ject of inquiry.

"Tell the committee on what you based those statements," directed
Senator Smith.

"We based them on reports and rumors received at Cape Race by
individuals and by the newspapers. They were rumors, and we could not
place our finger on anything authentic."

FIRST DEFINITE NEWS

"At 6.20 or 6.30 Monday evening," Mr. Franklin continued, "a message was
received telling the fateful news that the Carpathia reached the Titanic
and found nothing but boats and wreckage; that the Titanic had foundered
at 2.20 A.M. in 41.16 north, 50.14 west; that the Carpathia picked up
all the boats and had on board about 675 Titanic survivors--passengers
and crew.

"It was such a terrible shock that it took me several moments to think
what to do. Then I went downstairs to the reporters, I began to read the
message, holding it high in my hand. I had read only to the second line,
which said that the Titanic had sunk, when there was not a reporter
left--they were so anxious to get to the telephones.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

"The Titanic's equipment was in excess of the law," said the witness.
"It carried its clearance in the shape of a certificate from the British
Board of Trade. I might say that no vessel can leave a British port
without a certificate that it is equipped to care for human lives aboard
in case of accident. It is the law."

"Do you know of anyone, any officer or man or any official, whom you
deem could be held responsible for the accident and its attendant loss
of life?"

"Positively not. No one thought such an accident could happen. It was
undreamed of. I think it would be absurd to try to hold some individual
responsible. Every precaution was taken; that the precautions were of
no avail is a source of the deepest sorrow. But the accident was
unavoidable."

FOURTH OFFICER TESTIFIES

J. B. Boxhall, the fourth officer, was then questioned.

"Were there any drills or any inspection before the Titanic sailed?" he
was asked.

"Both," said the witness. "The men were mustered and the life-boats
lowered in the presence of the inspectors from the Board of Trade."

"How many boats were lowered?"

"Just two, sir."

"One on each side of the ship?"

"No, sir. They were both on the same side. We were lying in dock."

The witness said he did not know whether the lowering tackle ran free or
not on that occasion.

"In lowering the life-boats at the test, did the gear work
satisfactorily?"

"So far as I