The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-21
Nv AasoeIated Prasa.

New York, April 20--With dramatic
suddeness the senate Investigation OF
the Titanic disaster ended today, so
far as the New York hearing Is con-
cerned. 1t will be resumed in Wash
ington Monday. when ]. Bruce Ismay
and p. A. S. Franklin. the chief officers
of the White Star Line, and more than
a score OF the officers and crew Of the
sunken vessel appear before the COM
mittee. Incident to the sudden close
OF the hearing here was the story OF
Harold S. Bride. second and only sur
viving wireless operator on the Titanic.
His tale was one Of suffering and
death. He told of the final plunge OF
the vessel to its ocean burial. Its cap
tain's end was also revealed. He leaped
from the bridge when the waters were
closing over the ship.
At the hearing this morning Bride.
crippled as result of his experiences
told the story of the last moments OF
the Titanic. When the ordeal Was
ended he was on the verge of collapse.
When the hearing was resumed this
afternoon announcement of the change
Of base was made. Herbert j. Pitt
man, third officer of the Titanic, testi
fed in the afternoon that he did not
know the whereabouts of the ships log.
The committee devoted the entire
day TO an investigation of the wire
less
H. r. Gotham. an operator on the Car
pathia, was a witness. Senator Smith
sought to establish certain testimony
he had given yesterday. Then came
the star witness Of the day.
Both Cottam and Bride told tales ~
long hours, low wages and days and
nights spent without sleep. Bride said
the first vessel to ansltsr the call for
help was the Frankfurt Of the North
fsar. Fl17
the Frankfurt apparently considered
the call trivial for later he inuuircd
epecfhcally what was wrong Phillips
said he was fool" Bride testified, re-
ferring to the chief operator on the tt
tanc, and told him to keep" No eff
fort was made to re-establish COM
munication witht he Frankfurt. Phil
lips believed the Frankfurt was nearer
than the Carpathia.
Bride testified that the steamship
Californian sent a warning that Ice
bergs had been sighted and these We're
delivered by him verbally to the cap
tain. Bride said Phillips sent the
&C. O. d. call to the last. while he
buckled on his left belt, and then he
put on his. BY then all the lifeboats
were gone, but one life raft remained.
The passengers were running around
looking for lifeboats and there was
almost panic. He said that ten min
utes before the Titanic sank the cap
tain gave word for every one to look to
his own safety He said he aide1 the
men struggling with the life raft, but
a wave swept 1t away and he went
with IL and found himself underneath
Finally he emerged and was swimming
$50 feet from the ship when she sank
He said he did not see Isn1ay.
1t is evident the testimony sought Is
intended to form the basis for a sweep
ing reform in the laws governing the
use OF wireless on ships.
ISMAY SUBPOENAED.
J. Bruce Ismay and other officials
OF the White Star line were SUP
poenaed today by the senate investi-
sating committee to appear before i
in washington Monday morning. Tbs
Investigation in New York will %
concluded To-Day.
lust before the committee met today
an invalid chair was wheeled into tn'
committee room. In 1t was Haro''
BIide. assistant wireless operator ~
the Titanic, whose feet were wrench
ell when he was crushed on the ift
raft that picked him up.
Behind Bride came j. Bruce Ismay
who was examined yesterday. Mr.. Is
ray showed the effects of the nerv
Gus strain under which he is labor
ing.
He announced before the inquiry be
csn that he had given Instructions Il
all the members of the Internations
Mercantile Marine. which include tn
White Star, the American. the Re-
Star. the Leyland, the Atlantic Trans
port and the Dominion lines, to equll
al steam vessels with sufficient life
heats and RATS for every passenge
and every member of the crew with
out regard to regulations prescrioe
by the governments of the Unite'
States. Great Britain, Belgium or an
OF the countries to which the steam
ers belong.
Thomas Gotham, wireless operate
on the Carpathia, the first witness
Continued on Page Seven.