Senator SMITH.
Mr. Cottam, you have been sworn. I desire to ask you one question: When you were on the stand you had not received any compensation for your article in the New York Times. Have you since received your pay for it?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How much did you get?
Mr. COTTAM.
$750.
Senator SMITH.
On the way from the place where the Titanic sank to New York did you receive a message from anyone, of any company, saying, "Kill message containing Titanic story"?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I received no message to that effect.
Senator BOURNE.
What was the power of the machine on your boat - 1 kilowatt?
Mr. COTTAM.
It varied according to the ship's mains. The ship's mains ran about 95 volts.
I should say it would be about one-half to three-quarters of a kilowatt.
Senator BOURNE.
What wave length were you using?
Mr. COTTAM.
Six hundred meters; the standard. I was not using a wave length at all most of the time. It was unattuned - plain serial.
Senator BOURNE.
What range would your power have at night and what range in the daytime?
Mr. COTTAM.
I could not say. During the day I think I would be sure of about 250 miles. At night, I could not say. It all depends on circumstances.
Senator BOURNE.
Did you catch any messages from the Cape Cod station?
Mr. COTTAM.
Do you ask if I received them?
Senator BOURNE.
Yes.
Mr. COTTAM.
Oh, yes.
Senator BOURNE.
You had no difficulty in taking them?
Mr. COTTAM.
Oh, no. We can receive from any distance provided the transmitting station has the power to transmit the message to us; it does not matter where we are.
Senator BOURNE.
What wave length were they using; 1,600?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know what the wave length is in the Cape Cod station. It is something high. It would be about 1,600, I should say.
Senator BOURNE.
Were they clear and distinct?
Mr. COTTAM.
Oh, yes; they were plain.
Senator BOURNE.
You had no difficulty, while these messages were in the air, in getting the messages from Titanic at the same time?
Mr. COTTAM.
You can not receive a message with the 600-meter wave length and another with the 1,600 meter wave length at the same time.
Senator BOURNE.
That is what I understood. During the entire time when you were getting the Titanic's messages the Cape Cod station was silent, was it?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; it was silent. There was an interval between the first sending and the repeat. It is all sent twice. There was an interval between the two.
Senator BOURNE.
Do you know whether or not it as customary for the Cape Cod station to take one hour out of four for the sending of private dispatches; and if so, does that kill the opportunity of distress signals being taken during that period?
Mr. COTTAM.
Oh; yes; distress signals from ships; yes.
Senator BOURNE.
They could not be taken at the same time that the press messages were being sent out by the Cape Cod station, provided they were using the 1,600 meter wave length, could they?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you receive any messages from Mr. Ismay for transmittal while he was aboard the Carpathia?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you receive messages from him addressed to his office in Liverpool or London, or his office in New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Did you transmit them?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
When did you receive those from him?
Mr. COTTAM.
I was working for the shipping company, handling official messages all the time. I can not remember; I have no record of the time or dates.
Senator SMITH.
You were working for the White Star Co.?
Mr. COTTAM.
And the Cunard Co.
Senator SMITH.
All the time?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And you sent frequent messages from Ismay to his Liverpool office? How did you send them to his Liverpool office?
Mr. COTTAM.
They came via one of the American land stations; the Siasconset station or the Sagaponack station.
Senator SMITH.
Did you send any messages from him to Montreal via Cape Race?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir. I was not in touch with Cape Race at all, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you recollect sending any messages from him through any other ship to London or Liverpool?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not remember, sir; I had too many.
Senator SMITH.
You had many from him?
Mr. COTTAM.
I had a good many, and I had other Cunard messages; and when I was not busy with those, I was on passenger traffic.
Senator SMITH.
These messages from Ismay to Liverpool were, of course, not sent direct from the Carpathia to Liverpool. They must have been sent to some coast station or to some other ship station?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
To what other ship station, if any, do you recall having transmitted any messages from her?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not remember that I transmitted any through any other ship. It is not customary to put official news through any others ship at all, other than on the same line.
Senator SMITH.
And you were not in communication with the Olympic that day at all?
Mr. COTTAM.
The day of the wreck?
Senator SMITH.
Yes.
Mr. COTTAM.
I was on the following day, Monday.
Senator SMITH.
Did you send any messages from Mr. Ismay to the Olympic on Monday?
Mr. COTTAM.
I guess I did. I do not remember it.
Senator SMITH.
I want you to remember. I want you to tell just what you remember.
Mr. COTTAM.
I can not remember having sent any, but I believe there were one or two.
Senator SMITH.
Were they addressed to Liverpool?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not remember, sir, how the messages went at all.
Senator SMITH.
When did you first hear from Mr. Marconi on Monday?
Mr. COTTAM.
On Monday? I did not hear from Mr. Marconi.
Senator SMITH.
When did you receive your first message from Mr. Ismay?
Mr. COTTAM.
From Mr. Ismay? I can not remember how I dealt with the traffic at all. I have no record of it here, or anything.
Senator SMITH.
Do you remember whether you received a message for Mr. Ismay from Mr. Franklin on Monday, or from "Islefrank" on Monday?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not suppose I did on Monday, but I do not remember. I do not suppose so, because I was not in touch with any coast station.
Senator SMITH.
Did you on Tuesday?
Mr. COTTAM.
I may have done so, but I can not remember anything at all about the traffic, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You say you were working for the company all the while. Did you give preference to White Star business and Cunard business?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir; all the time. Official traffic before anything else.
Senator SMITH.
Official traffic before everything; and you regarded the White Star communications as official?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And you knew that Cunard messages were official?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
In that event, messages from passengers addressed to New York or other points would have to wait until these official messages were out of the way?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And that was the practice you followed from the time of the accident, from the time you reached the Titanic's position, until you reached New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; that is the usual course.
Senator SMITH.
And during that time you did have numerous communications for the officers of both companies?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And messages were sent by Mr. Ismay? Did he send them over his name, "Ismay," or did he send them over a code name, "Yamsi"?
Mr. COTTAM.
"Yamsi."
Senator SMITH.
All messages he sent were signed "Yamsi"?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
How were the messages sent that he received? Were they sent to "Yamsi"?
Mr. COTTAM.
I think they were to "Ismay." I can not remember.
Senator SMITH.
To Mr. Ismay?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Addressed to Ismay?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
In care of the Carpathia?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And signed "Franklin"?
Mr. COTTAM.
"Islefrank," I think.
Senator SMITH.
Do you remember what those messages were about?
Mr. COTTAM.
No sir; I do not.
Senator SMITH.
Do you remember whether there was any thing about insurance in them?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I do not believe there was anything about insurance.
Senator SMITH.
Was there anything about Lloyd's in them?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; not to my knowledge.
Senator SMITH.
Were any messages sent to Lloyd's?
Mr. COTTAM.
No. sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or received from Lloyd's, addressed to Mr. Ismay?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I do not think so.
Senator SMITH.
I want you to be as positive as you can. I would like to have you think it over carefully and answer as definitely as you are able to answer.
Mr. COTTAM.
I am doing so. I have no record of the traffic at all. I was so busy at the time that I can not remember what happened, at all.
Senator SMITH.
What time on Monday did Mr. Ismay send a message to "Islefrank" or "Yamsi," telling of the loss of the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not believe there was one sent from Mr. Ismay on Monday.
Senator SMITH.
You do not recall any?
Mr. COTTAM.
No; because I was not in touch with land.
Senator SMITH.
Were you in touch with the Californian that day?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Were you in touch with Boston?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you transmit any messages through the Californian to land?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Or to other ships for land?
Mr. COTTAM.
Some went through the Minnewaska and some through the Olympic; but I guess that was on Monday afternoon.
Senator SMITH.
On Monday afternoon you recollect transmitting some messages through the Olympic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How about the Baltic?
Mr. COTTAM.
The Baltic was out of touch.
Senator SMITH.
Did you receive any telegrams from Mr. Marconi asking "Why can we not get news of this disaster? Ask captain."
Mr. COTTAM.
I remember some message to that effect, but I can not remember when it was received.
Senator SMITH.
Did you answer it?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Why not?
Mr. COTTAM.
Because I had plenty of other work besides; official traffic and for the passengers.
Senator SMITH.
But this was the head of your company.
Mr. COTTAM.
That was the captain's orders. I can not go beyond the captain's orders.
Senator SMITH.
You took your orders from the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Do you mean that the captain told you not to send the news to Mr. Marconi?
Mr. COTTAM.
He did not tell me that. He said "Do not deal with anything otherwise than official traffic and passengers messages."
Senator SMITH.
Did you tell him that this telegram was from Mr. Marconi, the president of your company?
Mr. COTTAM.
I believe I did.
Senator SMITH.
What did he say to that?
Mr. COTTAM.
He told me the same reply as indicated.
Senator SMITH.
Then the captain refused you permission to send messages in reply to Mr. Marconi and Mr. Sammis? Do you wish to be understood as saying that?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; to that effect.
Senator SMITH.
You did not feel at liberty to transmit any information to the head office of your own company?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
On Monday?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you ever transmit any information to the head office of your own company?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; not any, at all. There was no information at all -
Senator SMITH.
You did not communicate any information to them, at all?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I did not get any news ashore, at all.
Senator SMITH.
But you did receive the telegram signed by Mr. Sammis?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know by who it was signed. I remember something about a message to that effect, but I do not remember anything about it.
Senator SMITH.
You received a telegram saying "Keep your mouth shut; it has been all arranged; you are going to get money in four figures," or words to that effect?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did not receive that.
Senator SMITH.
Who did?
Mr. COTTAM.
Bride, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You talked it over with Bride?
Mr. COTTAM.
I talked what over with Bride?
Senator SMITH.
This message.
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
That had the effect of quieting you somewhat, did it not?
Mr. COTTAM.
Certainly.
Senator SMITH.
That is all.
Senator NEWLANDS.
When did you first have the expectation that you would receive money for your story from the newspapers?
Mr. COTTAM.
I think either when we were docking or when we were in dock.
Senator NEWLANDS.
At New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir; at New York.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Did you have any expectation prior to that time of receiving such money?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator NEWLANDS.
And did your expectation prevent you from giving any information by wireless?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator NEWLANDS.
What did you say in answer to that?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator NEWLANDS.
You were in the dock when you received this wireless message?
Mr. COTTAM.
I was just going through as Bride took it, and I read it as he was writing it down.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Were the passengers landing at that time?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; I believe they were.
Senator NEWLANDS.
That is all.
Senator FLETCHER.
Had you received any intimation before that that it was well for you to keep to yourself the news about the Titanic disaster?
Mr. COTTAM.
No. It would not have made any difference; it would not have had any effect, in any case, because the captain's order was that no traffic was to go through and no message was to be executed otherwise than official messages and passengers' traffic. I had more than I could handle with the passengers' traffic without this other stuff.
Senator FLETCHER.
You mean that you were so occupied with official messages and passengers' traffic that you could not answer an inquiry regarding the disaster?
Mr. COTTAM.
No; I could not.
Senator FLETCHER.
Do you make a distinction between official messages and accounts of disasters?
Mr. COTTAM.
Certainly.
Senator FLETCHER.
When you say you had official business to look after, does that official business cover the Titanic disaster, or have anything to do with it?
Mr. COTTAM.
It would bear on the subject, certainly; but of course I was informing the Cunard and the White Star of the disaster, I guess.
Senator NEWLANDS.
Prior to that time you had been giving, over the wireless, lists of the survivors, had you not?
Mr. COTTAM.
Oh, yes.
Senator FLETCHER.
Do you call that official business?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator FLETCHER.
Then "official business,'' which had precedence, was business which gave such an account as the captain saw fit to send forth regarding all he knew about the disaster, was it?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator FLETCHER.
Do you remember telling him about this message received from Mr. Sammis and Mr. Ismay?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir; I informed him of it. I do not know which one it was. I do not know which message it was. It was the only one, I believe, from the Marconi Co. No; I do remember something about one message - asking the captain about it.