Senator Smith:
Of the American Marconi Co.?
Mr. Sammis:
Yes, sir.
Senator Smith:
And you say that this code signal -
Mr. Sammis:
Is the signal of the Californian.
Senator Smith:
Was it from the Californian?
Mr. Sammis:
Yes, sir.
Senator Smith:
That is her signal?
Mr. Sammis:
Yes, sir.
Senator Smith:
That is a recognized signal?
Mr. Sammis:
Yes, sir.
Senator Smith:
Among mariners or in the management of the wireless?
Mr. Sammis:
Amongst the operators. Each ship has its own call, and that is a distinctive call for each one.
Senator Smith:
The Californian is equipped with the Marconi?
Mr. Sammis:
Yes, sir.
Senator Smith:
And this is her registered signal?
Mr. Sammis:
Yes, sir; her call.
2365. Now, I would like to know just what that message said?
- In the first place the Californian had called me, sir, with an ice report. I was rather busy just for the minute, and I did not take it. She did not call again. She transmitted the ice report to the Baltic, and as she was transmitting it to the Baltic I took it down. I took it to the captain; but it was not official because it was not intended for me afterwards.
2366. Was the attempt made first upon you?
- First on me; yes, sir.
2367. And being unable to get you, they tried to get the Baltic?
- It was about half an hour after that they transmitted it to the Baltic.
2368. Why were they unable to get you?
- I was doing some writing at the time, sir.
2369. You mean you were taking some messages?
- No, sir, I was writing some accounts.
2370. You were writing some accounts?
- Yes, sir.
2371. Where?
- On the operating table.
2372. On the operating table?
- Yes, sir.
2373. Did you have this instrument off your head at the time?
- No, sir.
2374. Were you aware that the Californian was trying to get you?
- Yes, sir.
2375. You continued your work on the accounts, if I understand you correctly?
- Yes, sir.
2376. And did not respond to the Californian's call?
- No, sir.
2377. For 30 minutes?
- I do not think it was quite 30 minutes.
2378. How long a time was it?
- It may have been. It would have been somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes. I can not say definitely.
2379. Just what hour was this?
- Late in the afternoon.
2380. Of Sunday?
- Yes, sir. I should say it was about 5 o'clock.
2381. About six hours before that calamity occurred?
- Yes, sir.
2382. Did your work continue for about 20 or 30 minutes on the accounts?
- Yes, sir.
2383. After you had finished, what did you do?
- I still remained on watch until dinner time.
2384. Had you had any other wireless communications regarding the proximity of icebergs?
- No, sir.
2385. This information that you got from the Californian was the first information?
- Yes, sir.
2386. And that you received about half-past 5 o'clock, the afternoon of Sunday?
- I should say it was nearer 5 o'clock, sir.
2387. When you took it?
- Yes, sir.
2388. Then, when the first call was made it must have been about half-past 4 o'clock?
- Yes.
2389. The ship being under steam and moving all the time?
- Yes, sir.
2390. When you got this call from the Californian which was intended for the Baltic, what did you do?
- I simply waited until she informed the Baltic. It was an ice report. Then I knew it would be the same one she had for me, so I took it down.
2391. And delivered it?
- Yes, sir. I acknowledged it to the Californian before I delivered it.
2392. You acknowledged it?
- I acknowledged the receipt of it.
2393. How much time elapsed while you were waiting to confirm this report through the Baltic?
- I did not confirm it through the Baltic. I confirmed it direct to the Californian.
2394. Confirmed it with the Californian?
- Yes, sir.
2395. In your acknowledgement?
- Yes, sir.
2396. How much time elapsed?
- I should say about four minutes.
2397. What did you say in confirming this report to the Californian?
- I gave the usual acknowledgement of receipt, "R. D.," the Marconi signal.
2398. R. D. indicates "received"?
- Yes, sir.
2399. And you said nothing more?
- Nothing more.
2400. But you are certain that the Californian knew that you had this message?
- Yes, sir.
2401. Did they respond directly?
- They simply gave the usual finishing signal, "T. I. S." - "M. L. W."
2402. After you had put the "R. D." on?
- Yes, sir.
2403. So that you knew they were aware of the fact that you had received this message?
- Yes, sir.
2404. Now, once more I would like to have you tell the exact language of that message.
- It stated the Californian had passed three large icebergs, and gave their latitude and longitude.
2405. That they had passed three large icebergs?
- Yes, sir.
2406. And gave their latitude and longitude?
- Yes; that she had passed very close to them.
2407. Do you recollect what the latitude and longitude were?
- No, sir; indeed I do not.
2408. Did you make a record of this communication?
- No, sir, I made it on a slip of paper and handed it to the bridge.
2409. Intending to make a permanent record of it?
- No, sir.
2410. Are you not obliged to make a record of it?
- No, sir.
2411. The reason you made no record of this message was because it was not official?
- It was not official, sir. If we kept a record of all these messages we should never be able to get through our work.
2412. If it had been official you would have preserved it?
- I should have preserved it.
2413. And made permanent record of it?
- Yes, sir.
2414. You took that message to the captain?
- The officer on the bridge?
2415. Who was the officer on the bridge?
- I could not say, sir; I do not know the officers, sir.
2416. Was it Mr. Lightoller?
- I could not tell you.
2417. You do not know whether it was the first or second officer?
- I did not know any of the officers there; I did not know what watches they were keeping.
2418. You did not know what watches they were keeping?
- No, sir.
2419. You took it to the officer on the bridge?
- Yes; on the bridge.
2420. At what hour?
- A little after 5, sir.
2421. A little after 5?
- Yes.
2422. Was that officer Murdoch?
- I could not tell you, sir.
2423. Do you know Mr. Murdoch?
- No, sir; I know the officers by sight, but I do not know their names.
2424. Mr. Murdoch was the first officer and he was in charge of the lookout at the time. Can you verify that in any way?
- No, sir.
2425. Did you communicate this message to the captain?
- No, sir; I gave it to the officer on watch, sir.
2426. I just wanted to know whether you communicated it to the captain, yourself?
- No, sir.
2427. You communicated it to the officer in charge of the watch who had charge of the ship at the time?
- Yes, sir.
2428. Did you receive any other communications regarding icebergs?
- No, sir.
2429. From any ship, that afternoon or evening?
- No, sir.
2430. Did Mr. Phillips receive a message from the Amerika?
- Not to my knowledge, sir.
2431. You did not receive one from the Amerika?
- No, sir.
2432. You are very certain about that?
- Yes, sir.
2433. Are you also very certain that the only message you received regarding icebergs was received from the Californian?
- Personally; yes, sir. As to what Mr. Phillips received, I can not say.
2434. No; I am not asking you that. Now, once more: Did Mr. Phillips at any time say to you that a message had been received from any other ship on that subject?
- No, sir.
2435. Who was on duty at the wireless station from 6 o'clock Sunday evening until the collision or impact?
- I was on duty for half an hour, sir, while Mr. Phillips went and had his dinner.
2436. At what hour?
- From 7 o'clock until half-past.
2437. Where were you after that, up to the time of the collision?
- At the time of the collision?
2438. Up to the time of the collision.
- I was in bed.
2439. You had retired?
- Yes, sir.
2440. In a room adjacent to the apparatus?
- Yes, sir.
2441. Did you and Mr. Phillips both occupy that room?
- Yes, sir.
2442. How far was it from the apparatus?
- Just next door to it.
2443. With a door between?
- There was a door between; yes, sir.
2444. Could you enter immediately from the apparatus, or operating room, to the bedroom?
- Yes, sir.
2445. You retired at what time?
- It was just about 8 o'clock.
2446. Were you in bed when this collision occurred?
- Yes, sir.
2447. Were you asleep?
- Yes, sir.
2448. Were you awakened by it?
- No, sir.
2449. How were you awakened?
- I woke up of my own accord.
2450. No one aroused you after that impact?
- No, sir.
2451. How long did you lie in bed after the collision?
- I could not tell you, sir.
2452. Did Mr. Phillips not arouse you?
- No, sir
2453. Or attempt to do so?
- No, sir.
2454. Do you know what time you aro se from your bed?
- It must have been about a quarter to 12, sir; about 5 minutes to 12, ship's time.
2455. Five minutes to 12, ship's time?
- Yes, sir.
2456. What time did the collision occur?
- I could not say, sir.
2457. You remained in bed until 12:05?
- I think it was this side of 12, sir; it was about 5 minutes to 12.
2458. Then you must have been aroused somewhat by this impact?
- No; I had promised to relieve Mr. Phillips earlier than usual, you see.
2459. Earlier than usual, that night?
- Yes.
2460. And you awakened yourself?
- Yes.
2461. Did you arise immediately?
- Yes, sir.
2462. And dress yourself?
- I went out to speak to him before I dressed. I only had pajamas on.
2463. Before you put your clothes on?
- Yes, sir.
2464. What did you say to him?
- I asked him how he was getting on.
2465. What did he say?
- He had a big batch of telegrams from Cape Race that he had just finished.
2466. He told you that?
- Yes.
2467. Had he finished his work?
- Yes.
2468. This was after the collision?
- After the collision.
2469. Did you remain in the operating room?
- I got dressed first.
2470. You returned to the bedroom and got dressed?
- Yes, sir.
2471. During that time did Mr. Phillips tell you that the boat had been injured?
- He told me that he thought she had got damaged in some way and that he expected that we should have to go back to Harland & Wolff's.
2472. Those are the builders, at Belfast?
- Yes.
2473. What did you do then?
- I took over the watch from him.
2474. You took the watch from him?
- Yes, sir.
2475. Where did he go?
- He was going to retire, sir.
2476. Did he retire?
- He got inside of the other room when the Captain came in, then.
2477. The Captain came in?
- Yes, sir.
2478. Personally?
- Yes, sir.
2479. To the operating room?
- Yes, sir.
2480. What did the captain say?
- He told us that we had better get assistance.
2481. Can you tell us in his language?
- That is exactly what he said. He said, "You had better get assistance." When Mr. Phillips heard him he came out and asked him if he wanted him to use a distress call. He said, "Yes; at once."
2482. Who sent this call?
- Mr. Phillips.
2483. He responded to the captain's desire?
- Yes, sir.
2484. And you turned the apparatus over to him?
- Yes, sir.
2485. Was the message sent immediately?
- Immediately.
2486. Do you know what the message was?
- Yes.
2487. Please state it.
- C.Q.D. about half a dozen times; M.G.Y. half a dozen times.
2488. Will you kindly explain the meaning of these letters or that code?
- C.Q.D. is a recognized distress call; M.G.Y. is the code call of the Titanic.
2489. Is C.Q.D. in itself composed of the first letters of three words, or merely a code?
- Merely a code call, sir.
2490. But one recognized by operators as important and as a distress call?
- Yes, sir.
2491. How long after that call was sent out was it before you got a reply?
- As far as I know, immediately, sir.
2492. Within two or three minutes?
- You see I could read what Mr. Phillips was sending, but I could not get the answers because he had the telephones.
2493. You knew what he had sent, but you did not know what he received in reply?
- No, sir.
Senator Smith:
Right at this point I am going to ask Mr. Marconi if he will tell us what C.Q.D. means, literally.
Mr. Marconi:
It is a conventional signal.
Senator Smith:
You mean it is in accordance with the international convention?
Mr. Marconi:
No; it is not. It is a conventional signal which was introduced originally by my company to express a state of danger or peril of a ship that sends it.
Mr. Uhler:
It is an arbitrary signal?
Mr. Marconi:
It is arbitrary, but it is conventional. Every one understands it. "C.Q." means "All stations," does it not, Mr. Bride?
Mr. Bride:
Yes, sir.
Mr. Marconi:
C.Q. is the call for all stations. If you call C.Q. on a ship it means, "All other stations stand at attention and reply." I did not make the signal originally. I presume the object was to indicate, in a certain way, to all stations, the danger, or peril that existed.
Mr. Kirlin:
Or distress?
Mr. Marconi:
Or distress, yes. I should add that the international danger signal, introduced or decided on by the Berlin convention, is S.O.S.
Senator Smith:
What does that mean?
Mr. Marconi:
I do not know what it means. It denotes danger or distress. I believe that was sent, too, from the Titanic; but, of course, Mr. Bride will tell you, if it is the fact.
Senator Smith:
What is the silent signal?
Mr. Marconi:
I do not know it, personally.
Senator Smith:
Under the international convention, I mean.
Mr. Marconi:
I do not know it.
){kind=link}
){kind=link}