Argh! This took longer to put up than I thought and man I'm in a rush! Church in the morning followed by work and I haven't been to sleep yet!
Anyway I know some of you have been really looking forward to the hearings and it's kind of fun to write about, albeit a little draining but that's okay, I think it'll get better as we go along.
I have to give a lot of credit to the Titanic Inquiry Project website for this. I did my best to follow it without totally obstructing historical facts, but at the same time not dragging the chapter on either…hope it worked!
I didn't have time to proof, hopefully I'll be able to get to it later, and I'm just too excited to start the next chapter.
Things about Sarah's mom will come out soon; I've been putting it off trying to find the perfect moment for it and another twist which will make you totally hate Cal.
Muahahahaha!
Chapter 37
A half hour later Grandfather and I left the suite and headed downstairs to the conference room where the hearings were being held. When we reached the room we joined the line that was forming to go inside and soon were at the door where one of the Senators greeted us.
"Why Jared, I didn't expect to see you here." he said as we entered.
My Grandfather turned to him, "Yes, of course I Am." he turned to me, "This is my granddaughter, Sarah; she was a passenger on the Titanic. Sarah this is Mr. William Smith, he's heading the investigation."
I shook his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"And you. Come to think of it I've seen your name before…have you been asked to give your testimony?"
"Yes, I have."
"Very good. I guess I didn't realize you were Jared's granddaughter. All the more reason to find out what happened and quickly."
"I couldn't agree with you more. Come Sarah, let's find our seats."
"It was nice to meet you, Mr. Smith." I said before Grandfather whisked me away to a cluster of chairs near the window. The room was crowded and I was having trouble maneuvering through the crowd and chairs. I moved quickly past someone in order to keep up with my Grandfather and then realized I had gotten into the way and turned to him to apologize,
"Quite alright." he replied and then winked at me.
I was so frazzled that it took me a second or two to realize that it was Harry. Grandfather, who was right next to me, looked at me and then at Harry and I could feel the tension rising between the three of us.
"Do you know this young man, Sarah?"
I peeled my eyes away from Harry and looked to Grandfather. "I uh…well yes, he was the ship's fifth officer."
"Mr. Lowe?" My Grandfather was smart and tended to know everything about everything, so I wasn't surprised that he knew Harry, but I think Harry was.
"Yes, sir, Harold Lowe."
Grandfather nodded curtly and shook the hand that Harry had offered, "Nice to meet you young man, how did you meet my granddaughter?"
I held my breath; he didn't waste anytime did he?
I looked at Harry and saw the apprehension and I could actually feel his fear inside of me, I had to do something.
"We were introduced by Captain Smith, you knew him didn't you Grandfather?"
Grandfather turned to me his eyes suddenly becoming small. "Yes, yes I did. He was a good man."
"I completely agree with you sir, benevolent and honorable." Harry spoke up.
Grandfather turned back to him, his gaze on him not as fierce, "It always gives me joy when the young have high opinions of their elders, and it shows the making of a pristine individual. Very good on you, young man."
"Thank you, sir."
"My Granddaughter and I were just about to take our seats, would you like to join us?"
I could feel my eyes nearly pop from the sockets. This couldn't be happening? The last time a man had ever dared talk to me in the presence of my grandfather he was immediately fired from the law firm in Pittsburgh that had employed him, where he was well on his way to becoming partner. What was so different about Harry? Don't get me wrong, I was beyond happy that he and Harry were actually having a civil conversation, but something about it just seemed odd to me.
I told myself I should just be happy and forget that nagging thought though and Harry and I both followed my Grandfather to a row of three chairs by the window. Grandfather was on my right and Harry on my left. It was odd being in between the two of them; Harry sat rather stiffly next to me and Grandfather was rattling on about something or the other with a man next to him. He soon got up however and excused himself for a moment to go talk to someone else. As soon as he was out of sight and earshot Harry leaned over towards me.
"That's who I've been frightened of?"
"I don't understand what happened." I said, shaking my head with confusion, "There must be something about you…"
"Well thank you." he said with that smile of his.
"Harry…"
Grandfather was coming back and Harry and I quickly parted and sat upright in our seats.
"They will be starting any moment now." he announced
And sure enough they did. The room was brought to order and everyone fell silent as Mr. Smith began to speak;
"Gentlemen, I am very sorry to have delayed beginning the hearing beyond the hour set this morning, but a conference between my colleagues and myself made it necessary. I am going to proceed this morning by asking Mr. Cottam, the Marconi operator on the Carpathia to take the witness chair again."
The man I presumed to be Mr. Cottam, took the witness chair next the table of senators, while Grandfather quickly filled me in on what had happened the day before. Both Mr. Ismay, who I didn't even know had survived and Captain Rostron, the captain of the Carpathia, had spoken. So had Mr. Marconi and Mr. Lightoller. Mr. Cottam was now continuing his testimony.
"Mr. Cottam, you detailed yesterday, when you were last interrogated by the committee, the work that you did on the Carpathia up to the time of the last message received from the Titanic." Senator Smith stated as he rose from his seat.
Mr. Cottam nodded, "Yes, sir."
"And to that message you made reply, by direction of the captain?"
He answered that he had and Senator Smith moved on, "Will you relate the captain's last message to the Titanic?"
"The captain sent a message to the effect that they were to have their lifeboats ready. We had got ours ready and were steaming as fast as we could in the direction of the position of the vessel given." he said without hesitation.
Senator Smith nodded, "Was anything further said?"
"No, sir."
"And you received no further response to that message?"
"No, sir."
Senator Smith then asked what had happened after he had arrived at the scene of the disaster, if he had been in any contact with other ships and such and Mr. Cottam told him that he had been.
"I had one or two from the Baltic, sir." he told him, and Senator Smith asked for details of the messages. I could see Harry from the corner of my eye listening carefully to what was being said and then with a quick glance to my right I could see Grandfather doing the same. I was the only female in the room and it seemed I was the only one who found the whole scene before me disconcerting.
Senator Smith wanted the truth about what had happened and I understood that, but the wounds were still open and fresh. Maybe it was a bad idea to come here, the effects of what had happened were still with me and listening to them speak of it I was reliving moments I would have much rather forgotten, but I was already here and I couldn't just walk out. So I sat there, trying my best to be as composed and impassive as the men I was surrounded by.
"I will ask you specifically whether you received any message indicating a desire or suggestion that the true state of things be kept as confidential." Senator Smith asked.
"I informed the Baltic of the whole catastrophe about half past 10 in the morning, the morning after the wreck." Mr. Cottam told him.
Senator Smith began to pace as he spoke, "At half past 10 o'clock?"
"At half past 10 o'clock."
"On Monday morning following the loss of the Titanic?"
"Yes, sir."
Over the next few minutes I did learn that the Baltic, although heading towards the direction of the where the Titanic had sunk, the Carpathia had little communication with her. Senator Smith pressed Mr. Cottam for more details about this until he was sure that he had gotten everything out that Mr. Cottam knew with a certainty. It was also mentioned that the captain of the Carpathia had originally wanted to take the survivors to Halifax, but later decided on New York. Senator Smith pressed for information about this.
"You say the captain was bound for Halifax?"
Yes, sir
How do you know?
I went and asked the captain, sir. Three or four ships around about wanted to know where we were bound for, and the captain said he was not decided, he thought he was bound for Halifax; but later on in the morning he changed his mind.
"About what time? Was it forenoon?"
"It may have been about noon."
"Did you at any time on Monday send a message to the Baltic, or to any other office, to the effect that all passengers had been saved, and that the Titanic was being towed to Halifax?"
At the mention of this my confusion became aroused. Why would the senator wish to know about something like that? I looked over at Grandfather who saw my bewilderment; he leaned over to me and spoke quietly;
'There was a rumor in the papers that the Titanic had been saved and it and the passengers were being towed to Halifax."
"What? I never heard that."
"Just listen."
I nodded and turned my attention back to Senator Smith and Mr. Cottam. Senator Smith was handed a piece of paper by another senator from the table and he held up and looked at Mr. Cottam;
"If the White Star Line sent the following telegram, dated New York, April 15 ,'J.A Hughes Huntington, W. Va. Titanic proceeding to Halifax. Passengers will probably land there Wednesday. All safe. 'They did not obtain this information from you?"
"No, sir."
Senator Smith sighed heavily, and gave the slip of paper back. He asked Mr. Cottam if there was anyway any other officer or crew member on the Carpathia could have sent the telegram and Mr. Cottam informed him that he was the only one on duty and it was that way until Mr. Bride, the wireless operator from the Titanic who I remembered meeting, had come up to help him on Wednesday afternoon. However, even then Mr. Cottam never left the vicinity of his instrument.
They then spoke of Mr. Bride, who had apparently been hurt and still managed to help Mr. Cottam, which I thought to be very admirable of him. They then discussed Mr. Cottam's actions after he had received the C.Q.D from the Titanic and how he had informed Captain Rostron. He told us how he had relayed the message to other ships and when he had last heard from the Titanic.
When Senator Smith was finally satisfied with his testimony he told him that he may step down.
Shortly after that Mr. Bride himself was called to the witness chair. He was helped by two other men while he hobbled on a pair of crutches. I could see that both of his feet had been bandaged tightly and my heart went out to him.
The first portion of his testimony was quite dull. The questions ranged from where his home was to how he knew Mr. Philips, the other operator who sadly had not survived. While the subject of his background was being discussed I allowed my composure to fall a bit and began to pull at a loose string on the sleeve of my jacket. Grandfather saw me and pretended to clear his throat to get my attention. I immediately snapped back up as he looked on at me with a disapproving gaze. I held my breath until he turned back to the scene before us and finally let it all out. I couldn't believe I had allowed myself to do that.
While I sat their chastising myself I felt Harry's hand come up next to mine and touched it softly. I smiled and allowed him to hook his pinky with mine and pull my hand down off my lap and to the side where my grandfather wouldn't be able to see and he took my hand into his and squeezed it tightly.
We kept them clasped together until Mr. Bride began to speak of Sunday. I could feel Harry's reluctance to let go, but he did and I slyly slipped my own hand back into my lap as I listened.
"There was a message delivered to the captain in the afternoon, sir, late in the afternoon, regarding…"
"Of Sunday?"
"Yes, sir."
"Go ahead."
"Regarding the ice field."
"From whom?"
"The Californian, sir."
"At what hour on Sunday?"
"It may not have been the Californian, but I can give you the call signal of the ship; it is "M. W. L." You can ascertain that later."
Senator Smith nodded and told Mr. Bride to continue.
"I received that message myself and delivered it to the captain. It stated that there were three large icebergs that the ship had just passed, and it gave their position."
My thoughts went back to that Sunday morning when Mr. Andrews had taken us to the bridge. It was such a beautiful afternoon; bright and with a clear blue sky. I could almost smell that wonderful fresh, salty air. It was as if I were back there, in that pretty blue dress. My hair was down and off to the side in a white ribbon and I had just felt Harry's hand softly touch my own as he passed by me. Captain Smith had approached me;
"So nice to see you again, Miss Wilkes."
"And you, Captain Smith."
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes, sir. Very much."
"That's wonderful."
He gave me a warm smile and then turned to Mr. Andrews. They spoke for a moment before Mr. Bride had come up to the Captain carrying a slip of paper.
"Another ice warning sir…"
I remembered the look on Rose's face; apprehension with a mixture of fear, but the captain calmly assured her that it was nothing to worry about.
"…quite normal for this time of year…"
I felt sick as those words echoed in my head. He knew, he knew what we were heading towards. And yet he kept going, as fast as he possibly could. I felt myself near tears as I thought that everything could have been avoided if only he had actually listened to the warning.
I shook my head and through my anxiety I threw my attention back towards Mr. Bride and Senator Smith and another man who had stood up a few chairs down from me who claimed to know that M. W. L was indeed the code signal for the Californian. He identified himself as an engineer for the Marconi Company named Frederick Sammis.
After that Mr. Bride went on telling the room what had happened after the accident and that the Frankfurt was the first ship to respond to the C.Q.D that Mr. Philips sent out. He said that he reported it to the Captain who was on the boat deck at the time and after he had done so he returned to Mr. Philips who then received a reply from the Carpathia, who said they had turned around and were coming a full speed towards the Titanic. He took the message to Captain Smith who was now in the wheelhouse and the captain came back to the wireless room with him and asked what other ships they had been in contact with.
Apparently when the captain had come back Mr. Philips was in contact with the Olympic and the captain estimated the distance between the Carpathia and the Titanic.
They conversed about the other ships that had responded, including the Frankfurt, the first to respond, but who never gave the Titanic her position, which Mr. Bride had confessed upset him and Mr. Philips.
Senator Smith soon ended his questioning of Mr. Bride and called Mr. Cottam back to the stand.
"Did you receive any message from the Frankfurt?" he immediately asked him.
"No, sir; none whatever."
"Do you know of any being sent from the Carpathia to the Frankfurt?"
"No, sir."
"You did not pick up any stray messages?"
"No, sir."
"All right."
He excused Mr. Cottam and asked Mr. Bride to come back to the stand. Grandfather was speaking to the gentleman next to him again and I looked over at Harry. He gave me a comforting smile and mouthed 'I love you' which made me feel normal once again. All three of us turned our attention back to Mr. Bride as he began to speak.
Senator Smith asked if it was necessary for the Frankfurt, obviously a German ship, to understand the English language is order to know what C.Q.D meant and Mr. Bride told him that no, it didn't."
"It's an international signal." he informed him.
Mr. Bride also informed the senator that Mr. Philips had judged the Frankfurt to be closer than the Carpathia given the strength in their signals. Senator Smith seemed obviously chagrined by this and went to the table to make a note to himself. He then returned to Mr. Bride
I had to give the senator credit for his questions. He was very to the point and clear and demanded to have the same kind of answers. Everyone wanted answers and he was determined to get them.
The questioning went on and on. When they began to talk about the sinking in general I could feel myself becoming uneasy and tried to block as much out as I could about it. I wasn't ready to hear any of that. I could feel Harry's eyes on me from time to time and knew that he felt for me, and I wanted nothing more than to be comforted him by him but it wasn't the time or the place.
Mr. Bride described his ordeal and his view of the sinking. He told how he had been in the water when the ship had gone under and then it was discussed how many of the bodies may have been sucked under with the ship. At that point I totally cut myself off. I couldn't think of Rose, Jack, Hannah, Charles, Captain Smith, Mr. Andrews, or anyone else being trapped in the Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic, miles away from the surface. It made me positively nauseous with grief.
Thankfully it wasn't long after that that Mr. Bride finished his testimony and a recess was announced. I began to find my normal breathing pattern as the crowd began to file out of the room. Mr. Lightoller and Mr. Boxhall who were seating nearby came up to Harry and began to speak with him, while Grandfather got up to go speak with the other senators.
"I'll be right back, Sarah."
I nodded and relaxed in my chair. I peeled my gloves off of my hands and wrung them tightly in my hands trying to fight the sickness that was inside of me and the anguish that just wouldn't go away. I shouldn't have agreed to this, I should have stayed with Nan, safe and away from anything having to do with Titanic. I wished I had never set foot on that ship. I hated it, I hated everything about it. Then my voice of reason caught up with me and forced me to turn towards Harry.
He threw me a sideways smile as he spoke to Mr. Boxhall and I knew that if Titanic hadn't been in my life, then Harry wouldn't have been either. With everything going as well as it was I knew I shouldn't be tempting fate by wishing such things. Grandfather hadn't reacted to Harry the way I thought he would even if he didn't know the way we felt about one another. Of course he would come to know in time, but for now it was pleasing just to see the two of them exchange friendly words towards one another.
Grandfather returned and helped me up from my chair and we said good-bye to Harry before leaving the room and heading back upstairs to Nan's suite.