MEANING OF DIFFERENT CALLS.
“The C. Q.,” said Mr. Marconi, “is an international signal which meant that all stations should cease sending except the one using the call. The ‘D’ was added to indicate danger. The call, however, now has been superseded by the universal call, ‘S. O. S’.”
Senator Smith then resumed the direct examination of Bride, who has said the North German Lloyd was the first to answer the Titanic’s distress signal.
“Have you heard it said that the Frankfurt was the ship nearest to the Titanic?” the senator asked.
“Yes, sir; Mr. Phillips told me that.”
“How did he know?”
“By the strength of the signals,” said the witness, who added that the Carpathia answered shortly after.
The witness said that twenty minutes later the Frankfurt operator interrupted to ask “what was the matter?”
“What did you reply?” the senator inquired.
“Mr. Phillips said he was a fool and told him to keep out.”
There was no further effort to get the Frankfurt’s position.
Time after time Senator Smith asked in varying forms why the Titanic did not explain in detail its condition to the Frankfurt.
“Any operator receiving C. Q. 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?’” suggested Senator Reed.
“Was your object in dismissing the somewhat tardy inquiry of the Frankfurt 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 send a detailed message to the Frankfurt?” Senator Smith insisted.
“I did not think we could under the circumstances.”