Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-22
ADVISED TO WITHHOLD
/. news Of THE DISASTER
wireless Operator Aboard the
: Carpathia Told There
Was Money in It.

NEW YORK, April 22-while the
world was waiting three days for in
formation concerning the fate OF the
Titanic. for part Of the time. Ut least.
"details concerning the disaster. were
being withheld by the wireless opSr-
ator Of the steamship Carpathia. under
>chief engineer OF the Marconi Wire
less Company Of America, who had ar
ranged for the sale Of the story.
: This was admitted yesterday by MI.
'Sammis, who defended his action. He
said he was justified in getting for the
wireless operators the largest amount
he could for the details Of the sink
ing OF the ship. the rescue OF the pas
sengers and the other information the
world had waited for.
The first information concerning the
loss Of the Titanic came Monday ever-
ing, and 1t was known at that time
the survivors were on board the Car
pathia. About midnight the first of
the list Of survivors began to come by
wireless, and from that time until
Thursday night. when the rescue ship
arrived In port. the world waited and
waited in vain for the details OF how
the "unsinkable ship had gone down.
Advised to Keep Silent.
Three messages were sent to the
Carpathia telling the operator to
send out no news concerning the dis
aster Two of these were UNSIGNED
and the last one had the signature Of
Mr. Sammis
The nrst message was unsigned. and
1t Is said it was sent as q list OF names
of survivors was being forwarded. 1t
read:
Keep your mouth shut. Hold story.
Big money for YOU"
The messages from the Carpathia to
the Marconi Office concerning this mat
ter were not available, but there was
evidently some communication, for the
second unsigned message followed after
an interval. This message read:
If you are wise. hold story. The Mar
conf company will take care OF you"
The third and last message was ad-
dressed to 'Marconi officer, the Carpathia
and the Titanic" and signed IS. NJ.
Sammis." chief engineer Of the Marconi
Company Of America This one read:
stop. Say nothing. Hold your story
for dollars in four figures. Mr.. Marconi
agreeing. viii meet you at dock"
Mr.. SAmmis was at the Waldorf-Astoria
during the hearinng before the subcom.
he was asked about the message.
Admits Report Is True.
1T Is reported" he was told, that
message was sent by you to the wireless
operator on the Carpathia in which you
gave the orders, or, at least, said to him,
not to give out any details Of the sinking
= of the Titanic, as you had arranged for
four figures"
: Weil?" he said in defiant way.
: did you send such a message"
MAYBE. What of it?'' he replied. Il
TT would be interesting to know II
you actually sent such q message
Yes, sent the message, but whose
business, II it?" Mr.. Sammis asked with
Perhaps 1t was no ones business" no
was told, but 1t Is interesting to know
that when the world was horror stricken
. over the disaster and waiting FOR the
news, that there were persons preparing
ranged for -four flgures.'"
DO you blame me for this?" retorted
M. S4Mlmfs, as he backed UP against the
wall DO yeu blame me for getting the
the story he had to tell about the coli
lision' and the rescue. I thought WAS
doing . good turn for him, and 1 can't
see how 1t Is the business Of any one."
Investigation by Committee.
II 10 not unlikely that the sending or
these messages. with the apparent re-
suit that no details OF the disaster came
from the relief ship. will form part Of
the inquiry that il being made BY q
subcommittee Of the Senate.
John w. Griggs. one time Attorney
General Of the United States and Cow
ernor of New Jersey, IL president OF
the Marconi Wireless Company Of
America. He said last night he had not
heard that the chief engineer Of the
company was marketing the informa.
ton of the disaster.
This IL q matter which will be look
. ed into he said. 'I know nothing
about 1t. had not heard OF It before,
and. of course, cannot say what will be
ton in an ofiicial way