The Washington herald., 1912-04-23

4
morning before the accident. simply as
q matter OF Information.
Senator Smith then produced In evi-
dence the telegram purporting TO have
been signed by the White Star Line. and
sent TO Representative J. A. Hughes
Huntington. W. Va, on April Is the day
after the Titanic had hit the iceberg
This telegram read:
"Titshic proceeding to Halifax. Pas
sengeras win probably land there Wed
nesday all safe"
Il ask you," said Senator Smith,
whether you know anything about the
sending OF that message, or by whom
1t was authorized. or from whom 1t EN-
anated?''
False Message Untraced.
'T do not, sir" replied the White
Star vice president, 'and since this was
mentioned at the meeting In New York
on Saturday. We have had our entire
passenger stan in the Broadway once
asked and we cannot ind out who sent
the message. Now what we would ap-
preciate your committee doing is TO have
the telegraph company deliver to you
the message received frOm the White
Star Line ana let US see where they got
It and when they got It.
II think II 10 only fair for US to ex-
plain in connection with that. that we
have a great many people, naturally, en-
ployed In the passenger department The
once was very crowded on that Monday
morning, and q good many Of the jun
iors were answering communications. 10
the, best Of their ability, by telephone
apd otherwise. II might be possible that
that telegram was sent by one OF those
juniors from something he had got from
the newspapers; but 50 far as the White
Star Line or its officlals were concerned.
they did not authorize anything of that
kind. We were very guarded In advising
everybody that the only authentic In
formation we were receiving about the
disaster was through Capt. Haddock. OF
the Olympic"
It was o'clock on Monday morning
when the White Star officials. then al
most sick with fear. but still hoping for
the best, sent their first flash to the
Olympic, Mr.. Franklin continued. This
message read:
Make every effort to communicates IT,
tanic, and advise position and time. Re
ply to Ismay. New York"
Mr.. Franklin reiterated that he had
worded the message this way. because
he did not want to alarm the captain Of
the Olympic until the newpaper reports
had been verified.
Thir telegram was sent from Brooklyn
by Mr.. Ridgway. Mr.. Franklin and the
other White Star officers estimated at
that time that the Olympic was about
so miles from the Titanic.
IAN during Monday morning" said the
witness. I'VE were endeavoring to COM
munieate with or 20 get further informa-
ton from Montreal Halifax. and from
the commander OF the Olympic: Keep
US fully posted regarding titanic That
was at 500 a. m. almost four hours
after the Titanic had sunk. We had re-
ceived no reply at all from Capt. Had
dock. OF the Olympic.
Then we got the telegram from the
Olympic reading:
Knew of Rescue Work.
Since midnight, when her position
was H-Is north. SOFA west, have been
unable to communicate. We are now so
miles from Titanic, a. m. under fun
power. VIII inform you at once II hear
anything
r'This message was signed by Capt
Haddock. OF the Olympic. Thereupon
Mr.. Franklin followed with this Mar
eonigram. addressed to the commander
OF the Olympic:
"Can you ascertain damage Titanicy
This message was sent to the Olympic
later Monday morning. and Mr. Franklin
declared that up to that time the on
cials had had absolutely no information
in regard to the sinking Of the Titanic"
Between II and l O'Clock Monday Mr..
Franklin received the following message
from Capt. Haddock. of the Olympic:
"Parisian reports Carpathia in attend
ance and picked up twenty boats OF pas
sengers. and Baltic returning TO give as
sistance. Position not given"
To this the White Star vice president
hurriedIy flashed back this reply:
'.Haddock, Olympic. Thanks your mes
sage. We have received nothing from
but rumored here that she is
slowly Halifax. but we can
not confirm this. We expect Virginian
alongside Titanic. Try and communi-
cate her."
Vice President Franklin declared that
this message was sent at about o'clock
Monday afternoon.
Senator Smith wanted to know upon
what rumor Mr.. Franklin had based his
statement that the Titanic was pro-
ceeding slowly to Halifax.
We based that statement" said he.
ION rumors that we were having from
all sources, the press and kilograms from
Montreal. but nothing we could put our
hands on as being authentic"
Had you not received anything from
the Carpathia at that timer asked Sem
ator Smith.
mo. sir; we had not heard Of the Car
pathia up to that time at all except for
this Haddock telegram"
Mr.. Franklin declared that the White |
Star oficlals had told everybody that this |
report in regard to the Titanic being |
owed toward Halifax was merely q |
-umor. and that they could not confirm II. |
At go on Monday afternoon Mr.. Frank |
In sent the following wireless to Capt |
Of the Olympic;
''Endeavor ascertain where Ismay Is, /
ldvise me. and convey him deepest SYM
)athy from US all"
On Monday afternoon also Mr.. Franklin |
Ient wireless TO Capt. Haddock, asking
lin TO dol his utmost to ascertain imme-
lately and advise the officials OF the
disposition Of the Titanic's passengers.
md where they win be landed II was
t go Monday evening. according TO Mr..
franklin. when the message bearing the
ad news OF the sinking Of the Titanic
vas finally placed In his hands. This
Message was from Capt. Haddock, and
to Ismay. 1t had been received
{ SIS p m, and read:
Declines 10 Place Blame.
''carpathia reached Titanic's position at
aybreak. Found boats and Wreckage
My. Titanic had foundered about 40
: m. in A.ls north. SOFA west an herr
oats accounted for. About SO souls
aved. crew and passengers. latter nearly
II women and children. The Leyland
Ane steatrlship Californian remaining and
earchlng POSITION OF disaster. Carpathia
Il