New-York tribune., 1900-07-02

companys expense II they desired. Some who
were not injured will sail the Kaiser Wilhelm
der Crosse tomorrow. and the injured will be
sent away as soon as they are we'll enough to
make he voyage.
Despite the magnitude OF the disaster which
has befalieI the North German Lloyd Line, Mr.
Schwah is not overwhelmed by it, but will send
out the Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse tomorrow
from Pier No. - North River, at 10 a. M. and
will keep UP the regular schedule of sailing He
viii also make provision to-day to take care OF
the incoming passengers who will arrive on
ships Of this line this week. and the work of re-
building the burned piers and warehouses will
he started without delay. Mr.. Schwab asked
if the fire would result in the company seeking
pier in this city, but he declined to discuss
that point Mr.. Schwab spoke warmly of the
generous action OF the Cunard people, and also
wished the thanks of his company conveyed to
all VINO had helped gave life or property from
the flames
THE DEMANDS FOR SALVAGE.
Being asked if he expected large claims for
salvage to he filed against the Kaiser Wilhelm
der Crosse by those tugboat captains who helped
pull her out into the river away from the burn
ing piers, Mr.. Schwab said he did not look for
very large demands If the claims made proved
reasonable the company would entertain them
but 4 eXOrbitant claims preferred the
courts would have to settle them. Mr. Schwab
acknowledged that the ship had steam up
ana was powerless to get away from the pier
unaided. and that she had nearly all her cargo
board. From other sources it learned
that the tugboat owners are thinking of making
claims which in the aggregate will approximate
S2500Oo None Of them could he seen at their
offices yesterday Captain Bradley, of the United
States revenue cutter Calumet, in discussing the
question Of salvage, said:
1t is aH for the courts to decide. The North
German Lloyd Company cannot have known all
the tugs that were helping to get its property
out of danger. The steamers will have to be
iibeled. Every boat that had line on the
ships poured water on them will be entitled
70 something. Each will be sure to put in
large enough bill, but it is not customary to
give large percentage Of the saved ship for
salvage. I have not heard of a giving
80 Per cent Of the value ef the property, and
such q high rate would only he granted after
days of work. Here the tughoats spent only
few hours. For pumping water out of ship
and doing things like that the courts usually
allow $50 hour. I should not be surprised if
each towboat should value its services at 81 900,
and if there were two hundred of them, it is
said. there would then be a charge of 100000;
hut whether that is just bill the courts must
decide"
Mr. Schwab was asked If it were not false
economy TO let the fires go out in the ships
furnaces while in port, but he said all the trans
atlantic lines did it. and to keep them up would
seriously interfere with making needed repairs
to the machinery. and also with the loading of
the ships. He was also asked if the portfolios
could not be made large that persons might
crawl through them at a PINCH and he said TO
make them larger would dangerously impair
the strength of the ship.
Mr. Schwab spoke highly Of the generous offer
made by John w. Maekay. Of the Commercial
Cable Company, who sent word that all cable
messages from surviyeFERto their friends and
relatives in Europe telifngsof their safety would
be sent free. Nc messages came to the company
from abroad from relatives Of any of the crew.
and this attributed TO the fact that news
spreads slowly in Europe outside the great
cities, especially on Sunday. A couple of hun
dred persons however, presented themselves in
front Of the North German Lloyds offices in the
Bowling Green Building, but the doors were
kept closed and no information was given out
20 them. A brother -in@faE Of Captain Mirow, of
the Saale. called up Mr.. schwab on the telephone
10 know if the report Of the captains death was
true. He was told that body burned TO a crisp
had been identified as that of Mirow, and then
he rung off without giving his name or address.
Mr. Schwab says the captain leaves widow
in Germany He had been twenty years in the
employ Of the company
STILL IGNORANT OF IT'S ORIGIN
OF the origin of the FIRE Mr. Schwab said he
still ignorant. but he wished to deny the
report that there was any turpentine or spirits
the pier with the cotton He acknowledged
that there some oil but said it Of high
test and difficult 70 ignite. Mr.. Schwab also
denied report that the Saale and the Main
had been engaged by the German Government
for transport duty. This report. It was said
vas started by J. H. Kennedy. an electrician, of
No p Manhattan-ave who had worked on the
Saale for the last two weeks installing new cleo
trio apparatus. He told OF a conversation he
had had with Captain Mlrow as to the future
use of the ships. Kennedy left the Saae
Saturday morning, having completed the work
and pronounced her electric apparatus safe.
He said Captain Mrow had told him day OF
two before that both the Saale and the Main had
been sold TO the German Government in the last
week. the German Government intending to use
them for transports in the event of serious
trouble in China Kennedy said there were
about seven thousand barrels Of oil aboard the
vessel. and this may account for the explosions
heard by the firemen He added that up to the
time he had left the ship there were no passen-
gers aboard her. The vessels were to be turned
over to the German Government after this char
tered trip. according TO The statement made by
Captain Mrow 10 Kennedy.
Mr.. Schwab said il was true the Kaiser in
tended to send troops 10 China in ships Of the
North German Lloyd but not in the Main or
the Ssale.
BUSY AT THE OFFICE
Accompanied by the dock superintendent, Mr.
Muller, and the freight manager Mr.. Boner.