United States Senate Inquiry
Day 1
Testimony of Harold T. Cottam.
Senator SMITH.
Mr. Cottam, what is your full name?
Mr. COTTAM.
Harold Thomas Cottam.
Senator SMITH.
Where do you reside?
Mr. COTTAM.
Liverpool, England.
Senator SMITH.
How old are you?
Mr. COTTAM.
Twenty-one.
Senator SMITH.
What is your business?
Mr. COTTAM.
Marconi telegraphist.
Senator SMITH.
How long have you been engaged in that business?
Mr. COTTAM.
Three years.
Senator SMITH.
Where have you been employed?
Mr. COTTAM.
The Marconi Co. all the time.
Senator SMITH.
How extensively; that is, how many different employments?
Mr. COTTAM.
I went to sea first. Then I was taken off there and worked for the British post
office for a time.
Senator SMITH.
In what capacity?
Mr. COTTAM.
As telegraphist, on one of their land stations.
Senator SMITH.
Under the British post-office authorities?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Where?
Mr. COTTAM.
Liverpool.
Senator SMITH.
How long were you thus employed?
Mr. COTTAM.
About 14 to 16 months.
Senator SMITH.
Then what did you do?
Mr. COTTAM.
I was taken off there and went away to sea again, on the Australian run.
Senator SMITH.
On what boat?
Mr. COTTAM.
The Medic,
White Star.
Senator SMITH.
How long were you on the Medic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Two voyages.
Senator SMITH.
Were you wireless telegrapher at that time?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Two voyages?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Out and right back?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; return voyages.
Senator SMITH.
From Liverpool.
Mr. COTTAM.
To Australia and back to Liverpool again.
Senator SMITH.
What kind of apparatus was there on the Medic?
Mr. COTTAM.
A Marconi, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What type of instrument or equipment?
Mr. COTTAM.
A one and a half watt set, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was the maximum wave length?
Mr. COTTAM.
A standard wave length, sir; 2,000 feet.
Senator SMITH.
You were in charge of the wireless on that boat?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Chief in charge?
Mr. COTTAM.
Only one man, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was your next employment?
Mr. COTTAM.
On the Carpathia,
sir.
Senator SMITH.
How long were you on the Carpathia?
Mr. COTTAM.
I joined her in Liverpool, last February, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You have been with the Carpathia ever since?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you ship with her from New York?
Mr. COTTAM.
From Liverpool, sir.
Senator SMITH.
From New York the other day?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What day?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not remember the day. About the 10th or 11th, I think, sir.
Senator SMITH.
On her last outward voyage?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Where was she headed for?
Mr. COTTAM.
Gibraltar, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did she have a wireless equipment?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What kind?
Mr. COTTAM.
Marconi, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Up-to-date equipment?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; it was an older type.
Senator SMITH.
What was the maximum distance with which that equipment could be operated
successfully?
Mr. COTTAM.
Two hundred and fifty miles.
Senator SMITH.
Did you obtain satisfactory results from 250-mile experiments?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
On the Carpathia?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You were on the boat last Sunday?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What were your hours of employment?
Mr. COTTAM.
There are no stated hours. There is only one man on the boat.
Senator SMITH.
I understand; but what periods during the day and night are you expected to be
at your instrument?
Mr. COTTAM.
It all depends on where you are. If you were in the vicinity of New York or
thereabouts you would be expected to be on duty all the time.
Senator SMITH.
Night and day?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Is that practicable?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
In making the voyage from New York to Gibraltar, after you have gotten out to
sea, there is no rigid rule which requires you to be at your post?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
No regulation of the British Government?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
No direction by the Marconi Co.?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; but you are more or less responsible for communications which are
expected.
Senator SMITH.
You are responsible for communication?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir; if there is a ship expected, sir. If a ship is expected to pass at 3
o'clock in the morning you should be at duty at that time to establish
communication.
Senator SMITH.
Has it been your custom to go to the apparatus at regular times?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Are you employed at anything else on the boat?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What wages do you receive?
Mr. COTTAM.
Four pounds ten a month.
Senator SMITH.
Four pounds ten shillings a month?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And board?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And room?
Mr. COTTAM.
The room is attached to the operating room.
Senator SMITH.
Is that the average wage of wireless telegraphers in England?
Mr. COTTAM.
I can not say that it is.
Senator SMITH.
To whom do you report aboard ship?
Mr. COTTAM.
To the captain.
Senator SMITH.
Personally?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And from whom do you take orders?
Mr. COTTAM.
From the captain, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Personally.
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
From anyone else?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
From the officer on watch? Do you take orders from him?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; not without I have the authority of the captain.
Senator SMITH.
Not without the direction of the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Would you take orders from anyone except the captain of the ship while you were
aboard ship? Suppose Mr. Marconi or
some officer of the Marconi Co. gave orders to you by wireless which you should
pick up, would you consider it your duty to take them from the officers of the
Marconi Co. while you were at sea?
Mr. COTTAM.
Not before the captain of the ship, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Then I am to understand you have no specified hours when you shall be in
attendance at your instrument?
Mr. COTTAM.
During the whole of the day, sir; not necessarily at night.
Senator SMITH.
During all the day?
Mr. COTTAM.
The whole of the day, daytime, but not at nights.
Senator SMITH.
Do you have liberty to retire at nights when you please?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And what has been your custom in that regard, what time would you retire?
Mr. COTTAM.
While at sea I should retire about midnight.
Senator SMITH.
Where is this instrument located on the ship?
Mr. COTTAM.
In the Carpathia, sir?
Senator SMITH.
Yes, where?
Mr. COTTAM.
On the after part of the ship.
Senator SMITH.
On what deck?
Mr. COTTAM.
On an island above the second class smoking room.
Senator SMITH.
What have you there, a room?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or two rooms?
Mr. COTTAM.
One room.
Senator SMITH.
And you say you were at liberty to retire at night when you please?
Mr. COTTAM.
Everything depends on circumstances.
Senator SMITH.
What would it depend on?
Mr. COTTAM.
If I had work to get off and I could not get it off before the early hours of
the morning I should have to stay up to attend it.
Senator SMITH.
That is commercial work?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Sending messages for your passengers?
Mr. COTTAM.
Or for the captain; yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
At night you are not open for commercial business?
Mr. COTTAM.
Never have done it; only with the captain, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or official business?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Are you able to get the best results in the daytime or in the night ordinarily?
Mr. COTTAM.
In the night.
Senator SMITH.
Can you tell why that is - why that is so?
Mr. COTTAM.
Owing to a certain state of the atmosphere. I do not know what the state is.
Senator SMITH.
And yet at night you undertake to do no business, or are your customers lacking
at night?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
The passengers on the boat do not seek to do business at night?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Have you any rules which require you to use your instrument or put it in
position to be used for distress calls every hour of the day or any hour of the
day?
Mr. COTTAM.
There is nothing in the Marconi system that would detect the signals if the
operator is not present.
Senator SMITH.
That is, no warning or alarm?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Is that true of the more modern equipment?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
They have an alarm?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
They have none?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What were you doing last Sunday evening about 10 o'clock?
Mr. COTTAM.
Receiving the news from Cape Cod, the long-distance station.
Senator SMITH.
Receiving news from Cape Cod?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What kind of news?
Mr. COTTAM.
General news.
Senator SMITH.
General news for the accommodation for passengers on ship?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Have you specified hours for that purpose?
Mr. COTTAM.
We are not obliged to take the news, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You are not obliged to take it?
Mr. COTTAM.
That is right.
Senator SMITH.
But on this occasion you did take it?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How long did you take it?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did not start to take it.
Senator SMITH.
How far were you from Cape Cod?
Mr. COTTAM.
I could not tell you the exact distance.
Senator SMITH.
About how far? What was the required wave length? Can you tell, or did you do
any sending?
Mr. COTTAM.
No transmitting.
Senator SMITH.
No transmitting; just receiving?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
After you finished the Cape Cod business, what did you do then?
Mr. COTTAM.
At the latter end of the news from Cape Cod, he was sending a lot of messages
for the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
What time was that?
Mr. COTTAM.
About 11 o'clock.
Senator SMITH.
What had you been doing just preceding the message from the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Reporting the day's communications to the bridge.
Senator SMITH.
Had you closed your station for the night?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
What do you do when you close your station; anything?
Mr. COTTAM.
No; there is nothing particular done.
Senator SMITH.
Nothing?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
You do not have to detach any battery wires?
Mr. COTTAM.
Switch the charging battery out, the storage battery. We switch that out for
the night.
Senator SMITH.
Switch the storage battery out?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Does that "kill" the instrument?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Can you receive messages with that out?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
But you can not send them?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
You can both receive and send them?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Well then what in reality have you done when you shift this battery connection?
Mr. COTTAM.
I have taken them off charge, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Does that lessen the likelihood of your getting any signal of any kind?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; not in the least.
Senator SMITHI believe you told us how far
this equipment on the Carpathia would send a message with
accuracy, did you not?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
About 250 miles, I think you said?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Was there any thunder or lightning or cloud that night?
Mr. COTTAM.
No.
Senator SMITH.
Sunday night?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
It was clear?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How did you happen to catch this communication from the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
I was looking out for the Parisian, to
confirm a previous communication with the Parisian.
Senator SMITH.
You had been in communication with the Parisian that day?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
At what time?
Mr. COTTAM.
I can not say. At some time in the afternoon, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Not a distress signal?
Mr. COTTAM.
Oh, no, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Some commercial or business communication?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How far was the Parisian from you?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You have no means of knowing?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Her position was not stated?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You had been in communication with the Parisian that
afternoon?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And this Sunday evening you were looking out for further communication from
that boat?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Well, how did you happen to be at your instrument?
Mr. COTTAM.
I say, I was confirming, or attempting to confirm a previous communication with
the Parisian - I was not sure of her communication.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear the captain of
the Carpathia today?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
He said you were about to retire.
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And caught this message rather providentially?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How far had you gotten along in your arrangements to retire?
Mr. COTTAM.
Well, I was about to retire.
Senator SMITH.
Had you disrobed - taken all your clothes?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Had you taken off your shoes?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Had you taken off any of your clothing?
Mr. COTTAM.
I had my coat off.
Senator SMITH.
When you took your coat off, did you have any instruments attached to your
head?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What?
Mr. COTTAM.
Telephones.
Senator SMITH.
How did you happen to leave that on?
Mr. COTTAM.
I was waiting for the Parisian.
Senator SMITH.
How long would you have waited; just long enough to undress?
Mr. COTTAM.
I would have waited a couple of minutes. I had just called the Parisian and
was waiting for a reply, if there was one.
Senator SMITH.
And you had just called her?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
And you did not know whether she had gotten it or not?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And you were waiting for an acknowledgement?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
So you kept this telephone on your ears, on your head?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
On your head?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
With the hope that before you got into bed you might have your message
confirmed?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Was that what you had in mind?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did you hear at that time?
Mr. COTTAM.
I heard nothing, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How soon? You heard something pretty quick, did you not?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; I went back onto Cape Cod again.
Senator SMITH.
And still left this apparatus on?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you send a message to Cape Cod?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did Cape Cod send a message to you?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Then, as a matter of fact, you did not get back to Cape Cod?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How?
Mr. COTTAM.
They were sending it for the trans-Atlantic two-man ships. They were sending
the news to the senior ships.
Senator SMITH.
Where?
Mr. COTTAM.
These ships that contribute to the Marconi press.
Senator SMITH.
An intermediate communication, intermediate station?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; Cape Cod, which is the Atlantic station.
Senator SMITH.
You got into communication?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
With one of the Marconi stations?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did not establish it. I was receiving the press communications from Cape Cod.
Senator SMITH.
While you were undressing there?
Mr. COTTAM.
I was not undressing.
Senator SMITH.
After you had taken off your coat?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And then did you sit down to your instrument
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And received this message?
Mr. COTTAM.
I received about four.
Senator SMITH.
In how many minutes?
Mr. COTTAM.
About seven or eight minutes.
Senator SMITH.
You received four in seven or eight minutes?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did that include anything from the Parisian?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Simply this Cape Cod relay service?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir; sending messages for the Titanic. I
was taking the messages down with the hope of re-transmitting them the
following morning.
Senator SMITH.
Let us understand that a little. When did you first know anything about
the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
I had had communication with her late in the afternoon, half-past 5 or 6.
Senator SMITH.
A stray communication, or one addressed to the Carpathia?
Mr. COTTAM.
One addressed to the Carpathia.
Senator SMITH.
What did it say?
Mr. COTTAM.
It was a message for one of our passengers aboard.
Senator SMITH.
For whom?
Mr. COTTAM.
Mrs. Marshal.
Senator SMITH.
A commercial message, an official message?
Mr. COTTAM.
A commercial message.
Senator SMITH.
So that was the only message you received from the Titanic in
the afternoon. Was the message answered?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know anything about how far you were from her at that time?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Have you no means of knowing?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
After you got through with this regular business, then what did you do?
Mr. COTTAM.
I called the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
You called the Titanic yourself?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Who told you to do it?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did it of my own free will.
Senator SMITH.
You did it of your own accord?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say?
Mr. COTTAM.
I asked him if he was aware that Cape Cod was sending a batch of messages for
him.
Senator SMITH.
And did they reply?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did they say?
Mr. COTTAM.
"Come at once."
Senator SMITH.
Did you gather from that that they had received your communication?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And this was the reply?
Mr. COTTAM.
He said, "Come at once. It is a distress message; C. Q. D."
Senator SMITH.
Only the three words were used?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir, all the lot. The whole message was for me.
Senator SMITH.
When you received that message, what did you do?
Mr. COTTAM.
I confirmed it by asking him if I was to report it to the captain.
Senator SMITH.
Before you reported to the captain you asked him if you were to report it to
the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you get an answer?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did it say?
Mr. COTTAM.
It said, "Yes."
Senator SMITH.
How did you happen to confirm it?
Mr. COTTAM.
By asking him if -
Senator SMITH.
(interrupting) I know, but what prompted you to confirm it before you
delivered it to the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
Because it is always wise to confirm a message of that description.
Senator SMITH.
Do you always do it?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Are you instructed to do it?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Or is that a matter of discretion?
Mr. COTTAM.
It is a matter of discretion.
Senator SMITH.
Had you been misled by messages that were without foundation that prompted you
to confirm that message?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What would you have done if you had not received any confirmation?
Mr. COTTAM.
I should have reported the communication.
Senator SMITH.
You would have reported it to the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How much time elapsed between the time when you received that distress call and
the time you communicated it to the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
A matter of a couple of minutes.
Senator SMITH.
Only a couple of minutes?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you send any messages after that to the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
For whom?
Mr. COTTAM.
For the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
At the instance of the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What messages?
Mr. COTTAM.
Our position.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say?
Mr. COTTAM.
I simply sent him our position.
Senator SMITH.
Can you state it to the reporter?
Mr. COTTAM.
I can not remember what the position was now.
Senator SMITH.
You can not remember it?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
But you gave the position of your ship, its longitude; is that the idea?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And you did that at the suggestion of the captain?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did he write out a formal message for you?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
He told you?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And you sent it?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir; he wrote the position out on a little slip of paper.
Senator SMITH.
And you sent that?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you get any reply to that?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
How long afterwards?
Mr. COTTAM.
Immediately, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Signed by anyone?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did it say?
Mr. COTTAM.
It simply gave me "Received."
Senator SMITH.
Is that all?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Signed by the operator or signed by anybody?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
When did you next hear from the Titanic, or communicate with her?
Mr. COTTAM.
About four minutes afterwards.
Senator SMITH.
Did you communicate with her, or she with you?
Mr. COTTAM.
We communicated with each other.
Senator SMITH.
Who sent the first message?
Mr. COTTAM.
I did.
Senator SMITH.
Four minutes after this last message giving your position?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
You sent another?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
What did you say in that?
Mr. COTTAM.
Confirmed both positions, that of the Titanic and ours.
Senator SMITH.
Did you get anything back from that?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; only an acknowledgment.
Senator SMITH.
What did it say?
Mr. COTTAM.
"All right."
Senator SMITH.
When did you next communicate or receive a communication?
Mr. COTTAM.
A few minutes afterwards.
Senator SMITH.
How many minutes?
Mr. COTTAM.
I could not say, sir, because there was another ship calling the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
How do you know?
Mr. COTTAM.
Because I heard it.
Senator SMITH.
What did you hear?
Mr. COTTAM.
I heard him calling the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
I understand, but what was said?
Mr. COTTAM. There was nothing but the
call, sir.
Senator SMITH.
A distress call?
Mr. COTTAM. No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Do you know what boat it was?
Mr. COTTAM.
The Frankfurt.
Senator SMITH.
A North German Lloyd boat?
Mr. COTTAM.
I do not know whether it is the North German Lloyd. It is some German line; I
do not know which one.
Senator SMITH.
You heard this call?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
The German boat was calling the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And did that disarrange your signals?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
But after that call was finished, then what did you get, if anything?
Mr. COTTAM.
I heard the Olympic calling
the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
Did you hear the Titanic calling the Olympic?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir; not at first.
Senator SMITH.
But you heard the Olympic calling the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did the Olympic say?
Mr. COTTAM.
He was calling him and offering a service message.
Senator SMITH.
Offering their service?
Mr. COTTAM.
Offering a service message.
Senator SMITH.
Offering a service message?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Then what followed?
Mr. COTTAM.
Nothing, for about a half a minute. Everything was quiet.
Senator SMITH.
Nothing for about half a minute?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
By this time you were quite alert to the situation, were you?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Is that right?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
After this minute, then what?
Mr. COTTAM.
I asked the Titanic if he was aware that the Olympic was
calling him, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was the reply?
Mr. COTTAM.
He said he was not.
Senator SMITH.
He was not aware of it?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Then what followed?
Mr. COTTAM.
He told me he could not read him because the rush of air and the escape of
steam;
Senator SMITH.
That he could not read him?
Mr. COTTAM.
That he could not read him; yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Could not read what?
Mr. COTTAM.
The Olympic.
Senator SMITH.
That he could not read the message from the Olympic because of
the rush of air?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
And the escape of steam?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was the next thing you heard?
Mr. COTTAM.
Then the Titanic called the Olympic.
Senator SMITH.
Was there anything urgent about that or anything related to the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
No, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What did you do then?
Mr. COTTAM.
I told the Titanic to call the Baltic.
Senator SMITH.
What followed?
Mr. COTTAM.
The communication was apparently unsatisfactory.
Senator SMITH.
It was apparently unsatisfactory?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes.
Senator SMITH.
Well, go right ahead and tell us just what occurred as long as you were aboard
that ship doing work to the time of the rescue of these people.
Mr. COTTAM.
I was in communication at regular intervals the whole of the time until the
last communication gained with the Titanic.
Senator SMITH.
You heard that?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was said in that message?
Mr. COTTAM.
He told him to come at once; that he was head down. And he sent his position.
Senator SMITH.
And do you know whether he got any reply to that message?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
What was it?
Mr. COTTAM.
"Received." He told him the message was received.
Senator SMITH.
Is that all?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
When did you hear anything again? What happened next?
Mr. COTTAM.
I heard the Baltic calling
Cape Race.
Senator SMITH.
You were in regular communication?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
With the Titanic?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Until the last communication was heard?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes; until the last communication was heard.
Senator SMITH.
What was the last one?
Mr. COTTAM.
The last one was, "Come quick; our engine room is filling up to the
boilers."
Senator SMITH.
That was the last communication you received?
Mr. COTTAM.
Yes, sir.
Senator SMITH.
Did you make any reply to it?
Mr. COTTAM.
I acknowledged the message and reported it to the captain.
Senator SMITH.
Did you report each of those 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 three letter 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 acknowledgment.
Senator SMITH.
Just tell us what that message was. You called him with 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 acknowledgment 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 with 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 has registered on you 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 office?
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 to 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 a while, 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 to-night.