Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-23

every member of the crew in case os accident"
 "De yeu know of anyone, any off, eer CT man or any official. who you deem could be held responsible for the accident and its attendant loss of Iife2"
 "Pesitively net. No. one thought such an accident could happen. 1t was undaeamed of. 1 think it-weald be ab- surd te try te hold some individual responsible. Every Preeaution was taken; that the precautions were of ne avail is a s0grge of the deepest sorrow. But the accident was un- aYeiaaBle,"
 Nc searehiight on Titanic.
 Were there any searehlights on the Titanic?" Senator Smith asked
 Not that 1 know of. I never have heard of searchlights on a trans-At- lantie liher,' ssdd Franklin. CengTes- sienal measures contemplate requiring searelilights on all ocean liners.
 MT. Franklin volunteered a statement relating to criticism of the White Star company fur attempting te return the crew gf the Titanic te Europe, hRlne- diately,
 T think there has been an awful mistake about that matter" said Franklin, T would like to clear 1t up. The criticisms have been made that we were trying to keep these men from testifying, That is hcs so. It was not the reason at all As far as the crew are concerned, 1t was our duty to re- turn them to their homes. If they were permitted to roam around here, men would besiege them for news, syir fpl V and many of them would get lost. We assured you that we would hold any officers or men that yeu wanted for this committee. We made the prom ise to your Senator Smith, as soon as the boat dOcked. There was no at- tempt on our part to spirit away any member of the crew. to the best of my knowledge and belief. What possible harm could those men do us in an in- vestigation? They could not tell any more than the passengers, many of them probably not as much. The worst they could say could not help mat ters.'
 The Watertight Compartments.
 Mr. Franklin when he resumed the stand at the afternoon session wsE piled with questions by Senator Bur- ton.
 There were 15 compartments or the Titanic" said the senator. How many of these watertight comparE- ments were opened by the collision? ?'
 No estimate is possible" replied the witness My best belief is that from five to six were opened But that Is largely guesswOrk"
 Not Enough Boats for Crew.
 @You Were quoted in the press de- spatches Friday as saying the Titanic had sufficient boats aboard to care foI the entire ships company. Did you say that?''
 T don't think did" said MT. Frank lin. There were not enough boats aboard to care for the entire ships complement at one time"
 Senator Fletcher questioned the wit ness bout the International Mercantile Marine company. Vice President Franklin said 1t was a New Jersey corporation and that his was the high est position of that company in this country.
 Ismay Absolute Head of Corporation
 Does the position of MT. Ismay al managing, director combine the presi- dency and management? ?' asked Sen ator Fletcher.
 MT. Ismay is absolutely the heat of the corporation" answered Mir Franklin.
 When did you expect to have tht Titanic arrive in New York?'' q never had any information on tht subject We had no message from tht Titanic directly after she left Belfast As a rule the 4stenmeTs do not repOf' except as they are arriving in port That is to advise friends of RaSsen' gers when to meet theH1."
 Got First News of Wreck from Re
 porter. ''Why was the report to Cape Raci sent there instead of New Yorl1?"
 That is the quickest way" Early on Monday morning 1 un' derstand a reporter called you up anC said it was reported that the Titanli was sinking" said Senator Fletcher How long afterward did you heal from that report?"
 Well, I confirmed the report Of thi call for help an hour afterward Iron the nr 4ss,' said Franklin.
 Senator Rewlands brought out tha. the speed of the Titanic at the tinlt of the accident was about four nafe' an hour below the Mauretania ana LusitAnia-
 Stringent Rules for Fog and Ice.
 "The Titanic was not built fo' speed" added MT. Franklin.
 'De you have rules governing thu running of a ship in fog or when ic' is in a ships Yicinlty?' We have very stringent rules. Thes' rules govern the captains of vessel whenever they regard conditions a! hazardous"
 'The captain of the Carpathia," saiC the witness, in answer to a qVestol by Senator Bourne, testified tha when the Titanic struck the ice sh, was just exactly in the position sh should have been according to tn 1 charts"
 Senator Smith then returned to th' subject of the messages exchanged ol 1 the day of the disaster. Did you send any by cable T' h. asked.
 q did. They did not refer, however | to anyone aboard the Carpathia." | MT. Franklin was then excused, bu 1 it was intimated that he would be re l called later.