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| Senator William Alden Smith & New York City in the 1900s. |
Friday, April 19, 1912
Early Morning
As the United Kingdom holds a national day of mourning, in America, Senator William Alden Smith convenes an inquiry in New York City the morning after Carpathia arrives with Titanic's survivors. The people of America are in shock after hearing the news of Titanic's fate. Senator Smith moves quickly to issue subpoenas so that he can promptly collect survivor testimonies while the incident is still fresh.
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| J.P. Morgan |
Smith's colleagues suspect that he has put together the inquiry and appointed himself chairman mainly because he is an outspoken opponent of J.P. Morgan, the owner of International Mercantile Marine, White Star's parent company.
The first witness called at the inquiry is Bruce Ismay.
His responses to questions are short, evasive, and lack substance. Senator Smith is determined to hold White Star's president responsible for the tragedy. Ismay claimed that he never ordered Titanic pushed to full speed, that never showed any ice warnings to the passengers, and he only boarded the lifeboat when no other passengers were visible on deck.
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| Bruce Ismay at the inquiry. |
After two days at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the inquiry is moved to Washington D.C. The crew members and passengers that haven't received a subpoena are free to return to their lives. The others who are required to testify will have to travel to Washington.
Bruce Ismay will be required to answer further questions after the inquiry is moved. Senator Smith will not release him for eleven days.
