Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-03

The Gallia's Captain Unwilling to Strain
Point for the TIM bria.

The Gal1ia's Captain Unwilling to Strain =
Point for the Umbria.
As telegraphed to TIE STAB yesterday Capt.
Ferguson Of the Gallia refused to explain why
be didn't stand by the Umbria when re-
quested.
Acting Second Officer Mills, however, was not
disposed to be 30 reticent. Mr.. Mills holds .
captains certificate. "How was it you didn't
stand by the Umbria as she requested" asked
the correspondent
How could we? No mail steamship is al
lowed to make such delay. We were carrying .
large mail and we could only delay where the
saving of life Was concerned. The Umbria did
not want US to take any Of her passengers on.
She only wanted US to stand by.
DID NOT REGARD HER IN pASoER.
ave did not consider the lives Of the pas
sengers on the Umbria in danger. She aoated
buoyantly and the only thing We could do was
to take her in tow to the nearest port That
was Halifax Such a course ~ this would
necessitste great delay to the large mail on
board. which could not submit to.
Ibid YOU not read the Umbria's signal when
you announced you could not stand by in con-
sequence OF carrying the mails2"
Eyes. but what could We do under the cir
cumstances2 | don't know what she will hold
us responsible for. We felt certain the Umbria
was perfectly safe. She stated herself that
next morning her machinery would be sufh-
ciently repaired so she could steam alone.
again. we could see for ourselves that she
was right in the track Of steamers. On Decem-
Der % at 80 p. m. we sighted German steam
ship bound west. We spoke her and re-
quested her TO bear down on the disabled Um-
bria, giving her at the came time the position
of the Umbrs. Next day we sighted a North
German-Lloyd steamer bound west, and as she
also was travelling in the path Of the Umbria nc
doubt twas left on our mind Is to our company's
ships safety"
WOULD HAVE BROKEN nCLEs.
Some of the crew were interviewed. They
said the weather was bad at the time Of sight
ing the Umbria and heavy seas prevailed, bu
the disabled ship looked light and bouyant
1--WE stopped by her for about two hours ant
theu left her, RI We we're carrying the mails,
said another officer. ave agree with Mr.. Mills il
saying that we would have violated rules II w
delayed for any other object than to save life.
! The log of the Gallia has only the followin,
meager entry: Doth, 240 pm. latitude AZ
/ longitude 1924. spoke the Umbria Reporte'
machinery disabled"
The passengers seemed to think nothin
! about the affair. They had very little to say
as they did not understand the signaling goin
| on between the two ships. Only two saloo
passengers disembarked at Queenstown. On
was Miss Thompson. living in Kingstown, nea
! Dublin. She said: .'Whcn we sighted th
| Cmbria she had her sea anchors out. Ate
leaving heard the captain of the Gallia say b
could not stand by tho Umbria because he WI
carrying the mails and did not dare delay
would be against his orders to do so, he sait
He would only delay where life was concerned
also heard it said on the ship that the Gallia
supply Of coal would not warrant her in takin
the Cmbria in tow. If she did so the fu
would run short