The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-23

n phone bell, 1 was called by a re-.
porter for some paper. who Informed
me that the Titanic had met with an
accident and was sinking. l asked hin,
where he got the information. lie told
me that 1t had come by wireless from
the steamship Nirginian. 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 he then appealed to the
Associated Press, and there was read
TO him a dispatch from Cape Race, ad-
vising OF the accident.
Il asked the Associated Press" said
MIR. Franklin. mot to send out the dis
patch until we had more detailed in
formation in order to avoid unncccs-
sary alarm. was told. however. that
the story already had been sent"
"tiow old you ascertain the location
or the Olympic, Baltic and others?"
asked, the Senator.
I'VE worked them out en- our charts
We had no direct communication with
any of the ships. Our first endcavor
10 communicate with our big ship5
was message sent April Is ut , A. NJ.
rms message read as follows: Had
dock. Olympic: Make every endeavor TO
communicate Titanic. AMI advise posi-
ton and time. Reply within tho hour
MED
1t with others rapidly.
Monday morning we were endeav-
oring to get Information from Mon
treal and Cape Race. At 1927 4. NJ.
we got word from the Olympic. an
nouncing that at 4. NJ she had been
unable to reach the Titanic: was $40
miles south OF her. but would maintain
It's effort to get in communication with
her
Between noon and l o'clock on the
18th the following message was re-
ceived from the Olympic: Partisan re-
ports Carpathia in attendance, pick
cd up twenty boats with passcng-
ers and Baltic returning Position not
given.-Haddoek. Olympic"
Statements HeaSsurins.
The rcassuring 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 those statements" directed SEN
ator Smith.
I'VE based them on reports and
rumors received at Cape Race by in
dividuals al by the newspapers They
were rumors and we could not place
our finger on anything authentic"
Had you heard from the Carpathia
at that timer"
NO, SIR
Franklin said that the Olympic was
then dispatched this message: Had
dock. Olympic-Rumored here Titanic
sunk. Cannot confirm here. Expect
Nirginian MISUNDERSTANDING"
AT 2:i0 Z. NJ. we wired liaddock 10
endeavor by all means 90 ascertain the
whereabouts OF Mr.. Ismay. and TO adj
Wise us as soon as possible" continued
Franklin.
% al a
other to Paddock, in which we urged
DO your utmost TO ascertain condition
Of Titanic; advise us fully disposition
Titanics passengers and where they
will be landed"
AT GEO or Gao Monday evening.
Afr. Franklin continued, IA message
%as received. telling the Hateful news
ihat the Carpathia reached The Titanic
and found nothing put boats and
wreckage: that the Titanic had found
cred at eco A. NJ. in 4I.16 north, 5O1i
Hcst: that the Carpathla picked up all
:he boats and had on board about 675
Titanics survivors. passengers and
crew. This message was from Had
dock also.
cit was such a terrible shock that it
took me several moments to think
what to do. Then ] tclephoncd two OF
our directors. Mr.. Steele and j. T..
Morgan, Jr. Then | went downstairs
to the reporters. | began to read. the
message. holding 1T high IN my hand.
had read only TO the second line.
which said that the Titanic had sunk,
when there was not :, reporter loft.
They were so anxious to get 10 the
telephones.
After that we got another message
from Haddock, stating that .Yamsi.'
meaning Ismay, WAS on the Carpathia. g
Mr. Franklin then explained how the
company wired the Olympic to get the
names of the survivors and to stanG
by and relay them from the Carpa =
thia.
Thought Her UnsiuknhIc
Il want TO say that during the en-
tire day on Monday after our first
messages concerning the Titanic, we
considered the Titanic absolutely I'M
sinkable. We never dreamed of such a
thing. and that there had been loss of
life never entered our minds until we