Chester reports in communication with Carpathia repeatedly. Asks Carpathia for list of third­class passengers. Request not complied with. Will try again. Carpathia in communication with shore stations.
And it is signed: "Torpedo Station." That was received April 17. Our whole anxiety at the time was to try to get the names of the people. Here is another telegram from the torpedo station:
Titanic passengers on Carpathia. List incomplete. Communication interrupted. Will forward further information as received. Sending expression your wishes.
That is addressed "White Star Line" and signed "Torpedo Station."
SENATOR SMITH: What date is that?
MR. FRANKLIN: That is dated Newport, April 17, 1912, 4:36 a.m.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know anything about an attempt on the part of the President of the United States to get into communication with the Carpathia?
MR. FRANKLIN: I do not, sir. We had some telegrams from the President regarding Maj. Butt, and we answered them as promptly as we could. That is all.
SENATOR SMITH: I would like this record to show whether yourself or any officer of your company at any time before the landing of the Carpathia, received any message from any person asking that the Cedric should be held in New York until the arrival of the Carpathia?
MR. FRANKLIN: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: From whom?
MR. FRANKLIN: Here is a telegram: "Steamship Carpathia, April 17, 1912."
SENATOR SMITH: What is the hour?
MR. FRANKLIN: 5:35 p.m. is stamped on here.
Most desirable Titanic crew aboard Carpathia should be returned home earliest moment possible. Suggest you hold Cedric, sailing her daylight Friday unless you see any reason contrary. Propose returning in her myself. Please send outfit of clothes, including shoes, for me to Cedric. Have nothing of my own. Please reply. YAMSI.
One word in this telegram reads "and." I have read it as "any," because there is no doubt that that is what it was. It was underscored when it was handed to me, showing that it was evidently a mistake.
SENATOR SMITH: Whose code or cipher signature is that?
MR. FRANKLIN: That is Mr. Ismay's signature.
SENATOR SMITH: Was any replay made to that?
MR. FRANKLIN: To "Ismay, Carpathia." April 17, 1912, 8 p.m., we sent it.
SENATOR SMITH: What date is that?
MR. FRANKLIN: April 17. That is in reply to this other one.
SENATOR SMITH: That was Wednesday?
MR. FRANKLIN: That was Wednesday evening. Do you want me to read it?
SENATOR SMITH: Yes, please.
MR. FRANKLIN: (reading):
ISMAY; Carpathia:
Have arranged forward crew Lapland, sailing Saturday, calling Plymouth. We all consider most unwise delay Cedric, considering all circumstances.
SENATOR SMITH: Who sent that?
MR. FRANKLIN: It is signed "Franklin."
SENATOR SMITH: Did you get any reply to that?
MR. FRANKLIN: I think the best way is just to read all these telegrams as they come.
SENATOR SMITH: I wish you would.
MR. FRANKLIN: They are a little mixed up.
SENATOR SMITH: I want that story in the record.
MR. FRANKLIN: The best way to do that is to read all these telegrams as they come here, and not say which is the reply.
SENATOR SMITH: All right. Just proceed, keeping in mind that we want the date and the person to whom and from whom the telegram was sent, and the signature.
MR. FRANKLIN: I will.
SENATOR SMITH: Give them in chronological order, if possible.
MR. FRANKLIN: I am a little doubtful about that; but to the best of our knowledge and belief they are in order. [Reading:]
Send responsible ship officer and 14 White Star sailors in 2 tugboats­­
SENATOR SMITH: You did not give the name of the person to whom that message is addressed.
MR. FRANKLIN: This is via Woods Hole, Mass., steamship Carpathia, via Siasconsett, Mass., and addressed, "Islefrank, New York." That is our cable address, or one of them.
SENATOR SMITH: Were you communicating through a Government station?
MR. FRANKLIN: We did not care. We were filing the messages with the wireless people, and we did not care how they went. [Reading:]
Send responsible ship officer and 14 White Star sailors in 2 tugboats to take charge of 13 Titanic boats at quarantine. 5:35 a.m. YAMSI.
I do not see the date there.
SENATOR SMITH: Pardon me, right there. Was "Yamsi" a registered signature ­ a signature previously used ­ or was it in use for the first time then?
MR. FRANKLIN: It is a registered signature abroad, and it is a signature that we all know for Mr. Ismay's address. Whether it is registered in New York or not I could not say, but it is not used by us very much over here. It is used entirely on the other side.
SENATOR SMITH: And it indicates what?
MR. FRANKLIN: It indicates that if you send a telegram addressed "Yamsi, Liverpool," it will be delivered to Mr. Ismay himself.
SENATOR SMITH: Yes; and if signed "Yamsi," what does that indicate?
MR. FRANKLIN: It indicates that it has been sent by Mr. Ismay.
SENATOR SMITH: All right.
MR. FRANKLIN: That is my understanding of it. It is not the word we usually send over here. This telegram is addressed to the Steamship Carpathia, Woods Hole, Mass., April 18, addressed to Islefrank, New York:
Please join Carpathia quarantine if possible. 3:35 a.m. YAMSI.
Steamship "Carpathia," via Siasconsett, Mass., April 18, 1912.
ISLEFRANK, New York:
Very important you should hold Cedric daylight Friday for Titanic crew. Reply. 8:00 a.m. YAMSI.
STEAMSHIP "Carpathia," New York.
ISLEFRANK, New York:
Very important you should hold Cedric daylight Friday for Titanic crew. Answer. YAMSI.
STEAMSHIP "Carpathia," Via Siasconsetts, Mass
ISLEFRANK, New York:
Think most unwise keep Titanic crew until Saturday. Strongly urge detain Cedric sailing her midnight if desirable.
That is April 18. All of these are April 18.
SENATOR SMITH: That was Thursday, the 18th.
MR. FRANKLIN: Yes, sir. [Continuing reading:]
"Carpathia," via Siasconsett, Mass.
And there are just the two figures there, "18", after that. It does not say anything else. It reads:
ISLEFRANK, New York:
Unless you have good and substantial reason for not holding Cedric, please arrange to do so. Most undesirable have crew New York so long.
No signature.
SENATOR SMITH: To whom was that addressed?
MR. FRANKLIN: That is addressed in the usual way: "Islefrank, New York."
Then this telegram:
ISMAY, Carpathia:
Regret after fullest consideration decided Cedric must sail as scheduled. Expect join Carpathia at quarantine, but can not remove boats, as everything arranged for steamer proceed dock immediately. Signed "Franklin."
That is all on that subject, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: What are the other messages you have there?
MR. FRANKLIN: The others are:
Suggest senior surviving navigating officer prepare brief statement facts ready for us upon arrival quarantine.
That is addressed to Mr. Ismay, steamship Carpathia, and signed "Franklin."
The next one was one I sent to Mr. Ismay on the Carpathia. And I wish to say that I do not think any of these later ones were delivered, that I am reading now:
ISMAY, Carpathia:
Concise Marconigram account of actual accident greatly needed for enlightenment public and ourselves. This most important. FRANKLIN.
That was sent at 4:45 o'clock p.m. April 18.
The next one is: Steamship "Carpathia," via Siasconsett, April 18.
ISLEFRANK, New York:
Widener not aboard. Hope to see you quarantine. Please cable wife am returning Cedric. YAMSI.
The next one is:
BRUCE ISMAY, Carpathia:
Extremely sorry authorities decline allow me aboard steamer quarantine. We have made all possible arrangements facilitate landing of the passengers. Will meet you at pier. FRANKLIN.
SENATOR SMITH: Are those all of the telegrams you received from the Carpathia, or from any officer of your company aboard the Carpathia, or any member of the crew or any of the passengers?
MR. FRANKLIN: Right, sir. Every one.
SENATOR SMITH: Please hand those to the stenographer.
MR. FRANKLIN: Yes, sir. I mean to say, in addition to telegrams that we have testified to as trying to convey our wish to the captain for information about the matter.
SENATOR SMITH: Exactly. Was that all that you sent?
MR. FRANKLIN: No, sir. Here is one more that I find here.
SENATOR SMITH: Read it, please.
MR. FRANKLIN: [Reading:]
BRUCE ISMAY, Steamer Carpathia
SENATOR SMITH: What is the date, please?
MR. FRANKLIN: April 17, 1912, 3:30 p.m.
So thankful you are saved, but grieving with you over terrible calamity. Shall sail Saturday to return with you. Florence cable ends. Accept my deepest sympathy horrible catastrophe. Will meet you aboard Carpathia after docking. Is Widener aboard? FRANNKLIN.
Where I read "Florence cable ends," that refers to a cable received from Mrs. Ismay, to convey that to Mr. Ismay. And then we put in these two words, "Cable ends."
SENATOR SMITH: Are there any other messages there?
MR. FRANKLIN: No, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Those are to be filed with the committee.
MR. KIRLIN: May we make a suggestion, Senator? I think Mr. Franklin has omitted one message from Mr. Ismay himself, announcing the loss. That was not received for two or three days.
MR. FRANKLIN: That was a message not in connection with this Cedric matter at all. This was a message received from Mr. Ismay.
MR. KIRLIN: When?
MR. FRANKLIN: This message was dated, "Steamship Carpathia, April 15," and addressed to "Islefrank."
MR. BURLINGHAM: And received when?
MR. FRANKLIN: Received on the 17th. [Reading:]
Deeply regret advise you Titanic sank this morning after collision iceberg, resulting serious loss life. Further particulars later. 9:58 a.m. BRUCE ISMAY.
That was evidently sent by Mr. Ismay.
SENATOR SMITH: On what date?
MR. FRANKLIN: I shall give it to you. That was evidently sent by Mr. Ismay immediately or very shortly after the accident, but was not received by us until 9 a.m. of the 17th, Wednesday.
SENATOR SMITH: Are those all of the communications received from any officer of your company or any member of the crew, or any passengers aboard the Carpathia, from the time of the sinking of the Titanic until the Carpathia reached New York?
MR. FRANKLIN: To the best of my knowledge and belief, they are all of the telegrams.
SENATOR SMITH: Will you file them with us?
MR. FRANKLIN: Yes.
SENATOR SMITH: Do you know whether they are all that were sent?
MR. FRANKLIN: Of course, they are all I received. You understand, Senator, that these have nothing to do with our telegrams received in giving the list of passengers.
SENATOR SMITH: I understand these are messages of a little different character.
MR. FRANKLIN: These are only messages we received from any passengers, any member of the crew, any Marconi operator, or anything of that kind on the Carpathia.
SENATOR SMITH: Exactly.
MR. FRANKLIN: Or sent to them.
SENATOR SMITH: In routine telegrams, do you address Mr. Ismay as "Yamsi"?
MR. FRANKLIN: We never use, between here and Liverpool, or when Mr. Ismay is abroad, the word "Yamsi" at all. It is a word used in England and abroad. We have knowledge that that is his address that is used frequently in England, but not over here.
SENATOR SMITH: Have you instructions as to the use of "Yamsi" or "Ismay"?
MR. FRANKLIN: I never use the word "Yamsi."
SENATOR SMITH: But have you any instructions in regard to the matter?
MR. FRANKLIN: I have no instructions.
SENATOR SMITH: I understood you to say that the Cedric departed in accordance with the last telegram that you sent to the Carpathia, before the arrival of the Carpathia.
MR. FRANKLIN: The Cedric departed at noon on Thursday.
SENATOR SMITH: And the Carpathia arrived at the dock in New York when?
MR. FRANKLIN: At about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.
SENATOR SMITH: Did Mr. Ismay ask you to make other arrangements for his immediate departure for England?
MR. FRANKLIN: I had no communication from Mr. Ismay about his departure for England, except the communications that I have read off to you here. Mr. Ismay never mentioned his personal departure, except in the first telegram and the telegram which he asked us to convey to Mrs. Ismay. He left the departure of himself entirely to us ­ the question of his departure ­ as I understood it. His personal departure was left to us.
SENATOR SMITH: What did you determine about it?
MR. FRANKLIN: We determined it would be a very unfortunate thing to attempt to hold the Cedric and hurry the crew on board or agree to Mr. Ismay's sailing under the present circumstances, with which Mr. Ismay, as we knew, was not in any way familiar. We were here, and were hearing the criticism. We knew what was being said, but Mr. Ismay had no knowledge or information regarding that. We realized the necessity of getting the crew off, which was just what we wanted done in every other case of the kind and what every shipowner would do.
SENATOR SMITH: When did you first know of the official investigation that was proposed?
MR. FRANKLIN: I first knew of the official investigation, I will say, about 2 o'clock on Thursday. I could not exactly fix the time, but I think it would have been about 2 o'clock on Thursday.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you communicate that fact to your company?
MR. FRANKLIN; I do not think I did. I may have by cable that night to Liverpool after it was all over.
SENATOR SMITH: That is what I mean.
MR. FRANKLIN; Yes, sir.
SENATOR SMITH: Did you communicate to your company the purpose to make an official inquiry?
MR. FRANKLIN: I may have to Liverpool that night. I think I did.
SENATOR SMITH: And did you communicate that fact to Mr. Ismay?
MR. FRANKLIN: After I got on the Carpathia.
SENATOR SMITH: Mr. Franklin, Senator Perkins desires to ask you a few questions.
SENATOR PERKINS: I want to ask you whether you had the Titanic constructed under the British Lloyd's and the Bureau Veritas?
MR. FRANKLIN: I am sure she was not constructed under the Bureau Veritas, and I do not think she was constructed under Lloyd's; because these steamers are all in excess of Lloyd's requirements.
SENATOR PERKINS: Was she entitled to a subvention from the Government?
MR. FRANKLIN: Yes.
SENATOR PERKINS: She was constructed under the direction of a naval officer, then?
MR. FRANKLIN: Not necessarily. In my opinion, that is a matter­­
SENATOR PERKINS: If she were entitled to a subvention, it would be necessary for her to be constructed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Navy Department, as I understand it.
