Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-22

/ stating that the steamer kenld report
passing wreckage and floating bodie!
at the scene OF the Titanic disaster. TIL,
Mackey Bennett reached the scene at
o'clock Saturday evening and reported
that operations would be begun Sunday
! NEW YORK, April 2l.-With dramatic
suddenness the senate investigation of th'
Titanic disaster came TO an end yesterday
so far as the New York hearing wa:
concerned. II will be resumed. however
in Washington on Monday when J. Bruce
Ismay and P. A. S. Franklin. chief Of
ficers Of the White Star line, and more
than score of officers and crew of the
sunken vessel will appear before the
committee.
Incident to the sudden close OF the
hearing here was the story OF Harold
S. Bride the second and only surviving
wireless operator OF the Titanic. His
tale was one Of suffering and death. He
told of the final plunge OF the vessel
Its captains end was also revealed. He
leaped from the bridge when the waters
were closing over the ship.
In connection with the transfer OF the
hearing to Washington II was intimated
that the power OF the senate In federal
territory would be undisputed in getting
at the real facts and no question OF state
rights could arise to interfere. Through
out the hearing also officials Of the
White Star line had portrayed the dan
gers OF sailors boarding houses in New
York as a reason why those detained by
the committee should be allowed to sail
on the Lapland which left today.
Titanic's Operator Testifies.
Throughout the hearing in the morning
Wireless operator Bride. crippled as a
result OF his experiences and seated In
an inyalids chair. told his story OF the
last moments. Of the Titanic. His mar
ratiye, drawn from him piecemeal By
Senator smith Of Michigan, chairman OF
the committee. held .enthralled the com
mlttee and the audience. When his or.
deal ended he was almost on the verge
Of collapse.
After the hearing was resumed in the
afternoon, announcement OF the change
Of base was made Herbert J. Plttman,
the third officer Of the Titanic, had been
called to the witness chair. Senator
Smith directed one question TO him. re-
lating to the whereabouts Of the ships
log. The witness said he did not know.
Promptly Mr.. Smith announced the COM
mittee's decision to resume the inquiry in
Washington on Monday. Later he Is
sued statement giving In detail his
reasons for this sudden change In plans
The committee devoted its entire day
10 an investigation Of the connection OF
the wireless with the disaster. II. T.
Gotham. the operator OF the Carpathia,
was the first witness. Senator Smith
sought to establish certain testimony he
had given on the stand yesterday and this
soon was ended Then came the star
witness Of the day.
Bride was wheeled to the end of the
stage. He was hollow checked and weak
and had just come from a physicians
care. His nerves were unquiet and he
looked at his interlocked fingers inces-
sanity.
boy Gets small Wages.
Like Cottam. who is g years old. Bride
is merely a boy. Neither had had any
experience previous to taking
up wireless telegraphy and both told
tales Of long hours at low wages and days
and nights spent without sleep.
This inexperience and the mental con-
dition Of the yc,'Hg operators were the
two points on which Senator Smith bore
He had put Cottam
through a gruelling examination in which
the youth testified that he had not slept
more than eight or ten hours between
Sunday night. when the Titanic called for
help. and Thursday night. when the vessel
docked here. Brides story was one that
bore out virtually all that Cottam's had
except that his was one Of
nervous strain and worry and high
keyed suspense.
Best Chance for Help Lost.
Bride was closely questioned as to the
first call for aid sent out by the Titanic.
He said the first vessel 10 answer was
the Frankfurt OF the North German
Lloyd line. The operator on the Frank
furt, according to the witness, appsr-
emily considered the call more or less
trivial. for half an hour after receiving
the imperative appeal OF the sea he called
the Titanic to inquire specifically just
what was wrong
MIR. Phillips said he was fool" Bride
testified. referring to the chief operator
on the Titanic. who lost his life, and
told him to keep out"
No effort was made to Te-establish
with the Frankfurt, al
though Phillips felt certain that the YES
sci was much nearer than the Carpathia,
with which communication had been es-
tablished. This, Bride said. Phillipps
Judged by reason OF the greater power Of
the Hertzian waves.
Sneator smith expressed astonishment
1t the statement He repeatedly pressed
he witness TO explain why the aid Of a
ressel many miles nearer a sinking ship
vas not invoked. Bride evaded a direct
answer by saying he did not know. that
probably the Frsnkfurts operator could
rot understand and that Phillips. his
Iuperlor. had used his own judgment
Refuses 10 Answer Call.
Another phase Of the l2xity OF the |
fCoufturted on Third pa1sa "