MR. COTTAM: I acknowledged the message and reported it to the captain.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you report each of these messages to the captain?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: By leaving your place?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And going forward?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Or by the captain coming to your room?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir; I reported on the bridge to the captain.
SENATOR SMITH: And this was the last communication you received?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And the reply that was made was to what effect?
MR. COTTAM: I simply acknowledged the message and went up to the captain and reported it.
SENATOR SMITH: Was any other message sent to them?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: In saying that you acknowledged the message, you just use the word "received"?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir; we called the Titanic by the three­letter code and signed it by our own and gave the signal for "received" ­ "R.D."
SENATOR SMITH: That indicates that the message has been received? Does it indicate any more than that; that it has had attention?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: So that in response to this last call the only reply they got was "Received."?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: But the position of your boat was not stated.
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: I thought I understood the captain to say that one of the last messages told the sinking ship that they were within a certain distance and coming hard, or coming fast.
MR. COTTAM: I called him with that message, but I got no acknowledgement.
SENATOR SMITH: Just tell us what the message was. You called [called] with him that message?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: We would like to know about that; just tell what it was.
MR. COTTAM: The captain told me to tell the Titanic that all our boats were ready and we were coming as hard as we could come, with a double watch on in the engine room, and to be prepared, when we got there, with lifeboats. I got no acknowledgement of that message.
SENATOR SMITH: But you sent it?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Whether it was received or not, you don't know?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Let us understand. When you received that last call from the Titanic, that her engine room was filling with water, you say you acknowledged its receipt and took that message to the captain. Did you acknowledge its receipt before you took it to the captain?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Then, after you had taken this message to the captain, you came back to your instrument and sent the message that you have just described?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And to that you received no reply?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And you never received any other reply?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Or any other word from the ship?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: After the Carpathia had picked up these lifeboats and started for New York, did you receive messages?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How long did you remain at your post that night?
MR. COTTAM: All the night, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How much of the time next day?
MR. COTTAM: All the day, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: That was Sunday; and Monday; how about Monday night?
MR. COTTAM: I was on all night again, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And Tuesday?
MR. COTTAM: All the time again.
SENATOR SMITH: And Tuesday night?
MR. COTTAM: I got about a couple or three hours sleep.
SENATOR SMITH: You got about two or three hours sleep Tuesday night?
MR. COTTAM: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: At what hour?
MR. COTTAM: I can not say the hour I fell off.
SENATOR SMITH: You fell off to sleep?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Involuntarily?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: You do not know what time it was?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Or how much you slept?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How were you awakened?
MR. COTTAM: I don't know, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: When were you awakened?
MR. COTTAM: About 20 to half past 4, ship's time, just as the dawn was coming on; about half past 4 in the morning.
SENATOR SMITH: It was nearing dawn?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: That would be Wednesday morning?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you at your post all day Wednesday?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir; with the exception of meals.
SENATOR SMITH: And Wednesday night?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir; the junior man of the Titanic had then been brought up out of the hospital to give me a hand for a while on the wireless.
SENATOR SMITH: What was your state of mind or physical condition at that time when you got this relief?
MR. COTTAM: I was feeling very tired, and about worked out.
SENATOR SMITH: How long did this relief that you got from the Titanic operator continue?
MR. COTTAM: He gave me a hand all the way to New York.
SENATOR SMITH: All the way to New York?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: During those days beginning with Monday morning was there an attempt made to communicate with your ship often?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: That was successful?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Of course you would not know whether any attempt were made that was not successful?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: In other words, you have no means of knowing what passed through the air except as it registered on your instrument?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was there any successful attempt made to communicate with you on Monday? Did you take any messages on Monday?
MR. COTTAM: I can not remember that I did on Monday.
SENATOR SMITH: Can you remember what you did Tuesday?
MR. COTTAM: I kept no record of the whole work; only memorized it.
SENATOR SMITH: You kept no record of it?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was there no written record of those messages?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: When was it made up?
MR. COTTAM: As the messages were sent.
SENATOR SMITH: And received?
MR. COTTAM: And received.
SENATOR SMITH: So that those are on file with your ship's officer?
MR. COTTAM: They are in the Marconi house on the ship, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was anybody successful in getting into communication with your ship on Monday and Tuesday?
MR. COTTAM: I was in communication with some station or other the whole way from the time of the wreck right to New York.
SENATOR SMITH: You were in communication with some ship?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: All the way?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: All the way?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And often?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you recall having received any message from the President of the United States?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir; I do not remember anything about that.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you recall getting into communication with either the Chester or the Salem?
MR. COTTAM: With the Chester, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: The Chester?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What was the nature of their inquiry?
MR. COTTAM: They were asking for a list of the passengers and crew.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you comply with their request?
MR. COTTAM: I asked the captain. The names of the first and second class passengers and the crew had been sent off previously.
SENATOR SMITH: They had been sent to whom?
MR. COTTAM: The names of the first and second class passengers had been sent to the Olympic and the list of the crew had been sent to the Minnewaska.
SENATOR SMITH: And therefore you did not duplicate those lists?
MR. COTTAM: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was there any message from the Chester?
MR. COTTAM: They sent some message, but I can not remember whether they were replied or not. The first message was replied to.
SENATOR SMITH: Did this wireless instrument or equipment work satisfactorily, so far as you know?
MR. COTTAM: On the Carpathia?
SENATOR SMITH: On the Carpathia.
MR. COTTAM: Yes. It worked satisfactorily for what it was, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did it seem to be an impaired equipment?
MR. COTTAM: An old type.
MR. UHLER: What does he mean by that ­ that the field was limited or the type of machine?
SENATOR SMITH: The type of machine.
MR. COTTAM: The type of machine. Both the field of communication and the type of machine.
MR. UHLER: Both were unsatisfactory?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: The field was limited by the type, was it not?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
MR. UHLER: What was the power of the machine on the Carpathia?
SENATOR SMITH: Answer the question. What was the power? What wave length was used?
MR. UHLER: No; what was the kilowatt?
SENATOR SMITH: What power did you use?
MR. COTTAM: I can not tell you the kilowatt; it varied according to the source of supply from the ship's main.
SENATOR SMITH: I think I will just let you stand aside for awhile, but we may want you in the morning; will you be here?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: I should like to have you here as early as 10 o'clock to­morrow morning.
MR. GRIGGS: Shall we try to bring down the junior operator of the Titanic at the same time?
SENATOR SMITH: I wish you would.
MR. GRIGGS: We will have him here in the morning.
SENATOR SMITH: Thank you. Do you know what time you received the message from the Chester?
MR. COTTAM: That is hard to say, sir, but it would be about half past 9 to 10 o'clock in the morning.
SENATOR SMITH: Which morning? Tuesday morning?
MR. COTTAM: Tuesday morning.
SENATOR SMITH: About half past 9?
MR. COTTAM: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: That is all from you to­night. I will now call Mr. Crawford.
TESTIMONY OF ALFRED CRAWFORD
The witness was duly sworn by the chairman.
SENATOR SMITH: What is your full name?
MR. CRAWFORD: Alfred Crawford.
SENATOR SMITH: And where do you reside?
MR. CRAWFORD: In Southampton.
SENATOR SMITH: England?
MR. CRAWFORD: England; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How old are you?
MR. CRAWFORD: Forty­one.
SENATOR SMITH: What is your business or occupation?
MR. CRAWFORD: Bedroom steward.
SENATOR SMITH: How long have you been engaged in that employment?
MR. CRAWFORD: I have been going to sea since 1881, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How long have you been employed by the White Star Line?
MR. CRAWFORD: I have been on the White Star Line six years.
SENATOR SMITH: What boats have you served on?
MR. CRAWFORD: On the Adriatic, the Olympic, and the Titanic.
SENATOR SMITH: Always in the same capacity?
MR. CRAWFORD: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And what are your duties?
MR. CRAWFORD: Attending to all the passengers' requirements, cleaning their rooms, and everything, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: In any particular part of the ship?
MR. CRAWFORD: Yes, sir; in one certain part. I was on B deck, right forward.
SENATOR SMITH: That is where?
MR. CRAWFORD: In the fore part of the ship; in the bow part.
SENATOR SMITH: That is on the second from the boat dock?
MR. CRAWFORD: The second from the boat deck; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Forward?
MR. CRAWFORD: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know any of the passengers in your part of this ship?
MR. CRAWFORD: I know three ladies, Mrs. Rogers, Miss Rogers, and her niece; also Mr. Stewart, that I had in my section, and there was a Mr. and Mrs. Bishop.
SENATOR SMITH: Mr. and Mrs. Bishop?
MR. CRAWFORD: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you remember Mr. Bishop's initials?
MR. CRAWFORD: No; I do not know. What were his initials.
SENATOR SMITH: Were those all?
MR. CRAWFORD: They were a newly married couple?
SENATOR SMITH: The Bishops?
MR. CRAWFORD: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: He was a man about your age?
MR. CRAWFORD: No; he was a man about 24, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: A young man.
MR. CRAWFORD: A young man; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Were these all the passengers in your section?
MR. CRAWFORD: All I had in my section. There were some other passengers up there.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you remember them?
MR. CRAWFORD: I do not remember their names, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you know Mr. and Mrs. Straus?
MR. CRAWFORD: I stood at the boat where they refused to get in.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mrs. Straus get into the boat?
MR. CRAWFORD: She attempted to get into the boat first and she got back again. Her maid got into the boat.
SENATOR SMITH: What do you mean by "she attempted" to get in?
MR. CRAWFORD: She went to get over the from the deck to the boat, but then went back to her husband.
SENATOR SMITH: Did she step on the boat?
MR. CRAWFORD: She stepped on to the boat, on to the gunwales, sir; then she went back.
SENATOR SMITH: What followed?
MR. CRAWFORD: She said, "We have been living together for many years, and where you go I go."
SENATOR SMITH: To whom did she speak?
MR. CRAWFORD: To her husband.
SENATOR SMITH: Was he beside her?
MR. CRAWFORD: Yes; he was standing away back when she went from the boat.
SENATOR SMITH: You say there was a maid there also?
MR. CRAWFORD: A maid got in the boat and was saved; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did the maid precede Mrs. Straus into the boat?
MR. CRAWFORD: Mrs. Straus told the maid to get into the boat, and she would follow her; then she altered her mind and went back to her husband.
SENATOR SMITH: Which one of the boats was that?
MR. CRAWFORD: No. 8, sir; the port side.
SENATOR SMITH: You mean the eighth boat to be lowered?
MR. CRAWFORD: No, sir; the starboard boats were lowered before ours were. We were on the port side; No. 8 boat on the port side.
SENATOR SMITH: Who superintended the loading?
MR. CRAWFORD: The chief officer superintended it, and myself.
SENATOR SMITH: And the lowering?
MR. CRAWFORD: And Capt. Smith.
SENATOR SMITH: All those lifeboats on the port side?
MR. CRAWFORD: Capt. Smith and the chief officer; Capt. Smith and the steward lowered the forward falls of the boat I was in.
SENATOR SMITH: This was forward?
MR. CRAWFORD: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How far from the bridge?
MR. BURLINGHAM: He said the forward falls, Senator; that is the forward rope, but it was the after boat on the port side.
SENATOR SMITH: How far from the bridge?
MR. CRAWFORD: It was about 20 or 30 yards from the bridge, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And the captain of the boat personally superintended the loading and the lowering?
MR. CRAWFORD: Of that one particular boat; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Of this eighth boat?
MR. CRAWFORD: Of No. 8 boat; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did he superintend the loading and lowering of any other boat there forward?
MR. CRAWFORD: I think he went to No. 10 boat. I could not see that being lowered into the water. He gave us instructions to pull to a light that he saw and then land the ladies and return back to the ship again. It was the light of a vessel in the distance. We pulled and pulled, but we could not reach it.
