“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.”
BRIDE INTERROGATED.
“Would you still make the same reply if you were told that the Frankfurt was twenty miles nearer to you than the Carpathia?”
Bride replied that the Carpathia was then on its way with its lifeboats ready.
Mr. Marconi testified to the distress signals and said the Frankfurt was equipped with Marconi wireless. He said the receipts of the signals C. Q. D. by the Frankfurt’s operator should have been all sufficient to send the Frankfurt to the immediate rescue.
Under questioning by Senator Smith Bride said that undoubtedly the Frankfurt received all of the urgent appeals for help sent subsequently to the Carpathia.
“Why did you not send the messages to the Frankfurt as well as to the Carpathia?” asked Senator Smith.