Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-04
A VERY STRONG STATEMENT.

A Rumor That the south Fork Club Was
Buying Clalms-An OGicial Talks-Those
Who Suffered May Give Up Hope OF
Redress.
Rumors of all kinds have been rife about the
South Fork Fishing Club since the new chrono-
logical reckoning came in vogue, In other
words since the Johnstown food One more
came fitting in yesterday. in the shape OF a re-
port that q well-known literary gentleman was
in Sang Hollow or Johnstown, as an emissary OF
the South Fork Club. engaged In the dencate
business of settling sufferers claims for dam
ages against the club for such nominal sums as
force of circumstances would admit The fact
was ascertained that the gentleman in question
really was on the spot as represented, and,
armed with this piece Of information, an
official of the club was seen and placed in pos
session of the somewhat intangible rumor.
''Now. really" said the official, this Is the
most absurd story which has yet originated as
a sequence to the food. 1t is SO absurd as to
be really brilliant The gentleman in question
is certainly in Johnstown, for l met MIN tnere
that he is in EO way, shape or manner connect
ed with or representing the club In any capac-
ity whatsoever.
such a move is positively out of the question.
If the club was SO foolish as to pay % bill TO
any individual in settlement OF either real or
fancied damages, it would simply be acknowl-
edging a legal liability which does and cannot
exist, according to the statutory law OF this
commonwealth. Our solicitor recently obliged
The DISPATCH with most accurate and dis
cursive idea of the legal status Of the matter,
and it Is not necessary for me to go over that
ground again. We expect suits for damages
brought against us upon the general ground
that It is easy to sue for damages We shall
make a stiff fight. a matter of course, In
order to settle once and for all the financial re-
sponsibility for the damage. We have the best
legal advice in the Commonwealth on our side
of the case, and have no fears as to its out
come"
But over and beyond the question of re-
sponsibility for damages, suppose-suppose-
that judgment was obtained, how could II be
collected and upon what property could judg-
ment creditor levy The club is utterly bank
rupt its property ruined and swept away. 1t
still has some land out of which Quit-claim
deeds were given on small detached pieces in
order to enable individuals to erect individual
cottages. On not one of these has the club the
slightest lien.
1T may not be generally known. but Just
prior 10 the disaster the club placed q mort
gage Of $50 900 upon its entire property in order
to put in progress certain improvements. 1t
makes no difference who the holders of the
mortgage are. They simply hold a prior claim
upon the property, which would be good in any
court
II am not speaking defantly of those ruined
by the disaster. nor has the club ever taken a
boastful or defiant attitude in regard to the
losers by the food will simply say that those
who hope to recover damages from the South
Fork Fishing Club might as well abandon all
hope, for we do not believe that the club will
ever pay ont dollar upon any claim for dam
ages of any nature"