The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-01
Dunn Says Officials Knew of Disaster 12 Hours
 Before Publication
REFUSES TO DIVULGE | NAME OF INFORMANT
Promptly Put in Charge of Sergeant and Will Be Held-Committee Off, ficers Go to New York to In-
 vestigate-Ismay Excused

hat automatically would float clear of a Inltng vessel, and the construction of feat passenger steamers with double ulls and extended water tight com artments-all these reforms, it was in- icated today, before the Senate commit- ee Investigating the Titanic disaster, you'd come in the immediate future. J. Bruce Ismay, president and manag- ng director of the International Mer- antile Marine company, told the commit- ee that in his opinion this should be one. He promised to take up the aues- ion with the constructors of the big Iners as soon as he returned to Eng and.
 Dunn Creates Sensation The head of the most powerful shipping in the world shared interest n todays hearing with D. J. Dunn, a - N ork importer. MT. Dunn proved kR citrant witness, for, after telling if brmation he had received to the ttfhat the White Star line officials ceived positive information of the
 disaster F hours before they gave M he refused to give the name of ijS }Hformant.
 foator Smith insisted upon knowing fi{ }nme of the person responsible for ke 5<atement Dunn said he had received
 iutonfidence and had pledged himself to divulge the name. Summarily dis 1<1kd from the stand in the charge of kn ~ kistant sergeant at arms of the Sen &&n fhs witness spent most of the mor1l- E< on the long distance telephone, en-
 v6flns to be absolved from his pledge.
 Officers Having Trouble
 Xy result of Dunns testimony Sen
 (f%<fmith dispatched two officers to
 sv,N ork to interrogate officials of the
 Estcrn Union Telegraph company, by
 cm was employed the man who was
 df-to have originally made the state
 I'M Late in the day he learned that
 oflteers were having trouble in get
 at the facts. As a result he an- 1sed that he possibly would go to New ! I tolnorfew and eenlnist the infesti-'
 #H l..I4lA.iiasi
 cor smith aunounced the commit
 rouid recess until Friday. This,
 'Hid, was neoessitated because the
 M commerce committee, to which
 sfnembers of the Titanic inFestigat-
 &pmnlittee belong, was completing It's
 fx on the rivers and harbors appro-
 Non bill It was desired, he said,
 all members of the committee be
 5tnt
 Mysterious Message Unearthed Xen the Titanic disaster Investigation
 Presumed here this forenoon, Senator
 Ilh, the chairman, insisted the nrst witness give him the name Of the man
 hoo IT President Franklin of the International Mercantile Marine company had received | message telling of the wreck F hours ,efore the news was made public by the White Star line.
 The witness was E. J. Dunn, New York importer He said a friend told him hat the Western Union had received wireless message which was transmitted 10 Franklin between S:30 and o'clock morning. He said the message gave news of the wreck
 Dunn insisted that he could not give the names of his informant because he must protect the latters father, who was em- ,loyed by the Western Union.
 Dunn was sent to Senator Smiths of ice.
 Chairman Smith conferred with MT, Dunn in his private office. He instructed Dunn to get in telephonic communication with the man who told him about the mysterious message and ask his permis- iion to disclose his identity.
 Will Get Mans Name
 T am going to get that mans name" said senator. smith. 'If he will not per nit disclosure of his Identity, we will use other means to get it.'
 What was the information in the mys- terious message?" Senator Smith was asked.
 'Dunn has not disclosed it on the stand, but know what it was said the senator. Tt shows that the White Star ,eopie had information about the fate of he ship hours before they made it pub lie
 .'Did the message refer 10 an attempt to reinsure the Titanie?'
 q cannot say now" the chairman re- piled.
 Mir. Franklin. when Senator smith re- tired 10 the committee room, rose and the committee call on the West sfn Union 10 produce the message.
 DO you waive all right of secrecy in this matter as you did in the other mat ter yesterday?''
 ''Yes, sir answered MT. Franklin. eve want this matter sifted to the bot tom, and we want every bit of iniorma- Lion that has any bearing on the disas- ter"
 the witness to press the matter further. Mir. Ismay was the next witness
 lsmay Recalled
 When Mr. Ismay took the stand sena- tor Smith asked him about different dn- ner parties on board the ship the nigh: of the wreck MT. Ismay and the ships surgeon. Dr. O'LouEhlin, dined together. willie Captain smith, the Nideners of Philadelphia and others comprised another dinner party.
 IsrayN did not seem annoyea This fea- ture of the investigation came after wit ness had been questioned aboni the hold lncs of the International Mercantile Ma inc company. In 1904 he attachei himself 10 it. He said ships of the variols lines aggregated about l.o0,eo9 tons.
 Asked about mail contracts Win the different governments, he said his eom- ps,ny was not allowed to put British rnaNs on -Sxlp making less than 16 knots DO, LSuf.
 ' MT Ismay said the mail bounty was so small that 1t would not induce any one to build big ships.'
 Since he had been man aging director the Internationa company. he said had lost tlree ships, viz: the Republic. ths Naropc and the. Titanic,
 He told of the method If placing ship bnildine contracts. The builders are eiver carte blaneh, he testified, After<the vesse had heen completed. accoeGing to plans the expense is figured on. the builders ~-~~~~~>--~~>
 tcON1lsuED ON ltaGE sl