Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18
Damages VIII he Demanded for Delay
which Cost Many Heavy Losses
Food Supplies Cut Down
All Around.

they learned OF the poor progress the YES
sci was making and an indignation meet
Ing was held, at which the line was Sc
Verely censured for permitting passengers
to embark on a steamer in a condition Of
st. Louis
A statement was drawn up and given to
the public on arrival here today by a COM
mtttee chosen to set forth the grievances
Of those on board.
After the vessel was sighted of Man
tucket last night good time was made to
New York and II reached the pier some
hours ahead Of the time set last night. A
large crowd gathered at the pier and
cheered as the ship came in with its load
OF human beings, for whose safety grave
fears had been entertained for several days.
The tugs having gathered around st.
Louis, the ship was SLOWLY brought to the
dock and when II came within speaking dis
lance the excitement on the pier was in
tense. 1t did not take long for the FIRST
and second cabin passengers to cross the
gang planks and as they got beyond the
rope enclosure hey were gathered to the
arms Of their waiting relatives.
Each little group provided a scene, the
women in most cases weeping in their Joy.
Many Of the irst-class passengers de-
clared their intention to enter suit against
the company and their cases were placed
in the hands of lawyers.
When the passengers started ashore a
quartermaster was placed on guard at every
gang plank. with orders from the dock su-
perintendent not to allow anyone to go on
board and none OF the ships officers were
allowed to com ashore.
Lawyers Are Retained.
The passengers freely expressed their
feelings at the delay. A. Bartlett Lloyd Of
Boston was one of the signers of the first
cabin passengers resolutions. He said:
THE speeches made at the Indignation
meeting we're much more fiery in tone and
much more bitter against the management
OF the company than the resolutions show.
We attempted to make the resolutions as
dispassionate as possible.
There was no pleasure or gaiety aboard.
Everyone was as depressed and angry as
men and women could be. Suspicion began
from the moment that we left Southampton.
When 1t first began to be rumored about
the ship that the boilers we're defective
and leaky we sought information from the
officers and steward, but could learn moth
ing. Our fears were either laughed at or
jocularly evasive answers made.
"But when the officers saw we were In
deadly earnest and would not be denied,
they changed their attitude and told us
| promptly what we wanted to know, or told
US they knew nothing about the cause Of
the delay.
"All the frst-class passengers have put
their cases into the hands OF myself and
Mr.. Bernei as their lawyers and author
/ lied US to make such claims against the
company as we see At and endeavor to
collect damages"
The Hamburg-American line steamship
Pennsylvania, from Hamburg, which ar
rived in this port this morning, reported
that on January is, in latitude 1875, longi-
tude 1920. II fell in with st. Louis, pro-
ceeding very slowly. Pennsylvania steamed
close to ct. Louis and asked the diflculty.
The officers OF st. Louis reported that its
boilers were leaking and sent a boat along
side Pennsylvania in charge of the first
oficer with letters from the passengers.
LeaIky Boilers the
The first ofhcer reported that st. Louis
boilers were leaking so badly that the
ship could only steam five knots per hour
In fine weather. They had on board eight
days provisions and water and all were
In good health. The steamer required nc
assistance. ...t
The marine station at Sandy Hook dis
played a signal for the word Welcome
as the overdue steampship came In and
st. Louis replied Thank you" No other
signals were displayed by the ship as II
passed Sandy Hook.
st. Louis left Cherbourg January 4 al
1:06 a. m. and arrived at Sandy Hook
lightship at 6:s4 this morning. making the
passage in thirteen days. Ave hours and
twenty minutes, an average speed of s.7I
knots. Its days runs were S41. 2ss. 332.5
312, 200, 1865, 125. 100, 1873, 1913, 225, 1885,
and 279.5; total distance, 3,O43 knots.
The first three days st. Louis made
fairly good progress for it's ability in the
prevailing weather, which was rough anc
squally, with high cross seas. The speed
then became so slow that the passengers
began to discuss It and between the rough
stormy weather and the ships inability tC
make speed they became so indignant that
meetings were held.
Want ships Course Changed.
On January 9 the steamships boilers COM
menced to leak badly and continued to dc
so until yesterday. st. Louis encountered
unusually stormy weather throughout. On
January IL and IL it blew a gale from west
northwest to northwest. accompanied by
violent squalls and snowstorms. On These
p" NSsS ~ snip AN6eNN SAAS 80 ~ 4oA
knots.
On January 10. when the saloon passen-
gers learned Of the extent Of the accident
TO the steamers boilers and engines, they
held an indignation meeting in the smoking
room and adopted resolutions censuring thC
International Navigation company for send.
ing st. Louis to sea in its dangerous con.
dition.
A copy Of the resolutions was handed t.
Captain Passow, demanding that the ships
course be headed for Halifax or that tn,
passengers be transferred to some passing
fast westbound steamer.
Passengers Adopt ResOIutiOns.
A copy OF these resolutions also was or
dered TO be sent to the Associated Press
The resolutions follow:
STEAMSHIP ST. LOUIS, AT SEA, Jan
r. l93.-To the Passengers Of the Steam
ship 81. Louis: The undersigned COMMITTEES
unanimously elected by the salon pas
eengers at an indignation mass meeting
held January II, 1903. begs leave to report
Ftrst-That there Is satisfactory eYidenc
that the steamship 81. Louis entered South
-..N.