The Washington times., 1912-04-29
Bride Have Received $3.50 Each From Newspaper for Titanic Story

become public until late Monday
when Captain Haddock, of the Olym-
pic, made the first announcement, but
that he would explain.
Explains Delay of News.
"The Catpathia reached the positia,
OF the disaster early in the mornin &
and picked up survivors" Marconi
said. "Her installation was not
strong enough to reach shore sta
tions. The Olympic heard of the ac-
cident and by reason of her more
powerful installation was able to
send the news to the Cape Race sta =
tion. SO far as l know the Olympic
did net send this news until the aftor-
Mr.. Smith insisted upon knowing on
what Information the message saying
Titanic was safe and was being tow
ed into port was based. Marconi could
give no specific information on this
point.
Operator Binns," Marconi said,
now holds no position with the Mar
Marconi concluded with "Of an error
In the stenographer's report of his ties.
timony on April 25. The correction was
that instead of saying he was RESPONSE
BILE for all operators he was RESPONSE
BILE for all apparatus. 4"
Marconi said he postponed sailing for
England tomorrow. This, he declared
was very important to his business. He
assured smith, and President Griggs
asked for last week.
The propriety of offering of private
telegrams was discussed. Mr.. Grtggs
said the company would furnish all
permitted by law.
Ismay Messages Wanted.
Senator Smith said he wanted copies
Of answers received by Marconi Com.
pany or constituent companies in an
swer to messages already submitted
The committee also desired, Mr.. Smith
stated, copies of messages received OF
sent by Ismay or any other officers OF
the international Marine Company bear
ing on the disaster.
Mr. Griggs said all service messages
would be collected from the stations and
submitted to the committee. He added
however. that the company would have
to consider the legality and propriety OF
making public private messages, among
which might be included messages be-
tween Mr.. Ismay and the White Star
line.
Smith asserted that the United states
Is not bound by the Berlin convention
which Griggs had stated forbade the
publication of private messages. The
Publications have not been exchanged.
Franklin said on behalf Of the White
Star line, that the Marconi and al
other companies could make public any
Of its kilograms.
Engineer Sammis Called.
F. NJ. Sammis, chief engineer of the
American Marconi Company, was ther
called to the stand.
Before Sammis was examined Senator
Smith made public a cablegram he re
! ceived today from Captain Hallorf o
the liner Frankfort. now at Bremen. HI
| reported that the first knowledge III
had of the Titanic's collision was a.
1:4O p. m, New York time. The Frank
| fort, after 80 minutes, took position
| toward the sinking vessel and speedet
| to her assistance. at rate of l3 mile:
an hour. The spot where the Titanic
sank was reached at $40 a. M, New
York time, the Frankfort having trav
| eled l40 miles.
Sammis declared that he did not wish
| to shift responsibility for the message
pathia, but insisted that the plan o
| having the operators hold their stories
! for four figures originated with Eek
pert Davidson, in charge of the Seagat'
| wireless station and not with himself.
| This telegram has been the cause o
! scorn and comment by my neighbors
but I did not originate the scheme.
knew the boys Cottam and Bride wer'
exhausted and tired, and thought !
| would cheer them up to give them thi
news. There was no injunction of Sc
| crecy."
The wireless which Davidson is al
legged to have sent, read as follows:
| 'Seagate to Carpathia. S:12 p. m. Sa,
old man, Marconi Company taking
good care of you. Keep your mouti
shut and sell your story in four fig
ures. Do your best to clear"
| Sammis said he went to the Car
pathia a couple of hours after sh,
docked and fround Bride there. Late
he accompanied Marconi to the Gun
ard dock. At the Strand Hotel he said
he met a representative OF the pur
chaser Of Cottam's story.
Sold Stories for $1,000.
Sammis said Gotham and Bride
stories were to be sold for $1,000
The purchasers office, Sammis stated
conducted negotiations
Later he said each operator wa
given $3.50 additional. He denied tha
either he or Bottomley was to ge
any Of the money and asserted tina
the payments were not made through
him.
Il have done nothing can b.
ASHAMED Of" Sammis asserted
want to clear up the record"
Have you done anything you ar
Yes, l am proud that, as an en-
ployer of labor, l have helped thes
men who are poorly paid and don
see much of this worlds pleasure
There is no law to prevent them from
selling their personal experiences"
Senator Smith asked II 1t would no
have been better to transmit the in
formation to the MarcOni Offices an
let 1t thus be transmitted.
| Sammis said no" The rule OF pri
lority was, he explained. ship servic
messages first, private kilograms mex
and press telegrams last. Sammis sal
there were many requests from news
papers to officers and passengers o.
the Carpathia for exclusive stories.
Getting Down to Facts.
This week is expected to be an illum
mating one In the probe Of the Titani
disaster by the Senate subcommittee.
If plans do not go awry, the examine
ton will proceed far toward compile
ton. though there is no sign that it wi
be completed, and light will be shed o
such matters as these:
Was Captain Smith indulging, alon
] with I Pr,lpa ISunav ry- nfharS In N rro