The morning news., 1892-02-09
MATCHES IN TIE COTTON.

The Theories Concerning Their Discov-
cry In the Kansas City'5 Cargo.
The finding ofa number Of matches be-
tween the bales Of a cargo of cotton shipped
from Savannah last week by the Kansas
City while being transferred from Savan-
nah line lighter 10 the steamship Lepanto
for shipment for Antwerp, reportedin Sum
days New York dispatches to the MORNING
NEWS, has caused considerable talk among
cotton men here.
The work of shifting the cotton from the
lighter to the Lspanto was begun Friday
afternoon, but when only fifty bales had
been loaded a stop was put TO the work.
One of the lightermen went to the captain,
holding red sulphur friction match in his
hand.
Il found this among the bales of cotton
he said, land | can sec others down where |
can't reach them"
At the same moment other men working
in different parts of the lighter reported
that they had found matches among the
bales The captain of the Lepanto there
upon refused to receive the cotton and word
WAS sent TO Sanderson & Co. and TO the Sa-
vannah line company offices. An investi-
cation was made by r. L. Walker, agent Of
the Savannah line, and the company's em-
ployes, and by a representative of Sander
son &ssCo. The investigation showed that
the matches had been scattered among the
bales in all parts Of the lighter, which IS 30
feet long and so feet wide.
Capt. Sanderman of the lighter was ins
clined to make light of the matter. "Some
of the men who were at work unloading
had matches in their pockets, =" said he. ''and
during the work some matches dropped
among the bales"
This theory, however, was not accepted
by the Investigators, not only because the
matches were widely scattered, but also be-
cause Of the chief stevedore's testimony
He said that no stevedore was allowed to
carry matches with him on the pier, and
that the men were searched for matches
before going to work.
Sanderson & Co. refuse 10 allow the cot
ton to be loaded on the Lepanto, which
began taking in cargo Of grain. Sander
son & Co incline to the belief that the
matches were pat among tho cotton bales
| by some unknown enemies who wished 70
| iujure the company. They took the posi-
ton that there may be matches inside the
bales, and that they were justified in re-
| fusing such dangerous cargo. The indica-
tions point to litigation between Sanderson
| & Co. and the Savannah line K. l.. Walker
| of the latter company is quoted as saying:
II sent some underwriters to see about
! insuring the cotton, and they said they
would insure it If a thorough investigs tion
| WdS mduo, ulOGhtilAp SUPPOSE Ibho bue
! bales should be searched for more matches;
so l cannot see why Ssnderson & Co. should
refuse to carry it. Our contract includes
| loading the cotton on the Lepanto and we
should carry it out If allowed. One thing
is certain, we will not take back that cot
| ton."
Shearson & Co. of this city were the ship
pers Of the $50 bales by the Kansas City.
Mr.. Sheerson was out of the city yesterday
Mr.. W. deb. Kops. of the firm, statedsshat
they had shipped the cotton. l25 bales of
which were free on board cotton and 525
bales were compress ed cotton. II
is more than probable if the
matches were in the bales here
they would have been fired in the compress
| sing. From the reports. they were loose
matches, and not imbsdded in the bales,
and hence must have been either accident
ally or purposely scattered over the cotton
while on the harf or the lighter, most
likely the latter, as there is no mention OF
any matches in the whole cargo Of cotton
hut only that portion of it on the lighter
| Louisiana.
Possibly said Mr. Kops, a box of matches
NAV have been broken while the vessel was
unloading the cotton on the wharf and the
matches may have been scattered loosely
over the cotton then. at is" he said,
lone of those things that cannot be satis-
factorilY accounted for. However, the
matter is out of our hands, as the cotton has
all been drawn against, and we had forgot
ten all about it. -