The Portland daily press., 1899-03-31
NEARING TRIAL.
Portland Steamship Company's Peii.
ton for Limitation Of Liability.
1T WAS RETURNABLE YESTERDAY
INU. s. DISTRICT COURT.

swcr All Interrogations by April H.
Claimants To Give Security by May
Ist-Proclamation Ordered For An
Persons To Make Answers--Attor-
ney c. p. Mattocks Files .Interroga-
tions--AdditfonaI Claims For Losses.
The matter of the petition of the Pert
land Steamship company, owners Of
steamer Portland, for limitation of
liability for loss of persons and property
came up Thursday morning in the United
States District court before Judge Webb.
MIR. Benjamin Thompson represented the
company anil Mr.. Samuel l.. Bates ap-
peared for six claimants, Nathan Cohen,
Alonzo ID. Moran, Nancy Proctor, Fanny
c. Bonner, John j. Roche and Michael
O'Conpell.
The monition citing all claimants to APP
pear before United States Commissioner
Bradley and make proof CT their respective
claims was read by the judge and careful
ly compared " it'll the copies which were
printed in certain Portland andi Boston
papers the service of monition according
to the order of the court being thus ex-
amined and veritled.
United States Commissioner Bradley
then submitted his preliminary report
which included 55 claims on account of
loss of persons and property only about
two or three of which were made on be-
half of seamen. The remainder were for
the loss OF passengers and the toiallclaims
aggregated $500, 916. so.
AS there was no property to be dis
tributed and as the question Of liability
had yet to be passed on the commissioner
was directed to make u later report II he
| SAW tit or If so ordered by the court.
An order was then made directing the
| libellants to answer all Undergraduates
propounded in the answer of any claimant
by noon of the 18th day of April on
which day the judge said he would en-
deayor to assign IA time for hearing. The
clerk OF the court was directed to send
note to the trcstee asking him on or be-
fore the 18th of April to make report of
what has come to his hands.
Judge Webb then said that he had been
notified that motion had been made for
security of costs for respondents in this
libel Il don't know VINO the respond
ents are, or on whoss behalf any claims
ara made" continued Judge Webb.
Commissioner Bradley then explained
that the claims were brought for loss of
life and property in most instances by
passengers but some were in behalf of lost
seamen.
Judge Webb remarked that he did not
feel disposed to impose any hardships on
the families of seamen whose means
might be somewhat limited and ordered
that all claimants tiling answers TO the
libel who were themselves members of the
crew or represent demands in behalf of
mem bers Of the crew of the steamer Port
land to give security CT costs in the sum
of SIS each and that all other respondents
and claimants give security OF costs in
the sum of So by the first day of May
next at two o'clock in the afternoon.
On suggestion of Mr.. Benjamin
Thompson proclamation was ordered
for ali persons to come in and make
answers or ever after their claims would
be barred.
ATTORNEY MATTOCKS FILES IN
TERROGATORIES.
Attorney c. p Mattocks representing
two claimants filed interrogatories in sub
stance as follows:
Were any of the pilots and mates absent
at the time of sailingg
What was the company's custom, prior
to the loss of the Portland, as to receiving
and acting upon Information from the
weather bureau?
HAD the reports OF lne WehlAer bureau
bsen generally reliable and satisfactory
What report was received from the
weather bureau November 20, 1898, and
what action was taken in connection
herewith.
Mas any change made that day in re-
gard to the hour of startfngs
What authority did the company's
managing agent in Boston have as to
debating the time OF sailing In threaten
ing weather. What was the authority Of
J. +. Liscomb of Portland In that re
gard?
Where was c. +. Williams of Boston
from till p. IN. on November 20. and
what communication from the weather
bureau, or the Portland Office, or j. r.
LiscomD was received by Williams?
What COMMUNICATIONS passed between
Captain Biachard of the steamer Portland
and the Boston or Portland office, or be
/ y cen him and Williams or Liscomb?
What pilot licenses were held by any OF
the officers or acting crew!
Who were acting as fist and second
mates at tie tiMe of the loss of the
steamer?
What attempts have been made by the
company TO locate the wreck?
What bulkheads did the steamer have?
What was the construction OF the Port
lands steering apr aratus and when was
IL last repaired?
Upon what ground does the company
stats in its petition the belief that the
Portland was lost from collision with an
other vessel?
What was the capacity of the Portland's
engines and boilsIs2
What difficulty was ever experienced