Senator SMITH.
Mr. Cottam, you have been sworn?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You testified in New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You live in England?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You were the wireless operator on the Carpathia at a time the C.Q.D. distress call was received from the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You received that call?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And other messages from the Titanic before she sank?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How many other messages?
Mr. COTTAM.
About four, as far as I can remember.
Senator SMITH.
Can you recall the contents?
Mr. COTTAM.
I can not remember the exact purpose of those messages, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Cottam, do you recall the substance of the first message?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Just indicate what it was.
Mr. COTTAM.
"Come at once. We have struck a berg. It is a C.Q.D." That was the first message.
Senator SMITH.
Can you fix the hour when it was received?
Mr. COTTAM.
About 11.20, sir, New York time.
Senator SMITH.
What was the ship's time, do you remember; or Greenwich time?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did not look.
Senator SMITH.
When that message came, you had not retired for the night?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You were just about to retire?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You had taken off your coat?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
But kept the telephone on your head?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And, as I understood you to say in New York, by accident, merely, you caught this C.Q.D. distress call from the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You were merely waiting, and had kept the instrument on your head only in order that you might close some work that you had been doing during the evening or afternoon, with the Californian?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir. I was going to confirm a "time rush" message that I had communicated with the Parisian during the afternoon.
Senator SMITH.
You were simply holding, awaiting confirmation of a message you had sent?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And while waiting for that, this C.Q.D. call from the Titanic came?
Mr. COTTAM.
Not just then, sir. I went up to the bridge in the mean time. Between waiting for the confirmation from the Parisian and hearing the C.Q.D. I went up to the bridge to report the day's communications.
Senator SMITH.
Did you have your coat off when you went up there?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I put my coat on again.
Senator SMITH.
And you reported the confirmation of the Parisian message?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, not the confirmation; the communications of the day.
Senator SMITH.
To whom?
Mr. COTTAM.
To the officer on watch on the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
Who was it?
Mr. COTTAM.
Mr. Bissett, the second officer.
Senator SMITH.
He did not survive, did he?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; he is on the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
Oh, yes. Murdoch was the officer on watch that night, was he not?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, Dean. Murdoch was on the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
Pardon me. You reported this information to the officer you have named?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Then you returned to your room?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And then you adjusted your telephone to your head and laid off your coat and prepared to retire or the night?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Then this call came; and what was your reply?
Mr. COTTAM.
I confirmed it, sir, by asking him whether I should go to the bridge and ask the captain to turn around immediately, and he said yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you do so?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was the next communication you received from the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
I confirmed our position, next.
Senator SMITH.
And did you get the Titanic's?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir. The Titanic sent his position at the first communication.
Senator SMITH.
The first message, the C. Q. D.?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You gave him your position?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How did you get it; from the captain or from the officer?
Mr. COTTAM.
From the captain.
Senator SMITH.
What next occurred? There were only four messages there, you say?
Mr. COTTAM.
I stood by the Titanic and gave him assistance in reading the other ships around about. He could not read the signals because of escaping steam.
Senator SMITH.
And you assisted?
Mr. COTTAM.
Assisted in communication.
Senator SMITH.
With other ships?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you assist him in communication with the Frankfurt?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you have any communication with the Frankfurt?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you assist him in communication with the Olympic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
With the Baltic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you have any communication with the Mount Temple?
Mr. COTTAM.
I had a communication with the Mount Temple about half-past 10; gave him good night.
Senator SMITH.
That night?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Before the accident occurred?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you know the position of the Mount Temple?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How did you happen to get in communication with him?
Mr. COTTAM.
As I say, I called the Parisian and I did not get a reply and the Mount Temple gave me "Good night" as soon as I called the Parisian.
Senator SMITH.
Have you any information, or did you get any information at half-past 10 that night, as to the location of the Mount Temple?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I do not remember.
Senator SMITH.
Did you get any communication from the Mount Temple regarding proximity to ice?
Mr. COTTAM.
No; I do not remember.
Senator SMITH.
Did any of ships with which you were in touch, around half-past 10 on that Sunday evening, say anything to you about ice?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not remember anything about ice. I do in the afternoon. I heard the Parisian and one of the other ships talking about ice.
Senator SMITH.
What other one?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know whether it was the Californian or not.
Senator SMITH.
Did you get any message from the Californian advising ships within the radius of that information that there was ice at certain places in the north Atlantic?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you get any telegram from the Amerika about ice, or intercept any telegram about it?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; the Amerika was a long way ahead.
Senator SMITH.
How do you know?
Mr. COTTAM.
Because she left about the same time as we did. I remember she got out of touch very quickly.
Senator SMITH.
She left Southampton about the same time you did?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; New York, I think.
Senator SMITH.
She left New York and was going -
Mr. COTTAM.
Bound east, I think, from what I can remember. I do not know. I know I could not establish communication; she was too far off.
Senator SMITH.
And you did not have any communication at all with the Amerika?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir. I do not remember having communication with her.
Senator SMITH.
Then the only ships you did have communication with were the Californian?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
The Parisian?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
The Olympic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Not until Monday morning.
Senator SMITH.
Then cut out the Olympic. The Mount Temple?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Any other? I think I mentioned the Baltic.
Mr. COTTAM.
There were quite a number, but I can not remember the names of the ships. There were about seven or eight, as far as I can remember; the United States, for one; and I had the Helig Olav, I think, if I remember right.
Senator SMITH.
When did you have the Helig Olav?
Mr. COTTAM.
Some time in the Sunday afternoon; directly after lunch, if I remember.
Senator SMITH.
Where were they; could you tell?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
From the strength or from the impact, or in any other way, are you enabled to tell anything about your proximity to a ship?
Mr. COTTAM.
To another ship?
Senator SMITH.
Yes.
Mr. COTTAM.
Provided I know what system he is fitted with and what power his plant is, and the time of day, I can tell roughly how far he is off - 150 or 200 or up to 300 miles off.
Senator SMITH.
You heard Bride, the Titanic's operator, testify in New York, did you not?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; I heard most of him.
Senator SMITH.
After he was rescued and came aboard the Carpathia he relieved you, as I understand, for a while and helped you a little in your work?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Notwithstanding his feet were injured and his back was injured. You were very weary and tired and fell asleep there in the performance of your duty, did you not?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And Bride took it up and helped you?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear Mr. Bride say that the strength of the call or the message - am I stating that correctly, Mr. Marconi?
Mr. MARCONI.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear Mr. Bride that the strength of the call or the message that night impressed him with the fact that the ship from which that message came was nearer to him than the Carpathia?
Mr. COTTAM.
I remember him saying that.
Senator SMITH.
Is there any way by which an operator can tell the proximity of a ship or coast station, by reason of the impact - the strength of the impact?
Mr. COTTAM.
Not after dark, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Is there in the daytime?
Mr. COTTAM.
To a certain extent there is, provided you know what system he is fitted with.
Senator SMITH.
Suppose you do not know anything about it, and you just get the impact?
Mr. COTTAM.
Then you can not tell.
Senator SMITH.
You can not tell, then?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
The Mount Temple was equipped with wireless, of course?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
You got a message from it - a "good-night" message - about half-past 10 Sunday evening?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
How long was Bride on duty on the Carpathia after the Titanic went down?
Mr. COTTAM.
He took the telephones occasionally. He took the short watch occasionally on the way to New York.
Senator SMITH.
Did you yourself receive a wireless from the Chester?
Mr. COTTAM.
I received more than one.
Senator SMITH.
From the Chester?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
During Monday?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know whether it was Monday or Tuesday. I can not remember that; I can not remember anything about the days at all.
Senator SMITH.
What did the Chester ask for, if you remember?
Mr. COTTAM.
It was asking for a list of the passengers and crew.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say in reply?
Mr. COTTAM.
I delivered the message to the captain, of course.
Senator SMITH.
What did the captain say?
Mr. COTTAM.
He replied some time afterwards.
Senator SMITH.
Replied with the list?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; not with the list. I think the purpose of the message was to the effect that he had already given the crew and the first and second class passengers to shore, and had only the third class passengers to go.
Senator SMITH.
Do you mean he had sent these names ashore?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
In answer to the inquiry?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
That he only had the third class passengers' names yet to send off?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes. He said he could have them if he liked.
Senator SMITH.
You did not tell the captain this message was from the President of the United States?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did not know who it was from. It was not signed. That is, it was signed "Commander."
Senator SMITH.
You did not know whom it was from and you did not tell him whom it was from?
Mr. COTTAM.
It was signed at the bottom by the commander of the Chester. "Decker," I think, was the name on the bottom.
Senator SMITH.
Did you send off, in reply to that, the list of third class passengers?
Mr. COTTAM.
Not immediately.
Senator SMITH.
When did you?
Mr. COTTAM.
Some time afterwards, perhaps an hour or a couple of hours afterwards. I did not send them at all; Bride sent them.
Senator SMITH.
You did not send them?
Mr. COTTAM.
No I did not send them.
Senator SMITH.
Bride sent them?
Mr. COTTAM.
Bride sent them.
Senator SMITH.
How did you pass your time on the way from the scene of this calamity to New York? Did you rest most of the time?
Mr. COTTAM.
How did I pass my time?
Senator SMITH.
Did you rest or work?
Mr. COTTAM.
It was hard work all the way.
Senator SMITH.
You did not get much sleep?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
What did the work consist of?
Mr. COTTAM.
It was all telegraph work.
Senator SMITH.
In receiving messages frequently?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you get any messages from the Salem?
Mr. COTTAM.
I never had the Salem.
Senator SMITH.
Did this heavy work continue right up to the time of your arrival in New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
Right up to docking.
Senator SMITH.
Were you in communication with the office of your company in New York the day of the landing?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or before that time?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you receive any radiograms or wireless messages from Mr. Marconi?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did not.
Senator SMITH.
Or from anyone signing his name?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I did not.
Senator SMITH.
Did you receive any wireless communications from Mr. Sammis?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I did not.
Senator SMITH.
Or from any one signing his name?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Or from Mr. Bottomley?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Where were you at 8.12 p. m. the night the Carpathia landed in New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know, sir; I might have been ashore. I do not know what time she docked. I do not remember what time she docked.
Senator SMITH.
Suppose she docked at 9.40?
Mr. COTTAM.
I should be aboard the ship.
Senator SMITH.
Were you on duty until the boat arrived at New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
I was until she docked at the dock; then I went on the deck.
Senator SMITH.
Then you were on duty at 8 p. m. that night?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know whether I was on duty at 8.12. I do not remember. Bride had the phones right up to docking and right after docking.
Senator SMITH.
What time did Bride have the phones?
Mr. COTTAM.
Bride had the phones while I was having my dinner.
Senator SMITH.
What time did you have your dinner that night?
Mr. COTTAM.
It was about 7, I should say; 7 to half-past.
Senator SMITH.
After dinner did you go up to your station?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I was in the station. I had my dinner in the station, Bride had the phones all the time after that.
Senator SMITH.
Bride had the telephones some time -
Mr. COTTAM. (interrupting)
Up to docking; from my dinner time up to docking.
Senator SMITH.
From the time you went to dinner -
Mr. COTTAM. (interrupting)
I had it in the room - in the operating room.
Senator SMITH.
You had your dinner in your room?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And your room adjoined the apparatus?
Mr. COTTAM.
In the operating room.
Senator SMITH.
Both rooms are practically together?
Mr. COTTAM.
They are all one room.
Senator SMITH.
And you enter from the operating room into your room?
Mr. COTTAM.
It is all one room.
Senator SMITH.
Without going out on the deck?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
You went to your dinner a little after 7?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
You took your dinner about 20 minutes after 7?
Mr. COTTAM.
It would be some time around there; I can't remember the time.
Senator SMITH.
From the time you took your dinner, or say for any period during two hours prior to the landing of the ship, did you have the telephones?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; from my dinner time I did not have the telephones until we docked.
Senator SMITH.
And you did not take any message?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Bride was at the instrument, or had the apparatus?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And he took the messages?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.