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.
MR. BRIDE: It is D. D. D.
MR. MARCONI: D.D.D.
SENATOR SMITH: That is the silent signal?
MR. MARCONI: Yes sir; that means "shut up."
SENATOR SMITH: All other stations must cease?
MR. MARCONI: All other stations must cease.
SENATOR SMITH: But the danger signal, C. Q. D., is the recognized signal for a ship in distress?
MR. MARCONI: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: You received a reply within three or four minutes, but you only knew from what­­
MR. BRIDE: Mr. Phillips told me.
SENATOR SMITH: Just what did he tell you?
MR. BRIDE: He told me to go to the captain and report the Frankfurt.
SENATOR SMITH: What do you mean by the Frankfurt?
MR. BRIDE: He was in communication with the Frankfurt, sir; he had sent the Frankfurt our position.
SENATOR SMITH: Was the Frankfurt the first ship that picked up the C. Q. D.?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And you delivered that message to the captain?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Personally?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Where was he at the time?
MR. BRIDE: He was on the boat deck, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: On the boat deck?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Not on the bridge?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: The boat deck being the sun deck, or upper deck?
MR. BRIDE: Being the decks where the boats are.
SENATOR SMITH: Where the lifeboats .
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What did he say in reply when you handed him this message?
MR. BRIDE: He wanted to know where she was, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Her latitude?
MR. BRIDE: And longitude, sir. I told him we would get that as soon as we could.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you do then?
MR. BRIDE: I went back to the cabin with Mr. Phillips.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you tell him?
MR. BRIDE: I told him I had reported to the captain.
SENATOR SMITH: And the captain wished that the position of the boat should be ascertained?
MR. BRIDE: Mr. Phillips was waiting for the position of the boat then, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What was the next message received by Mr. Phillips?
MR. BRIDE: A reply from the Carpathia.
SENATOR SMITH: A reply to the C. Q. D. call?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: From the Carpathia?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did the Carpathia give her location?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir; after she had obtained it from the bridge.
SENATOR SMITH: What did the Carpathia message say?
MR. BRIDE: She sent her latitude and longitude and told him she was coming along as quickly as possible. She turned around and was steaming full speed, or words to that effect.
SENATOR SMITH: That she had reversed course?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And was steaming at full speed toward the Titanic?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What was done with this message?
MR. BRIDE: It was taken to the captain, sir. I took it to the captain.
SENATOR SMITH: Where did you find him then?
MR. BRIDE: He was in the wheelhouse.
SENATOR SMITH: What?
MR. BRIDE: In the wheelhouse, upon the bridge.
SENATOR SMITH: In the pilot house?
MR. BRIDE: The wheelhouse.
SENATOR SMITH: The wheelhouse?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: On the bridge?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: He could enter the wheelhouse from the bridge?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What did the captain say when you delivered that message?
MR. BRIDE: He came back with me to the cabin, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: He came back with you to the cabin?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What took place?
MR. BRIDE: He asked Mr. Phillips what other ships he was in communication with, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: He asked Mr. Phillips what other ships he was in communication with?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And what was said?
MR. BRIDE: He interrupted Mr. Phillips when Mr. Phillips was establishing communication with the Olympic, so he was told the Olympic was there.
SENATOR SMITH: Then what took place, Mr. Bride?
MR. BRIDE: Why, he worked out the difference between the Carpathia's position and ours, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Who did?
MR. BRIDE: The captain.
SENATOR SMITH: The captain worked out the difference?
MR. BRIDE: He roughly estimated it.
SENATOR SMITH: Worked out the difference between the Carpathia's position and that of the Olympic?
MR. BRIDE: No; the Titanic.
SENATOR SMITH: Between the Carpathia's position and that of the Titanic?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And then what occurred?
MR. BRIDE: He went out to the cabin then, and we still continued to exchange.
SENATOR SMITH: He went out to the cabin?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And the operator continued what?
MR. BRIDE: To exchange messages, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: To exchange messages?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What was the next message, so far as you can recollect?
MR. BRIDE: Well, after the Olympic, sir, we did not get any replies, and I asked Mr. Phillips outside ­ well, he went outside to see how they were getting on, and I took the phones.
SENATOR SMITH: I understand from you that the first response to the C. Q. D. call of distress was from the Frankfurt?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What line of boats?
MR. BRIDE: German line, as far as I can remember, sir.
MR. MARCONI: The North German Lloyd.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you receive any other communication from the Frankfurt?
MR. BRIDE: Not then, sir. We had transmitted to the Frankfurt our position, but we had received nothing from him in return.
SENATOR SMITH: You transmitted to the Frankfurt your position in the sea?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And never received any further acknowledgement?
MR. BRIDE: He told us to stand by, sir. That means to wait.
SENATOR SMITH: The Frankfurt told you to stand by?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Does that mean "I am coming?"
MR. BRIDE: It means wait; he is coming back again.
SENATOR SMITH: Where was the Frankfurt headed for?
MR. BRIDE: I believe she was bound east, sir; but I can not say for certain.
SENATOR SMITH: Had you been in communication with the Frankfurt during that day or the preceding day?
MR. BRIDE: I can not say, sir, as to that.
SENATOR SMITH: What is your best recollection about it?
MR. BRIDE: I can not say, sir. We were in communication with several ships during the afternoon.
SENATOR SMITH: Is it impossible for you to recall whether you had any communication from the Frankfurt, or sent any to her, at any time during the voyage from Southampton to the place of this collision?
MR. BRIDE: I do not think there was any communication established with the Frankfurt before we sent the distress signal, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you pick up any message from the Frankfurt intended for any other operator?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know what the Frankfurt's position was when she received the C. Q. D. call?
MR. BRIDE: That is what we were waiting for, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you ever ascertain?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did anyone say in your hearing that they thought the Frankfurt was in closer proximity to the Titanic than any other ship?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir; Mr. Phillips told me so.
SENATOR SMITH: Who said that?
MR. BRIDE: Mr. Phillips told me that, judging by the strength of the signals received from the two ships, the Frankfurt was the nearer.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Phillips tell you that he was trying to establish such communication with the Frankfurt as would bring that ship to your relief?
MR. BRIDE: Well, Mr. Phillips was under the impression that when the Frankfurt had heard the C. Q. D. and got our position, he would immediately make it known to his commander and take further steps. Apparently he did not.
SENATOR SMITH: Did the captain of the Titanic make any personal reference to that matter to you, or within your hearing, or to Mr. Phillips?
MR. BRIDE: No sir; he asked us where the Frankfurt was, but we told him we could not tell him.
SENATOR SMITH: But from the force of the current Mr. Phillips gathered that the Frankfurt was the nearer ship?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And the fact that it was the first to respond was rather confirmatory of that?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir; it would not be.
SENATOR SMITH: It would not be?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did any officer on the Titanic at any time express the hope that the Frankfurt would come first to their relief?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you have any other communication with the Frankfurt after that ship responded to the distress call?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What was it?
MR. BRIDE: He called us up at a considerably long period afterwards and asked us what was the matter.
SENATOR SMITH: How long after?
MR. BRIDE: I should say it would be considerably over 20 minutes afterwards.
SENATOR SMITH: Twenty minutes after the message giving your position, the position of the Titanic­­
MR. BRIDE: And the C. Q. D.
SENATOR SMITH: (continuing) And the C. Q. D. distress call, you got another message from the Frankfurt saying, "What is the matter?"
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did they say anything else?
MR. BRIDE: He merely inquired, sir, as to what was the matter with us.
SENATOR SMITH: To that message what did you say?
MR. BRIDE: I think Mr. Phillips responded rather hurriedly.
SENATOR SMITH: What did he say? I would like to know.
MR. BRIDE: Well, he told him to the effect that he was a bit of a fool.
SENATOR SMITH: Just give it in his language.
MR. BRIDE: Well, he told him he was a fool, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Is that all?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did he preface that word with anything more severe?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Phillips then tell him what was the matter.
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did he have any further communication with the Frankfurt?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir. He told him to stand by, sir ­ finish.
SENATOR SMITH: In the interim you had got into communication with the Carpathia?
MR. BRIDE: And the Olympic.
SENATOR SMITH: And the Olympic?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Both of whom assured you they were coming?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: To your relief?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: To what line does the Olympic belong?
MR. BRIDE: White Star, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And the Carpathia belongs to the Cunard Line?
MR. BRIDE: The Cunard; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you ever learn the position of the Frankfurt?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: After she had first responded to your call?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Phillips ask for it?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: How often?
MR. BRIDE: When she first answered our C. Q. D. he said, "Go and get your position." The Frankfurt replied, "Stand by."
SENATOR SMITH: Did the Frankfurt at that time know your position?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What was your interpretation of "stand by," in that connection?
MR. BRIDE: To wait for his position and what he was going to do about the matter.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you ever get the position of the Frankfurt?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Phillips?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you and Mr. Phillips talk about it?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you say to one another about it?
MR. BRIDE: We expressed our opinions of the operator on the Frankfurt.
SENATOR SMITH: Was it critical?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: And uncomplimentary?
MR. BRIDE: Very.
SENATOR SMITH: Was it based upon any knowledge or suspicion that the operator was personally derelict in his duty?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was it based upon any suspicion that the Frankfurt had not responded to this distress call as that ship should have done?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Was it a matter of deep regret between you and Mr. Phillips?
MR. BRIDE: Well, it was at the time when the Frankfurt asked us what the matter was with us, because we realized then, that we were getting into ­ we realized what had happened to the ship.
SENATOR SMITH: But you realized at that time that all the lives on that ship depended upon getting relief from some other vessel?
MR. BRIDE: At the time the Frankfurt asked us what was the matter with us; yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: After you told him that he was a fool, did you tell him that the ship was going down?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir; we told him to stand by, sir; to keep out of it.
SENATOR SMITH: Keep out of what?
MR. BRIDE: Not to interfere with his instrument, sir; because we knew we were in communication with the Carpathia, and we knew that the Carpathia was the best thing doing.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you tell that to the operator of the Frankfurt?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: When you said "Keep out of it," could that be interpreted as in any way changing the first distress call?
MR. BRIDE: Merely told him not to interfere with our communications.
SENATOR SMITH: He had not responded as you felt he ought to respond?
MR. BRIDE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: He had not indicated that they were coming?
MR. BRIDE: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: He had impressed you with the lack of appreciation for your situation? Stop me if I am not interpreting you correct; I am summarizing what you have said. Am I correct about that?
MR. BRIDE: It struck me so ­ that he did not seem to be able to realize what the position we were in.
SENATOR SMITH: And you are quite sure that you gave him all the information necessary?
MR. BRIDE: We made it very clear to him.
SENATOR SMITH: You mean in reference to the condition you were in, you referred to the sinking of the Titanic?
MR. BRIDE: If you call C. Q. D. and give your position, then there is no necessity for another ship to inquire further into the matter, if he is coming to your assistance, because you could not call C. Q. D. unless you were in need of assistance.
SENATOR SMITH: Now, C. Q. D. was the strongest language that you could use under your wireless regulations to apprise any station that you needed help immediately; is that right?
MR. BRIDE: Any operator hearing a C. Q. D., giving a ship's position, when on the job, would immediately, without inquiring further into the matter, go to his captain and inform his captain. It would be a waste of time asking anything about it. The less time spent in talking, the more time can be spent in getting to the ship.
