Dispatched from Newport, Rhode Island, Wednesday, April 17, by the Hearst Newspapers, she was to establish radio contact with Carpathia and relay signals to the Hearst offices.
The tug was fitted with a plain sending set and telegraphists Binns and Elenschneider were aboard. Call letters "JB" were assigned and transmissions were to be relayed via Siasconset, Massachusetts (MSC). Jack Binns (the hero of the Republic/ Florida collision) was aboard as chief operator; it was hoped that Carpathia's operator would defer to his superior status and grant him exclusive traffic rights.
The project failed when heavy fog prevented the vessel from approaching within operational distance. Adding to the difficulties were static and outside interference from numerous amateur shore stations.
