Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-22

PERSONALLY ne SdiN.
Il would like to know just what the
message said" Senator Smith sug-
gested.
Wei sir, did not take it down.
Bride replied The Californian was
seeking out the Baltic, and l merely
noted that it was an ice report and
told the captain"
Under a fire of questions Bride ac~
Snowledged that half-hour previous
Is, or at 4.30, Sunday afternoon, he
was working on his accounts in the
wireless room when he heard the Cali
fornian trying to raise the Titanic He
did not respond, he said, because he
was busy"
You had the telephone apparatus az
your ear?" inquired Senator Smith in
surprise.
Yes, sir
And you did not respond to the
CALF"
NO. sir"
Then a half-hour later on, about
five hours before the disaster, you
took the message, when it was intend
ed for another vessel, the Baltic?"
Yes. sir"
III all tiIOtl W QtltliIllllt NHSliltI
the signal &c. @. D." might not have
been misunderstood by passing ships,
Senator Smith called upon Mr.. Mar
conf.
What is the meaning of the signal?'
Mr. Marconf was asked
THE C. O." said Mr.. Mareoni, "is
an International signal. which meant
that all stations should cease sending
ecept the one using the call. The D.
was added TO indicate danger. The CALL
however, now has been superseded by
the universal call, IS. Q. s."
Senator Smith then resumed the di
rect examination of Bride, who has
said the North German Lloyd Liner
Frankfurt was the first to answer the
THAMES distress signal.
Have you heard it said that the
Frankfurt was the ship nearest to the
Titanic?" the senator said.
Yes. sir: Mr.. Phillips told me that
the Frankfurt was the nearest ship"
How did he know
by the strength of the signals"
said the witness. who added that the
Carpaihia answered shortly after.
The witness said that 20 minutes
later the Frankfurt operator inter
rupted to ask: What was the matt
err"
What did you reply?" the senator
inquired
Mr. Phillips said he was fool and
told him to keep out"
Did Mr.. Phillips try further for
the Frankfurt
mo, sir"
Did you or Mr.. Phillips ever get
the Frankfurt's position?''
mo. sir
Time after time Senator Smith ask
ed in varying forms why the Titanic
did not explain in detail its condition
to the Frankfurt
ANY operator receiving C. O. D.
and the position of the ship. If he is on
the job. said Bride. would tell the
captain at once
ASK him if it would have taken
longer to have sent You are a fool,
keep out. than We are sinking" sug-
gested Senator Reed.
Senator Smith for the time contin-
ued the point he had in mind
Was your object in dismissing the
somewhat tardy inquiry of the Frank
furt due to your desire to hang on to
a certainty. the Carpathia?" inquired
Senator Smith.
The witness said it was.
But under the circumstances could
you not with propriety have sene a
detailed message to the Frankfurt 2"
Senator Smith insisted.
II did not think we could under the
circumstances
would you still make the same re-
ply If you were told that the Frank
furt was 20 miles nearer to you than
the Carpathia 2"
Bride replied that the Carpathia was
then on its way with its lifeboats
ready.
Gotham. the Carpathia wireless OPP
orator, was recalled and asked If he
heard anything from the Frankfurt at
this time. He said he had not.
Mr.. Marconi again testified to the
distress signals and said that the
frankfurt was equipped with Marconi
wireless. He said that the receipt OF
she signal C. Q. d. by the Frankfurt's
operator should have been all sufficient
to send the Frankfurt to the immedi-
ate rescue.
Under questioning by Senator Smith.
Bride said that undoubtedly the
Frankfurt received all of the urgent
appeals for help sent subsequently to
the Carpathia.
why did you not send the messages
to the Frankfurt as well as TO the Car
pathia?" asked Senator Smith.
II suppose so, sir, but he would not
have understood"
us there any code word for fool p
asked Senator Smith. Wouldn't it have
been as easy to send news of your actual
condition."
The witness made no answer He said
that before leaving the cabin, 10 minutes
before the ship went down, Phillips sent
out final c. @. u. There was no re-
Spouse, Bride saying the spark was then
so weak that it probably did not carry.
When Bride and Phillips stepped out
on the boat deck, he said, they found
persons rushing around in confusion.
They Were seeking lifebelts.
"There were no big lifeboats aboard at
that time" said Bride. There was a
liferaft over the officers quarters, which
later was lost over the side
The witness then told of his experience
in following with a small boat beneath
which he nearly was drowned before he
could extricate himself With a num-