Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25

ginia from the irne lated New York
April is, ami addressed to J. A.
Hughes, Huntington. w. Va. as fol-
lows.
Titanic proceeding to Halifax. Pas
sengers probably land on Wednesday.
All safe.
(Signed) WHITE STAR LINE"
II ask YOU" continued the senator,
whether you know about the send
ing Of that telegram. by whom It was
authorized and from whom II was
sent?'
II do not. sir" said Franklin. since
II was mentioned at the Waldorf Sat
urday we have had the entire passen-
ger staff examined ami we cannot And
out. We appreciate the fact that on
that Monday there were many Junior
clerks at work and there was great
confusion. II Is possible that some
one who had no absolute information
might have sent II. I wish you would
have the telegraph company tut
over all the whrte star messages TO
you so that we can see just what hap
pened.'
FIRST NEWS OF WRECK.
Asked when he first knew that the
Titanic had sunk. Franklin said ne
first knew II at 6:27 p. m. Monday.
Mr.. Franklin then produced a thick
package OF kilograms which he had
received Monday in relation to the dis
aeter.
About 90 minutes OF two on Mon
day morning" said he. awakened by
a phone bell. was called by re-
porter for some paper who informed
me that the Titanic had met with an
accident and was sinking. asked
him where he got the information.
He told me that 1t had come by wire
less from the steamship virginian
which had been appealed to by the
Titanic for aid"
Mr.. franklin said he called up the
White Star docks but they had no in
formation and ne then appealed to the
Associated Press. and there was read
to him despatch from Cape Race ad-
vising of the accident.
II asked the Associated Press" said
Mr.. Franklin. not to send out the de-
spatch until we had more detailed in
formation in order to avoid causing
unnecessary alarm. was told. how
ever. that the story already had been
sent"
How did you ASCERTAIN the location
Of the Olympic. Baltic and others?"
asked the senator.
I'VE worked them out on our charts,
We had no direct communication from
any Of the ships. Our first endeavor to
communicate with our big ships was
a message sent April IS at 500 a. m
This message read as follows:
"'FIaddock, Olympic. Make every
endeavor to communicate Titanic and
advise position and time. Reply with.
in the hour That was the first mes
sage. We followed II with others
rapidly.
WORD FROM OLYMPIC.
Monday morning we were endeavoring
&c get Information from Montreal and
Cape Race. At 1921 a. m. We got word
from the Olympic announcing that at 800
a. m. she had been unable to raisN the
Titanic. was $40 miles south of her but
would maintain Its effort to get in COM
municatiOn with her.
Between noon and one o'clock on the
18th the following message was received
from the Olympic: Partisan reports Car
pathia In attendance. Picked up 20 boats
with passengers and Baltic returning
Position not given. HADDOCK. Olym-
pic"
The reassuring statements sent out by
the line in the early hours OF the disaster
next were made the subject of inquiry
Tell the committee on what you based
these statements" directed Senator
Smith.
I'VE based them on reports and rumors
received at Cape Race by individuals
and by the newspapers They were NJ
mors and We could not place our finger
on anything authentic"
Had you heard from the Carpathia at
that timer
mo, SIR"
Mr.. Franklin when he resumed the
stand at the afternoon session was piled
with questions by Senator Burton.
You were quoted In the press de-
spatches Friday a. saying the Titanic
had sufficient boats aboard to care for
the entire ships company" said the sem
ator. Did you say that!"
KNEW BOATS NOT ENOUGH
II don't think I did" said Mr.. Franklin
"There were not enough boats aboard to
care for the entire ships complement at
one time"
Senator Fletcher questioned the wit
ness about the International Mercantile
Marine company. Vice-President Frank
lin said II was a New Jersey corporation
and that his was the highest position OF
that company In this country.
Does the position of Mr.. Ismay as
managing director combine the presidency
and management?' asked Senator
Fletcher.
Mr.. Ismny is absolutely the head of
the corporation" answered Mr. Franklin.
when did you expect to have the IT,
tanic arrive In New York;"
II never had any information on that
subject. We had no message from the n
tanic directly after she left Belfast. AS
rule the steamers do not report except
as they are arriving In port. That Is to
advise friends of passengers when to
meet them"
"Why was the report to Cape Race sent
there instead Of New York;"
THAT is the quickest way
Early on Monday morning l under
stand a reporter called you up and SAID
It was reported that the Titanic was sink
ms" said Senator Fletcher. How long
afterward did you hear from that re-
port7"
CONFIRMED REPORT BY PRESS.
We'll. l confirmed the report OF the call
for help an hour afterward from the
press." said Franklin.
Senator Newlands brought out that the
speed OF the Titanic at the time Of the
accident was about four miles an hour