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"Wavescan" is a weekly program for long distance radio hobbyists produced by Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, Coordinator of International Relations for Adventist World Radio. AWR carries the program over many of its stations (including shortwave). Adrian Peterson is a highly regarded DXer and radio historian, and often includes features on radio history in his program. We are reproducing those features below, with Dr. Peterson's permission and assistance.


Wavescan N540, June 30, 2019

Titanic Events: The Mystery of the Overlooked Marconigrams

At least two Marconigrams, signed and dated, throw a different light on the story of the famed David Sarnoff and his heroic participation in the wireless events associated with the tragic loss of the world's largest passenger liner, the White Star RMS Titanic, back in April 1912.

Information from the contents of these two Marconigrams has been quoted and requoted by historians and researchers, with little reference to who sent them, and where they were sent from, and when they were sent. It is a mystery as to why this important aspect of information has been so long overlooked; or, if we can invent a new word, why this important information has been so long underlooked.

For those who may not know, there is an urban legend that 21 year old David Sarnoff stayed on the telegraph at the Wanamaker New York Store for three days straight, getting the first details of the Titanic sinking and relaying information to newspapers and frantic family members. As horrific as the tragedy was, it nevertheless proved the value of wireless transmissions, and the alleged heroism of the young David Sarnoff made his career. In 1930 he ended up becoming the president of RCA, the Radio Corporation of America. But let's look at the facts.

On each occasion when a message was transmitted in Morse Code from a Marconi commercial wireless station, a paper copy was made out so that financial charges could be processed appropriately. A multitude of these paper copies, Marconigrams as they were known in official Marconi speak, have survived from the crowded wireless events of what we might call Titanic Week.

One of these Marconigrams is dated Tuesday, April 16 (1912), and it was sent by David Sarnoff at Wanamaker, Philadelphia to Wanamaker, New York, 100 miles distant. This Philadelphia Marconigram was signed in ink in a rather large scrawl by David Sarnoff himself. In the midst of the flashing wireless signals in the Atlantic coastal areas of North America, Sarnoff was in Philadelphia and NOT in New York like he subsequently claimed.

Another Marconigram is also dated on that same Tuesday, April 16, and it was sent by Operator Hughes from the same Wanamaker, Philadelphia to the same Wanamaker, New York, and it was signed in ink by Hughes himself. Obviously Operator Hughes was also in Philadelphia at this time, and NOT in New York as was subsequently claimed on his behalf.

It would appear then that Sarnoff and Hughes were both at wireless station WHE in Wanamaker, Philadelphia, and Jack Binns and another (perhaps Operator Elenschneider) were both at wireless station WHI in Wanamaker, New York, in anticipation of the official inauguration of these two Marconi stations by Guglielmo Marconi himself. But instead, the Titanic events intervened and overwhelmed the international wireless scene back at that time. Available evidence would suggest that Sarnoff remained at station WHE in Philadelphia throughout all of the events of what we might call Titanic Week.



A Summary of the Radio-Related Events of Titanic Week

1912 Early

After a lengthy period of time, work was completed on the two Marconi wireless stations, HE in the Wanamaker store in Philadelphia and HI in the Wanamaker store in New York City. Although no official opening ceremony had yet been staged, the two stations were already on the air for public demonstration and for inter-company business.

These two stations, it was claimed, were the highest powered wireless stations in the world. It is probable that these two Wanamaker spark transmitters were rated at 5 kW. Station NAV at Arlington in Virginia and station FBO at Brant Rock in Massachusetts were both rated at 100 kW; and a score or more in different countries were rated at around 20 kW.

As far as the Wanamaker family were concerned, their huge store in Philadelphia was considered to be their primary store, and their huge double store in New York City was considered to be a very important second store. However, as time went by the situation regarding their wireless stations was reversed; New York became primary (mainly because it was on the coast), and Philadelphia became secondary (mainly because it was somewhat inland).

Because Marconi (the man) was planning a visit to the United States, the Marconi company in New York planned for an official opening ceremony for stations HE and HI during his time on this side of the Atlantic.

1912 Early April

At this stage, Guglielmo Marconi had already arrived in the United States from England on a routine business visit to his subsidiary company in New York. Available evidence would suggest that the American Marconi company was planning the official opening ceremony sometime around when the Titanic tragedy occurred, perhaps even over what me might call Titanic weekend. However, as circumstances turned out, the planned Marconi events were overshadowed by the magnitude of the Titanic tragedy.

Yes, David Sarnoff checked out the wireless installation at Wanamaker, New York before he went over to the wireless installation at Wanamaker, Philadelphia, 100 miles distant.

The newly appointed Jack Binns (another highly appreciated wireless hero) began service as Station Manager at Wanamaker, New York-WHI, right immediately before Titanic Weekend.

1912 Sunday, April 14

At 9:20 pm, the Titanic station MGY was in a lengthy series of routine communications with Cape Race station MCE-Newfoundland. David Sarnoff was not in New York, and he was not active on the air at (now) WHE at Wanamaker, Philadelphia; this station was off the air. The Wanamaker stores were closed on Sunday nights.

At 9:50 pm, the Titanic in the north Atlantic struck an iceberg. At 10:25 pm, the Titanic-MGY sent out its first distress signal CQD, in International Morse Code. This signal was heard by Cape Race-MCE, Cape Cod-MCC, the French ship La Provence-MLP, the Canadian ship Mount Temple-MLQ, and other stations also. The ether began to buzz with Morse Code signals, though many of these signals did not travel very far.

1912 Monday, April 15

The Titanic sank at 12:30 am. Morning newspapers across North America carried various stories about the Titanic tragedy. Wireless stations hither and yon tapped out Morse Code messages, both factual and rumored. David Sarnoff in Philadelphia must have gained at least some information about the Titanic during the morning; by hearsay, by newspaper, and by wireless. The Carpathia-MPA rescued 700 Titanic survivors, and then began the return voyage back to New York. Evening newspapers throughout North America carried information that the Titanic had sunk.

1912 Tuesday, April 16

At 2:18 am, Wanamaker, Philadelphia-WHE received a wireless message from the Carpathia-MPA via the Olympic-MKC, confirming the Titanic tragedy. This was the first real confirmation that the Titanic had sunk, David Sarnoff stated in a Marconigram.

During the day, David Sarnoff at Wanamaker, Philadelphia-WHE sent this same information in a Marconigram to Captain Jordan at Wanamaker, New York-WHI. David Sarnoff signed this Philadelphia Marconigram in ink; obviously he was NOT in New York at this time, he was 100 miles away in Philadelphia, though obviously he was at the wireless.

In addition, Operator Hughes at Wanamaker, Philadelphia-WHE, who was also listening to the Morse Code traffic, sent a Marconigram to the same Captain Jordan at Wanamaker, New York-WHI, informing him of the survivor information that was obtained from the Carpathia-MPA. Operator Hughes was in Philadelphia and he too signed his Marconigram in ink. He was NOT in Wanamaker, New York as is often claimed on his behalf.

The Carpathia-MPA continued on its return journey back to New York, at the same time transmitting survivor information from its low power transmitter. As many messages as possible were relayed by other ships to shore-based wireless stations in North America.

1912 Wednesday, April 17

The Carpathia-MPA continued on its return journey back to New York, at the same time transmitting survivor information from its low power transmitter. As many messages as possible were relayed to shore-based wireless stations in North America. Two navy vessels, Chester-NDG and Salem-NRZ, were sent out to escort the Carpathia, and the Chester-NDG relayed much of the survivor information that it obtained by wireless from the nearby Carpathia.

The tug boat Mary Scully was sent out from Newport in the morning with a low power mobile wireless transmitter aboard in an endeavor to obtain quick information from the Carpathia for the Hearst newspapers. The Operator was Jack Binns, the newly-appointed Station Manager from WHI-Wanamaker, New York, and the temporary callsign was appropriately JB.

At 4:34 pm, Marconi himself (the man) in New York sent out a Morse Code message to all Marconi stations requiring all stations to remain silent, except for Cape Cod-MCC, Siasconset-MSC, Sagaponack-MSK, and Seagate-MSE. The allegedly high powered Wanamaker stations were included in the list of stations he ordered off the air. Did David Sarnoff then leave Philadelphia and travel the 100 miles (by train?) to Seagate-MSE in New York? Not likely.

At 8:28 pm, another tug boat, the Salutation, with another low power temporary mobile transmitter aboard (callsign K) was sent out to meet the Carpathia.

1912 Thursday, April 18

At 9:30 pm, 30,000 people met the Carpathia-MPA on its arrival at Pier 54, near 14th Street, New York.

If the above information is correct, then we must draw the uncharitable conclusion that David Sarnoff was NOT in New York at all during the time of the Titanic disaster, but instead he was in 100 mile distant Philadelphia during the entirety of Titanic Week. Yes, he spent a day or two at the wireless station WHE in Wanamaker, Philadelphia, but the rest of the heroism story is just as realistic as are Aesop's famous Fables or the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The only way to verify the actual part played by David Sarnoff back then is to obtain an accurate history of the Wanamaker Stores, and to search thoroughly all of the Marconigrams that were sent to and from the two Wanamaker Stores during Titanic Week.