UNCERTAIN AS TO THE KIND OF WORK.
He was decidedly uncertain whether he was required to work at night, finally saying it depended on whether he had commercial or ship’s business to get off.
“What were you doing last Sunday evening about 10 o’clock?” asked Senator Smith. “Receiving news from Cape Cod,” said Cottam. He said he had also been “sending a lot of messages for the Titanic.”
“Had you closed your station for the night?” “No.”
“What do you do when you close your station?” “Switch the storage battery out,” said Cottam.
“Does that prevent receiving or sending messages?” the Senator continued. “No.”
“Does it lessen the likelihood of your getting a signal of any kind?” “No, not in the least,” Cottam replied.
“You say the Carpathia wireless instruments would send a message about 250 miles with accuracy?” “Yes, sir.”
“Was there any thunder or lightning Sunday night?” “No, it was clear.”
“Well, how did you happen to catch the Titanic message of distress?” “I was looking out for a confirmation by the steamer Parisian of a previous message from the Parisian—a message that came some time in the afternoon.”