He denied himself some glory by saying he had no stated hours for labor on the Carpathia. Previous witnesses had testified he was not “on duty” when he received the Titanic’s signal for help. UNCERTAIN AS TO THE KIND OF WORK. He was decidedly uncertain whether he was required to work at night, finally saying it depended on whether he had commercial or ship’s business to get off. “What were you doing last Sunday evening about 10 o’clock?” asked Senator Smith. “Receiving news from Cape Cod,” said Cottam. He said he had also been “sending a lot of messages for the Titanic.” “Had you closed your station for the night?” “No.” “What do you do when you close your station?” “Switch the storage battery out,” said Cottam. “Does that prevent receiving or sending messages?” the Senator continued. “No.” “Does it lessen the likelihood of your getting a signal of any kind?” “No, not in the least,” Cottam replied. “You say the Carpathia wireless instruments would send a message about 250 miles with accuracy?” “Yes, sir.” “Was there any thunder or lightning Sunday night?” “No, it was clear.” “Well, how did you happen to catch the Titanic message of distress?” “I was looking out for a confirmation by the steamer Parisian of a previous message from the Parisian--a message that came some time in the afternoon.” “Did you hear the captain of the Carpathia testify here today?” “No.” “He said you were about to retire and caught this Titanic distress message rather providentially?” “Yes, sir.” “How far had you got along in your arrangement to retire? Had you taken off your clothes?” “Yes, my coat.” “Did you have any instruments then?” “Yes, the telephones were on my head. I was waiting for the Parisian’s answer. I had just called it.” “How long would you have waited?” “Several minutes.” “Would you have retired pretty soon, you think?” “Yes.” “Well, when you got the distress message from the Titanic Sunday night, how did you get it?” “I called the Titanic myself, sir.” SENDING MESSAGES TO THE TITANIC. “Who told you to call the Titanic?” “No one, sir. I did it of my own free will. I asked the Titanic operator if he was aware that Cape Cod had been sending messages for the Titanic.” “What was the answer?” “‘Come at once’ was the message, sir,” said Cottam. “Was that all of it?” “No, the operator said, I think, ‘come at once--this is a distress message. C. Q. D.’” Cottam testified. When word of the Titanic’s distress was received, Operator Cottam said he immediately sent them the position of the Carpathia and added that they would hurry to the rescue. “Get any reply to that?” asked Senator Smith. “Yes, sir; immediately. They acknowledged receipt of it.”