The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-20

ing he had no stated hours for labor on the Carpathia. Previous witnesses had testified he was not lon duty when he received the Titanic's signal for help.
 What were you doing last Sunday evening about 10 o'clocls?p asked Senator Smith.
 Receiving news from Cape Cod,' said Cottam. He said he had also been sending a lot of messages for the IT. tanic"
 Had you closed your station for tht night?'
 No"
 You say the Carpathia wireless in- stuments would send message about 25t miles with accuracy?"
 "Yes, sir"
 Well, how did you happen to catch the Titanies message of dlstress?''
 'eI was looking out for a confirmation by the steamer Parisian of a previous message"
 Did you hear the captain of the Car. patha testify here today?"
 No"
 He said you were about to retire and caught this Titanic distress message rather providential?"
 .'Yes, sir"
 Had Taken Off Coat
 Had you taken off your elothes?'
 'Yes my eoat.n
 ''Did you have any instruments there?' ''Yes, the telephones were on my head. I was waiting for the Parisian's answer. had just called her.
 How long would you have waited?"
 Several minutes.
 "Would you have retired pretty soon, you think?7
 Yes"
 Well what did you hear?"
 T did not hear anything from the Paris ian just then. but first picked up Cape Cod again sending Mareoni news" Cot tam said.
 The Cape Cod relay service kept up for several minutes. There was a mes- sage for the Titanic which I hoped to relay the next morning."
 How far was the Titanic's station from yours?"
 q don't know, sir?"
 Well. when you got the distress mes sage from the Titanic Sunday night hoy cid you get it?"
 T called the Titanic myself, sir''
 "Who told you to call the Titanlc?"
 "No one, sir, I did it of my own ire, will. ] acked the Titanic operator 1 he was aware that Cape Cod had beer sending messages for the Titanic
 Caught ''C. 0. D."
 What was the answer?"
 "come at onee-this is a distress Snes sage. C. Q. D." Gottam testified. What did you do then?"
 'I confirmed the distress message b, asking the Titanic if should report tn, distress message to the captain or th, caipathia?"
 What prompted you to confirm tht message before delivering fl to the cap tain?'
 Because it is always wise to confirm 6 message of that description.
 *Arc you instructed to do that or is 1t 6 matter of discretion?'
 Matter of discretion"
 Have you ever been misled by mes sages that were without foundation?" No, sir
 What would you have done If the ,ri. tanic. had not confirmed her message ?' ''I world have reported the message tc the commander" said cottam.
 Reported in Two Minutes
 How much time elapsed after you received the Titanic's distress message before you reported it to Captain Ros? 2 tion?''
 About a couple of minutes" replied Cottam. VT .s- When word of the TItanic's distress was recelNed operator Cottam said he lm- n,ediately sent them the position of the Carpthaia and added that they would hurry to the rescue.
 Get any reply to that?' asked Senator smith.
 Yes, sir; immediately. They acknowl- edg receipt of it."
 The witness said the, next comm unica- tion with the Titanic was four minutes later when he confirmed the positions of both vessels. At this juncturc the Frank furt of the North German LloyI line broke in on the communication. he hay ing heard the Titanics call for help Later the steamship Olympic also re- rlied.
 What did you do then?" asked Sen ator Smith.
 T calleds the attention of the Titanic to the Olympic's efforts to raise if, D answered the witness. "The Titanic reDlied 1t would not hear because ,yf