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.
SENATE TO PROBE FALSE MESSAGE.
It developed that the Senate Committee intended to make one of the most important features of its probing work and examination in the false messages that were given out by the White Star Line office in New York on Monday when it was said that the Titanic had struck an iceberg, but that she was in tow of the Virginian, which was taking her to Halifax and that all on board were safe.