SENDING MESSAGES TO THE TITANIC.
“Who told you to call the Titanic?” “No one, sir. I did it of my own free will. I asked the Titanic operator if he was aware that Cape Cod had been sending messages for the Titanic.”
“What was the answer?” “‘Come at once’ was the message, sir,” said Cottam.
“Was that all of it?” “No, the operator said, I think, ‘come at once—this is a distress message. C. Q. D.’” Cottam testified.
When word of the Titanic’s distress was received, Operator Cottam said he immediately sent them the position of the Carpathia and added that they would hurry to the rescue.
“Get any reply to that?” asked Senator Smith. “Yes, sir; immediately. They acknowledged receipt of it.”
The witness said the next communication with the Titanic was four minutes later, when he confirmed the position of both vessels. At this juncture the Frankfurt, of the North German Lloyd Line, broke in on the communication, having heard the Titanic’s call for help. Later the steamship Olympic also replied.
“What did you do then?” asked Senator Smith. “I called the attention of the Titanic to the Olympic’s efforts to raise it,” answered the witness. “The Titanic replied it could not hear because of the rush of air and the noise made by the escaping steam.”
Immediately after telling the Titanic of the Olympic’s attempt to get in communication with her, the former, the witness said, sought the Olympic’s aid, reporting that it was “head down” and giving its position. The Baltic broke in at this time, but its efforts to reach the Titanic were without avail.
“I was in communication with the Titanic at regular intervals until the final message,” said Cottam. “This was ‘come quick; our engine room is filling up to the boilers.’”
“What was your condition?” asked Senator Smith. “I was desperately tired. I was worked out,” answered Cottam, who was then excused.
The committee adjourned at 10.20 o’clock to meet at 10 o’clock the next morning.
CHAPTER XX.
SURVIVING OPERATOR’S EXPERIENCES.
Surviving Operator’s Experiences—Tells Senator How He Escaped—Tale of Suffering and Death—Managing Director’s Flight Balked—Long Hours and Low Wages for Wireless Men—Refused Help from Frankfurt—Called Its Operator a Fool—Laxity of Wireless—Denies Sending “Saved” Message—Gave Warning of Ice.
With J. Bruce Ismay, managing director, and P. A. S. Franklin, general manager of the White Star Line, Harold Thomas Cottam, wireless operator on the Carpathia; Harold Bride, surviving operator of the Titanic, the five surviving officers from the ill-fated ship and thirty of her seamen in the custody of the sergeant-at-arms of the United States Senate, Senator Smith, of Michigan, and Francis G. Newlands, of Nevada, brought their investigation of the greatest sea horror of modern times to a close so far as New York was concerned.
When the men of the Titanic, British seamen, had been heard under oath by the committee they were allowed to return to their homes, where they were subject to the call of their own government.
“We must hear the Englishmen first,” said Chairman Smith, a few minutes before he and Senator Newlands left shortly after midnight for Washington, “because they need to get back home as soon as possible. We will be able to get the Americans whenever we want them.”
It had been suggested to Chairman Smith that the British Government might offer objections to the keeping of British seamen in this country under the circumstances.
“I am proceeding,” said Mr. Smith, “just as if there was not the slightest possibility of such a protest. Should one come we will deal with it at that time.”
The committee had in mind the drafting of important legislation as the result of its hearing. Regulation of the use of the air by wireless operators so as to prevent interference in times of wreck at sea is one law that seemed almost sure to be enacted. Another was legislation requiring not only American, but all foreign vessels using American ports to be equipped with enough lifeboats to take off every passenger and every member of the ship’s crew if need be. Patrol of the steamship lanes for icebergs was another.
It seemed likewise not at all unlikely that the committee would recommend and Congress enact a law requiring ships, at least those under American registry, to carry two operators so that one may be on duty while the other sleeps. The President seemed likely to be asked by a joint resolution of Congress to open negotiations with foreign powers to establish a new and much more southerly steamship lane across the Atlantic by international agreement.