The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08
CLAIMS FOR SALVAGE.
Aftermath of the Recent Hoboken
Fire Disaster.


NEW YORK, July 7.-salvage Is reward
TO which people are entitled when they
voluntarily lend aid in saving property
from destruction by pirates. enemies. or
the clements. These elements may lie
wind, fire. or high sea, or any one OF a
number OF other things. but most OF the
cases in which salvage Is sought occur
upon the water, where the Hrited States
courts takes jurisdiction and dets rhine the
amount to be paid.
A fine example Of combination OF fire
and water In salvage case is found in the
recent Hoboken disaster.
When vessels meet extremity in har-
Dor, as did these North German Lloyd lin
ers. it becomes an easy thing for tugbcats
to rush to their assistance and claim SAL
age afterward. 1t costs nothing or We y
little. to ask for salvage money, and any
little boat that has a garden-hose can iirt
drop CT two Of water on a great liner
afire and claim $1,000 reward when the fire
is out.
A reporter who was going about on tug
boat during the progress of Saturdays fire
asked the tugboat captain what he ard
his fellows found to repay them for hang
ing about the big vessels without being
hired. Oh" said the seaman. every one
of 'em II claim salvage for the Whole value
OF the ship. They'll make piles OF money
today
In few days the claims were filed-the
ships were libeled. as the underwriters
say-and every tug captain asked several
times the amount he thought the company
would pay. AS was apparent at the time
of the fire, most of the tugs had gone at
once to the Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse;
first, because she was the largest and
most valuable ship. and. second, because
she was in least danger of having her val
ue destroyed by fire. The Main, which was
doomed to almost total destruction. lay
untouched by the salvage seeking cap
tains.
There are several things that the judge
has to consider when he thinks of award
ing the salvage, and 1t will be readily seen
that these are the safeguards provided for
the underwriters who have to pay. First.
he must consider in how great danger the
property was The rescuing party is quite
in the excitement OF the moment
and under the smoke of battle. Of making
a "grandstand" play and exciting greater
belief in the narrowness Of the escape than
is called for. Again. the judge must con-
slider what the capacity OF the rescuer for
sistance the rescuer was. Then, in the
last place, the final condition of the res
cued vessel as whole must be taken into
account and the division of salvage made |
'n the basis Of services rendered.
That the tugs which assisted at Satur-
lays fire will get all or even a large part !
If the value of the Kaiser Wilhelm and |
Ter sister vessels is not to be supposed for /
| moment. Salvage is not awarded on any |
'egular percentage basis, and rarely great
y exceeds 80 per cent OF the final value of |
ne rescued property. sea captain find |
rs bale Of cotton afoat. or towing in a /
.erelict from mid-ocean. would scarcely |
*! ect to receive more than half its value /
n salvage. Only in exceptional cases. az 1
when mail steamer running on schedule /
lime. turns aside to help laundering ves- |
'el, does the reward exceed that figure.
The claims Of the tug captains inside a |
larbor always fall below the face value Of !
he libel, as is illustrated by another in
stance in this harbor. Fire broke out In a |
oaded vessel. and attracted the aid Of |
hirty-two different boats. Finally. the |
Ire boats sunk her CT Governors Island |
rhe owner. ship broker, desired to raise |
Ter. and so went to the United States mar |
halls office and asked IL he might give |
'ond for his vessel to cover the salvage |
laims. The marshal figured on the value
no dskeu SlVo,VVo LOT the snip ana VI, 200 |
or the cargo. which was far too much, /
specially in the damaged state. The own
r refused to give bonds. Later, when the |,
MARSHAL wearied Of having the vessel on /
is hands. he allowed the owner to bond |
ar out for So. 900 and 1880
Each OF the thirty-two tug captains had |
ibeled the ship for sum equaling $4,000,
nd in some cases amounting to 5000. |
he case was carefully considered and
ettlement made for $500. Those who
ad asked for $1,000 received something
Ike S2G0. The owner then raised HIS ship
nd had her rebuilt
Salvage, like insurance. where ship Is
Insured, is paid by the underwriters.
Walker on Admiralty" Is considered an
1t says: Right to salvage de-
ends on the saving of the property: but
he rate and amount Of salvage depend
pom the amount of the property. proba-
ility of loss. the amount Of peril to the
roperty. the value of the service to the
x:er of the property, and the personal
oil, loss of time. daring. and danger of
ne salver. The high order Of merit. in
pecuniary estimate. is the safe bringing
of property entirely abandoned and lost
the owner-dereiict. For such service
,urts tave sometimes awarded seven
ghths for salvage. and II is usual to give
alf'