Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18

leaving Southampton to impair the speed OF
this ship. The delay has been only such rs
might have been reasonably expected from
the crippled condition OF It's boilers. Provi.
dence. Indeed, has been exceedingly kind &c
us, and we are truly grateful that, through
His tender mercles, we have thus far beer
spared a calamity too horrible to contem-
plate.
the recklessness OF n management that
would send such a crippled vessel, loaded
with human freight. to contend with the
storms and perils Of an Atlantic winter.
We believe that our lives have been put IN
Jeopardy and certainly our loved ones at
home are being made to suffer great men
tai anguish, not 70 mention the severe
financial losses many Of US have incurred
and are now mourning.
Make Request of Captain.
Fifth-That on the evening Of January 5,
1903, the following petition was presented
the ~stesmpship ST. Louis: 'SThe unders
signed passengers Of the steamer st. Louis.
bound for New York, hereby request that
In view OF the crippled condition Of this
steamship and the consequent uncertainty
Of the date Of its reaching that port YOU
hail some fast westbound steamer for the
purpose of transferring us thereto, or that
the boat be put into Halifax II feasible. -
That in reply Captain Passow explained
the difficulties and danger attending the
transfer OF passengers at sea and further
stated that II would be an exceedingly
dangerous undertaking to attempt TO take
the ship in Its. present. condition into the
harbor of Halifax. He volunteered the
information that ne might later on enter
Boston harbor and had the question then
under advisement.
sixth-That II is a matter Of keen regret
that a hrst-class steamship, such as St
Louis is reported to be, should not be sup
piled with the Marconi system, the absence
Of which has been seriously felt during
his ever 70 be remembered voyage.
S~eventh-That the thanks al the pas
sengers are due TO the officers of the ship
for their uniform courtesy under these
very, trying circumstances In e~ndeavoring
to allay our uneasiness and excitement.
The committee consisted Of A. P. Lloyd,
Louis B.. Bernaei, Rev. Arthur Crane, c. W.
Bonynge and Ralph Nichol.
The report OF this committee was unani-
mously approved and resolutions we're
adopted condemning the action Of the man
agement Of the line, as outlined in the
committees report.
second Cabin Also Complains.
The second cabin passengers also framed
resolutions, the gist OF their protest being
in the subioining paragraph:
'It was plain from the daily runs of the
ship that something was radically wrong
with the boat at the outset. Inquiry ellie
tied the information that the boilers were
in a defective condition, and proof can be
adduced that this was not only known to
the company, but that passengers were
willfully deceived and representations were
made that the voyage would be finished in
the usual time"
This circular OF protest was signed by r.
Willard of Chicago, as chairman, Gordon
Graham, DR.. e. ]. Fernandez, Miss Florence
NJ. Abbott and about twelve or fifteen 9TH
ers Of the second cabin passengers.
The American lin gave out the following
statement later in the day:
unl,o 5rIovad arrgvo1 80 CO 7 oufd uvaa
caused by leaving Cherbourg late and by
extremely bad weather. There was moth
ing in the known condition of the boilers
that would have prevented the vessel from
reaching here after a normal passage. The
marked loss of steaming power could not
have been foreseen. Even in the light Of
our present knowledge there is nothing
that in any way affects the perfect safety OF
the ship. The management much regrets
the inconvenience caused the passengers
and the anxiety caused their friends.
Statements of Passengers.
Victor S. Allen Of Stamford, Conn, one
Of the first class passengers, said:
81 was in Paris and heard that st. Louis
had arrived at Southampton with its boil
ers In a leaky and defective condition. ]
went to the agent of the line in Paris and
told him Of the reports, and told him also
tina / had booked a passage on the ship
and wanted to know the exact truth. He
said: Those reports are malicious lies On
this representation l came over on the
ship. l had an option on $500 900 of stock
which option expired on January 10. l dc
not know yet what my losses were, but
shall certainly sue the management of the
line for the full amount OF my losses"
Nu.- ~ Tho nNIffgI
arm said:
1.-THE trouble was with the front boilers
Only two out OF the ten were in use, ant
sometimes only one. The American lint
agent in London told me that ST. Loui
would make the passage from Southampton
to New York in nine days. I am hrml!
convinced he knew at the time of the de
fectivs condition of the boilers"
Food supply f. Curtailed.
After the first week the food supply wa
appreciably cut down, according to tn
statements Of passengers and crew. Egg
were taken from the breakfast menu an,
only a small allowance Of milk was givel
to each passenger.
From subordinate officers on the ship
was learned that the diet Of the crew 70
the past week consisted solely Of oatmea
and potatoes. After about a week the run
ming water supply was cut of and. passen
gers could get water for toilet only &
buckets. as It was brought TO them by tn
stewards.
John Phillips. the chief engineer Of 81
Louis, said:
81 had no notice that there was anything
wrong with the boilers until we were tw
days out from CherboJrg."
Captain Bassow said;
1--WE have Just logged along and did no
have a great deal Of trouble. We coul
not make fast time and that was all.
did not know that the passengers haI
passed any resolutions. l did not know
that I was called upon and that l explains
It would be impossible for me to transfe
them to any other vessel. / know Of n
resolutions and did not know that any ha
been drawn up until l was told of them Il
Mr.. Griscom's ONCE"
When the captain was questioned as I
the boilers he said that the management o
the line would nave TO speak on that sub
ject. He said that, OF course. it was wei
known on board that the vessel was TO b.
laid up for repairs after Its arrival here.
Inquiry in Great Britain.
Copyright, 1903. by Press Publishing Co,
LONDON, Jan. 17.-(New York World Ca
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