Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-23
Vice President of Company
Owning Titanic Giving
Out Inaccurate Informa-
ton Following Disaster.
DID NOT ATTEMPT TO
HOLD BOAT FOR ISMAY
Witness Said He Did Not
Believe Earlier Reports
Because He Thought the
Boat Was Unsinkabie.

Washington, April 22.-vice Presr
dent P. S. A. Franklin OF the Interna-
tional Mercantile Marine Co., told the
senate investigating committee today
how he had asked to have the earliest
reports of the Titanic disaster held
up to avoid unnecessary alarm. lie
denied any knowledge Of the message
addressed to Representative Hughes OF
West Virginia about the ships being
towed to Halifax, and gave other de-
tails. Senator William Alden Smith
of Michigan, presided.
After denying that officials Of the
White Star line had any knowledge OF
misleading telegram to Mr.. Hughes,
it was acknowledged by Mr.. Franklin
that he had issued reassuring state
ments when he had no facts ~ which
to base them.
The witness read from a great sheai
Of wireless kilograms received Mon
day morning. None of them con-
tanned any information OF value, but
it was on this data that the line issued
it's statements In an effort, said Mr..
Franklin, to reassure inquirers Later.
when the news came, he said. he sent
Immediately for the reporters and pro.
ceeded to begin reading to them the
long Marconigram from the Carpathia
giving the grewsome news in consider.
able detail.
II began to read Titanic went
down this morning at 2::2O.' and then
looked up" said Mr.. Franklin There
was not reporter in the room. They
were all racing for phones to get the
news out to the world"
Mr.. Franklin denied that the White
Star company had any intention to
spirit away from the country any TT.
tanic officers or crew or that the plans
to return the survivors of the crew
were prompted by an desire to sup
press the facts. He said that nothing
that the officers or crew could tell
could affect what might be told by
surviving passengers.
Full Committee at Hearing.
The investigation Of the Titanic
senate investigation of the Titanic
disaster, begun in New York last week
upon the arrival Of the Carpathia with
the survivors OF the wreck, was re-
sumed here today, with ]. Bruce
Ismay, president Of the international
Mercantile Marine company; P. A. S.
Franklin, vice president of the White
Star line; H. T. Cottam, wireless oper-
ator of the Carpathia, and four officers
and twenty-eight sailors of the Ti-'
tanic's crew waiting to be called as
witnesses. "
Although Chairman William Alden
Smith and Senator Newlands were the
only members of the subcommittee OF
the senate commerce committee pres
ent when the preliminary testimony
was taken in New York, the full sub
committee will be in attendance at all
the hearings here. The other men,
bers are Senators Perkins OF Cali
fornia. Burton of Ohio, Bourne OF
Oregon, Simmons OF North Carolina.
and Fletcher of Florida.
Many Of the Titanic's surviving
mittee. 1t Is expected that among the
notable witnesses wilr be Mrs. John
Jacob Astor, Mrs. ]. B. Thayer and
Col Archibald Oracle.
Franklin Called to Stand.
After Senator Smith had cautioned
the crowd against demonstrations, J.
8. Boxhall, third officers of the IT.
tanic and one Of the four officers to
survive the disaster was called as the
first witness. Later Senator Smith
asked Boxhall to step aside and called
|P. A. S. Franklin. vice president OF
the International Mercantile Marine
company. He began to question Mr..
Franklin as to the companies compris-
ing the corporation, it's connections
and its capitalization.
"You are the real representative in
this country OF the White Star liner"
Senator Smith asked Mr.. Franklin.
'Yes, sir"
'Does any one share the response
bility with you?' @
T am mainly responsible" answered
Franklin. There are directors in this
country and meetings are held
frequently"
80 far as you know did you or
any Of your subordinate officers have
any communication with Captain
Smith on his last voyage?"
Not at all.
Mr.. Franklin said he had received no
communication from Mr.. Ismay except
one by cable from Southampton, an
o \