Senator SMITH.
When we took the recess you had just finished with Tuesday's ticket tape.
Mr. FARRELL.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Have you Wednesday's tape there?
Mr. FARRELL.
Yes; I have.
Senator SMITH.
Will you kindly state anything on Wednesday's tape that relates to the Titanic disaster?
Mr. FARRELL.
If I may, I would like to make a statement before we proceed.
There seems to be in some of the accounts in the newspapers a misapprehension of some of my testimony this morning on one point regarding the arrangements made by Mr. Franklin for a special train on the New Haven road accommodating practically 700 passengers. I notice that apparently by one correspondent that was interpreted as my saying that would indicate that he had information -
Senator SMITH. (interposing)
I think you qualified it.
Mr. FARRELL.
Yes; I did; but if I may add - of course you want the facts - what simply is a matter of opinion, I do not think that construction is necessarily justified.
Senator SMITH.
We will let it stand for what it is worth. The statement of yours, was specific, and I understood you to give nothing except the facts that you could testify to. As to its bearing upon any other phase of the inquiry, I did not understand you to express an opinion.
Mr. FARRELL.
No; I did not intend to, and I do not believe I did.
Senator SMITH.
I might have said to you that on its face it would look as though they had information, and you replied, "Yes, that might be so"; but that would not necessarily indicate your opinion.
Mr. FARRELL.
I would not wish to stand on the record as being put in that position.
Senator SMITH.
You do not want the record to show that you have construed it at all?
Mr. FARRELL.
Exactly.
Senator SMITH.
I think I understand your attitude.
Mr. FARRELL.
If I was called upon for any construction, I would say that did not necessarily mean that; but the first thought was to rush a special train up there, probably such train having capacity for 700, and probably subsequently to make arrangements for other special trains, if they were desired.
Senator SMITH.
I did not understand you to construe that statement, and I think the record is just as you wish to have it.
Mr. FARRELL.
I think it is.
There is also another point. There also seems to be an idea that it was brought out in the testimony here this morning, that the publications of Dow, Jones & Co. were calculated to bolster up the market for International Mercantile Marine. Nothing of that sort was done.
Senator SMITH.
Your statement does not show that at all.
Mr. FARRELL.
In fact, some of the evidence introduced from our bulletin ticker commented that it would be a heavy loss to the International Mercantile Marine.
Senator SMITH.
You have stated your position frankly and very plainly, and we will let the record stand just as it is.
On Wednesday, if you have your ticker-tape references to the Titanic disaster, I would like to have you give them.
Mr. FARRELL.
This is the ticker tape for Wednesday, April 17.
Senator SMITH.
You understand, we are not prosecuting anybody. We are just searching for truth.
Mr. FARRELL.
Yes; I understand. You are after facts, of course.
Senator SMITH.
Sometimes it seems a little hard to get at the truth, but I have not seen any attempt on your part to hold anything back.
Mr. FARRELL.
I have no desire to do so. I am quite as much interested in solving this mystery as anybody else is.
I mentioned this morning a statement which I had prepared.
Senator SMITH.
Do you want that to appear in the record?
Mr. FARRELL.
If you please. It is something in the nature of opinion, but I think probably offers some explanation of the persistent circulation of erroneous reports.
Senator SMITH.
We will let that follow the detailed report in chronological order.
Mr. FARRELL.
The first item published on Wednesday, April 17, was at 5 a. m., and reads as follows:
The overnight news concerning the Titanic reveals little which was not published by Dow Jones & Co. yesterday. No word has yet been heard from Col. John Jacob Astor, Isidor Straus, Maj. Archibald W. Butt, George D. Widener, Harry Widener, Benjamin Guggenheim, Edgar I. Meyer, Frank D. Millet, W. T. Stead, Washington A. Roebling, or John B. Cummings of stock-exchange firm of Cummings & Marckwald, and Jacques Futrelle the author, and Henry B. Harris the theatrical man.
That was simply a brief summary for the information of our readers of the situation as it stood at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning.
About 8.30 a. m. on April 17 we published the following:
White Star Line this morning reported following additional survivors from the Titanic.
We then gave the names of the additional survivors.
At 8.30 a. m. we published a brief line saying:
Titanic's dead, total, 1,342; survivors number 868 aboard Carpathia, due New York late Thursday or Friday morning.
That was simply a summary of the general information up to that time.
Senator SMITH.
From whom did you get that information?
Mr. FARRELL.
From the morning newspapers, mostly. We just began business at that time, at 8 o'clock in the morning.
About 8.35 a. m. we published the following:
Doubts have arisen as to fate of Charles M. Hays, president Grand Trunk Railway, who yesterday was reported to have been saved. White Star Line this morning states that it has received no message concerning him.
We got that from the White Star Line. Mr. Smallwood, one of our reporters, got that.
Senator SMITH.
As you look at those bulletins I wish you would lay them to one side.
Mr. FARRELL.
I will do so.
At 8.49 a. m., on April 17, we published the following:
Captain of Leyland Line freighter Etonian, which was not equipped with wireless and which docked in North River last night, reports that he passed along route taken by Titanic and that number of fishing boats were in vicinity of the disaster at the time. He says he thinks many of the passengers if they secured life preservers may have been rescued by crews of fishing vessels. Number known to have been rescued remains at 868, all on Carpathia.
I do not think that was published on the bulletin.
Senator SMITH.
From whom was that information obtained?
Mr. FARRELL.
It was a summary from some of the morning papers, as I remember it.
About 8.52 we published this:
Steamship Carpathia reestablished wireless communication with Cape Race at 7 o'clock this morning, and White Star Line is now receiving supplementary list of survivors.
That came from one of our reporters at the White Star Line office.
Senator SMITH.
Did that go on the bulletin?
Mr. FARRELL.
I do not see it on the bulletin. I may come to it later if it is on there.
At 9 a. m., on April 17, we published the following:
Names of passengers not on sailing list of Titanic, but reported saved by Carpathia.
Then follows a list of such passengers. That was obtained by Mr. Smallwood, one of our reporters.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know from whom it was obtained?
Mr. FARRELL.
Presumably from the White Star Line. I do not have it marked here.
At 9.25 a. m., on April 17, we published the following:
Cunard Line received following wireless message from the Carpathia via Halifax: "Carpathia was 166 miles from Ambrose light at 11 p. m. Tuesday. All well."
That was received at the Cunard Line office by Mr. Plummer, one of our reporters.
Senator SMITH.
Was that bulletined?
Mr. FARRELL.
Yes.
About 9.52 a. m. we published this:
Carpathia 506 miles from New York Tuesday at 11 p. m. Should arrive about 9 o'clock Thursday night.
That was secured by Mr. Smallwood.
Senator SMITH.
From whom?
Mr. FARRELL.
At the Cunard Line office.
About 10.30 a. m., on April 17, we published this:
Agent Sumner, of Cunard Lines, says:
"We are making every effort to find out why there was nearly 24 hours delay in getting wireless messages from the Carpathia. Only three have been received so far. The first received was the second one started at 7.55 a. m. Monday from Capt. Rostron of Carpathia, announcing about 800 aboard and proceeding to New York. This was not received until Tuesday. The first one sent Monday a. m. was received as the second Marconigram and announced sinking of Titanic. The third wireless was received today. It was a coded word, started at 11 Tuesday night and received this morning. saying all were well, and 596 miles east of Ambrose Light."
That, I think, was obtained by Mr. Plummer from Agent Sumner of the Cunard Line.
About 10.35 a. m. we published the following:
At 11 p.m. Sunday wireless operator of steamship Cincinnati, of Hamburg-American Line, which arrived in port today, got the C.Q.D. and S.O.S. from Titanic calling "In great danger, rush." giving latitude and longitude. Operator of Cincinnati had been talking with Sable Island, 400 miles away, and told Sable Island operator to stop while he was talking with Titanic. While he was still in communication, the Olympic cut in and answered same call. The Olympic sent out message to Cincinnati, saying she was much closer and was going to relief of Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
From whom did that information come?
Mr. FARRELL.
I have not that noted, and I do not know where that did come from. Presumably one of our reporters, who was on the ship news end of it, got it. I did not consider it very important.
Along about 11.30 a. m., we published this:
Among the callers at White Star office today were Henry W. Taft, De Witt Sellgman, and Mrs. Benjamin Guggenheim.
That came from our reporter who was covering the White Star office.
About 11.45 a.m. we published this:
Cunard Line officials say that reason details of disaster are not forthcoming from the Carpathia is due to the weak wireless aboard that boat.
That was obtained by Mr. Plummer at the Cunard office.
About 11.47 a.m. this was published:
Vice President Franklin, of the International Mercantile Marine, said: "I have heard nothing from the Carpathia since 9 a. m. yesterday. I think Marconi instrument on Carpathia is absolutely overtaxed. This probably explains the reason we have had no messages. I expect Carpathia to dock early Friday morning. White Star Line has wired to Newport, asking them to try to get some news from the Salem."
When asked what the White Star Line would do in the future to safeguard lives of passengers in way of lifeboats, he said: "We assure you, White Star Line will do everything in its power to avoid similar disaster. Company has always endeavored to do everything for safety and comfort of its passengers."
That was obtained from Mr. Franklin by Mr. Byrne, one of our reporters.
Senator SMITH.
Was that bulletined?
Mr. FARRELL.
Yes.
About 1.20 p. m., on April 17 we published this:
Cunard Line has given out copy of Marconi message received from Winfield Thompson, of Boston Globe, who is passenger on steamship Franconia, saying:
"Steamer Franconia established communication with Carpathia at 6.10 a.m., New York time. Latter was then 498 miles east of Ambrose Channel. In no need of assistance, steaming 13 knots. Expect to reach New York 8 Thursday evening. Has total of 705 survivors aboard. Franconia is relaying personal messages from Carpathia to Sable Island."
That was obtained by Mr. Plummer, one of our reporters, from the Cunard Line office.
At 1.18 we published a Washington dispatch referring to the action of the House Committee on Merchant Marine. That is not germane, however.
About 1.23 p. m., we published this:
LONDON.
Following up demand of the Times that Central News produce originals of wireless messages to effect that all passengers had been placed on board steamship Parisian and that Titanic was being towed by steamship Virginian. Col. Yate, Unionist member of House of Commons has given notice that he will ask postmaster general if his attention has been called to said message and whether original of it could be traced.
We received that, I believe, from the Laffan News Bureau.
Senator SMITH.
That former dispatch which you read, which said 705 aboard, seems to harmonize quite closely with the special train provision.
Mr. FARRELL.
Of course, I am not competent to testify on that.
Senator SMITH.
They were providing for 710 on that train. Those items which you have just read are supposed to cover all the information that went to your subscribers over the tape ticker?
Mr. FARRELL.
Yes, sir.