New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-23

the cause OF the loss Of the Titanic.
II was from Boxhall. whose testimony
was unfinished when adjournment was
taken. that the committee learned that an
unknown ship was so close 10 the Titanic
after sho struck the iceberg that her lghts
could be plainly seen, but, according to
Boxhall this vessel either did not see or
ignored the distress signals which were
repeatedly displayed when her presence
was known, and she sailed away without
an effort to assist the sinking Titanic.
The Fourth officer had testified that he
was on the Titanic's bridge, sending out
distress signals. in the hope of attracting
the attention OF boats that might be IN the
vicinity, when he said;
II sent up distress rockets until / left
the ship TO try to attract the attention Of
a ship directly ahead. l had seen her
lights. She seemed TO be meeting us and
was not far away. She got close enough.
so she seemed TO me. TO read our electric
Morse signals. told the captain. He
stood with me much of the time. trying to
signal her. He told me TO tell her IN Morse
rocket signals. Come al once. we are
sinking
Did any answer Gomez" asked Senator
Smith.
Il did not see them. but two men say
they saw signals from that ship
Only Five Miles Away.
How far away do you think that snip
was?"
approximately five miles"
Boxhau said he did not know what snip
It was.
Have you learned anything about that
ship SINGER"
NO. Some people say she replied to our
rockets and signals hut I did not see It.
by some people whom DO you mean
Not passengers. but stewards and the
captain all declared they saw them.
What lights did you see on the ship
First we saw her masthead lights and
few minutes later her red sdelights. She
was standing closer"
Suppose you had had a powerful search
light on the Titanic, could you not have
thrown a beam on the vessel and have
compelled her attention."
I'VE might"
The first witness to-day was Mr.. Frank
lin. who described the business operations
and extent Of the international Mercantile
Marine. It's capitalization, he said. was
800 100000 in common and preferred shares
s520OO.Op0 in AZ per cent bonds, $9op'oN
in per cent bonds and about 100000 OF
underlying bonds.
After Mr.. Franklin had read list Of the
officials and directors Of the International
he said in response TO questions that he
was the real representative in this country
Of the White star Line, although there were
directors in this country and meetings were
held frequently.
He said he had known Captain Smith, OF
the Titanic, since 1895, adding that Smith
had commanded the Majestic, the Adhatc,
the Baltic the Olympic and the Titanic.
so far as you know, did you or any Of
YOUR subordinate officers have any commu-
nlcaton with Captain Smith on his last
yoyage7" Senator Smith asked.
None et all" Mr. Franklin answered.
we did not hear from him in any way or
shape"
Mr.. Franklin said he had received no
communication from Mr.. Ismay except one
by cable from Southampton, announcing the
complete success of the THAMES trial trip
and the favorable prospect for successful
VOYAGE. This, 50 far as he knew, Mr.
Franklin said, was the only attempt from
Cficers. crew or passengers TO communicate
With him after they left Southampton.
Disavows Telegram to Hughes.
Senator Smith showed Mr.. Franklin
the telegram received by Representative
Hughes. signed by the White Star Line
dated New York, April Is, as follows
Titanic proceeding 70 Halifax. Passengers
probably land on Wednesday. All safe
81 ask YOU" continued the Senator
whether YOU know about the sending Of
that telegram, by whom it was authorized
and from whom It was sent?"
7 do not. sir" said Franklin Since Il
was mentioned at the Waldorf Saturday we
have had the entire passenger staff exam
ined and we cannot find out We appreciate
the fact that on that Monday there were
many unior clerks at work and there was
great confusion. IT IL possible that some
one who had no absolute information might
have sent II wish you would have the
telegraph company turn over all the White
Star messages sent TO you 50 that we can
see Just what happened
Asked when he first knew that the
Titanic had sunk Mr.. Franklin said he first
knew Il at 81 r m Monday.
About twenty minutes Of . on Monday
y, -rrinr" said he awakened by phone
bell. I was called by a reporter 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 II had come by wireless from
the steamship virginian, which had been
appealed 10 by the Titanic for aid.
Mr. Franklin said he called up the White
Star docks. but they had no information,
and he then appealed 10 The Associated
Press. and there was read TO him a dis
patch from Cape Race advising of the &C
cident.
II asked The Associated Press. said Mr.
Franklin. mot 10 send out the dispatch
until we had more detailed information, in
order 10 avoid causing unnecessary alarm
I was told. however, that the story already
had been sent"
How did you ascertain the location II
the OLYMPIC. the Baltic and others asked
Senator Smith,
we worked them out on our charts w"
had no direct communication from any ~
tho ships our first cndeavor to Communi-
cate with our big ships was a message
sent on April II, At q. m This message
read as follows:
"Taddock olympic Make cycrv endearor
20 communicate Titanic and advise position
and time Reply within the hour.
That was the FIRST message We followed
il with others RAPIDLY.
Monday morning We We're cudCavorinC 70
get information from Montreal and cape
Race. At 1917 a. m. We got word from IN"
Olympic announcing that a. a. IN. she
had been unable to raiso the Titanic. was
2lo miles south Of hcT, hut would maintain
its effort 10 got IN communication with h"r.
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