“I can’t say anything about that now except that I sent the first telegram announcing what had happened to Mr. Franklin about 11 o’clock on the morning that we were picked up. I am told that that telegram did not reach its destination here until yesterday.”
In response to requests for more details Mr. Ismay said: “I must refuse to say more until to-morrow, when I appear before the Congressional Committee.”
“For God’s sake, get me something to eat. I’m starved. I don’t care what it costs or what it is. Bring it to me.”
AN OFFICER’S COMPLETE ACCOUNT.
This was the first statement made by Ismay, a few minutes after he was landed on board the Carpathia. It is vouched for by an officer of the Carpathia. This officer gave one of the most complete accounts of what happened aboard the Carpathia from the time she received the Titanic’s appeal for assistance until she landed the survivors at the Cunard line pier.
“Mr. Ismay reached the Carpathia in about the tenth lifeboat,” said the officer. “I didn’t know who he was, but afterward I heard the others of the crew discussing his desire to get something to eat the minute he put his foot on deck. The steward who waited on him, McGuire, from London, says Mr. Ismay came dashing into the dining room, and, throwing himself in a chair, said, ‘Hurry, for God’s sake, and get me something to eat; I’m starved. I don’t care what it costs or what it is; bring it to me.’
“McGuire brought Mr. Ismay a load of stuff, and when he had finished it he handed McGuire a two-dollar bill. ‘Your money is no good on this ship.’ McGuire told him. ‘Take it,’ insisted Mr. Ismay, shoving the bill in McGuire’s hand. ‘I am well able to afford it. I will see to it that the boys of the Carpathia are well rewarded for this night’s work.’ This promise started McGuire making inquires as to the identity of the man he had waited on. Then we learned that he was Mr. Ismay. I did not see Mr. Ismay after the first few hours. He must have kept to his cabin.
“The Carpathia received her first appeal from the Titanic about midnight, According to an officer of the Titanic, that vessel struck the iceberg at twenty minutes to 12 o’clock and went down for keeps at nineteen minutes after 2 o’clock. I turned in on Sunday night a few minutes after 12 o’clock. I hadn’t closed my eyes before a friend of the chief steward told me that Captain Rostron had ordered the chief steward to get out 3,000 blankets and to make preparations to care for that many extra persons. I jumped into my clothes and was informed of the Titanic. By that time the Carpathia was going at full speed in the direction of the Titanic.
THE CREW TOLD WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM.
“The entire crew of the Carpathia was assembled on deck and were told of what had happened. The chief steward, Harry Hughes, told them what was expected of them.