication by wireless with the IT.
tanie just after she rammed the ice
berg and that, instead of going to the
aid of the wrecked vessel, she con-
tinued, presumably, on her course
Probe Will Go Deeper.
Determined at all hazards to fix the
responsibility for the false messages
which were sent out announcing the
safety of the White Star steamship
Titanic hours after she had disappear
ed beneath the icy waters off the New
foundland banks, and to ascertain every
fact connected with the fatal crash
of the vessel, the Senate committee
which is investigating the disaster
will continue exhaustive hearings in
Washington and will cross-examine ].
Bruce Ismay, president, and P. A. S.
Franklin, vice-president of the Inter-
national Mercantile Marine Company,
as well as all the officers of the II
tanic and many of the American pas
sengers. 1t is likely that Mrs. John
Jacob Aston, who has practically re-
covered from the shock of her ordeal,
will be one of the witnesses.
The sensational point in the pro
ceedings came when Harold T. Cot
tam, wireless operator on the Car
pathia, swore that nothing had been
flashed from the Carpathia which
could have formed the basis for the
alleged wireless dispatch stating that
the Titanic was safe and that she. was
being towed to Halifax by the steam.
ship Virginian.
Bride Pathetic Picture.
Mr. Bride. the youthful operator,
weak from his. experience in the wreck
and with both feet bandaged because
of injuries sustained during long
wait on partially submerged raft,
made pathetic picture on the wit
ness stand. He is a Marconi operator
and all the time he was being ques-
toned the celebrated discoverer of
the Marconi wireless system sat be-
side him, as solicitous as parent.
He told a dramatic story of his eff
forts to get in communication with
other craft when he was told that the
vessel was filling with water and GER
tain to go to the bottom.
Burden OF Testimony.
The burden of the testimony thus
far presented emphasizes the unques-
tioning faith of the Titanic's officers
in her unsuitable character, the reck-
lessness of steaming full speed
through a sea where dangerous ice
bergs were known to threaten and the
remarkable calmness with which pas.
sengers and crew faced the last mo.
ments of the sinking ship.