The San Francisco call., 1906-07-11
Instead Of Money, Agents
Of Rhine and MoseIle
Bring a Charity Offer
COMPANY DENIES
ALL LIABILITY
POlicy-HOlders Refuse the
Donation and Decide
to Fight for Rights

The Rhine and Moselle Fire Insur-
anoe Company of strassburg. owing
s3.s7o,0oO TO its policy holders in this
city, has refused TO pay one cent Of
Its San Francisco losses. 1t has offered
instead 10 give a charitable contribu-
ton TO its body Of assured.
} Two German representatives Of the
Rhine and Moselle-Otto Amman and
Robert Mathes-whO came from the
home Office at Strassburg. made this
proposition to Attorney c. c. Boyn-
ton yesterday. Boynton represents the
organized policy holders and he went
over the insurance situation with these
two representatives from Germany.
Amman and Mathes did not state the
amount Of charity money the Rhine
and MOselle was willing to contribute.
Both men stood firm to their declara-
tion that the Rhine and Moselle would
not pay one cent Of its losses and
would take the fight TO the courts II
necessary. They said that the charity
3 money would be divided equally among
the assured IL the company decided
finally TO make the donation
Boynton hastened to the meeting Of
the organized policy holders at Gil La
guna street and told them the aston
o ishing offer made by Amman and
Mathes. The polfcy-holders, of course,
decided 10 fight They did not want q
charitable contribution. They declared
that in their belief the Rhine and Mo-
selle was not protected by its earth
quake policy and they wanted the
money due them on their policies. They
elected J. L Graf president of their
organization and BoynLpn secretary.
They chose the following committee to
meet with the German representatives
of the Rhine and Moselle and get from
them a final statement Of their posi-
tion. W. J. Pattiesen, J. Hertzog, S.
Clement. J. Hoppe and r. Refa. An
other meeting viii be held on Friday.
LETTER FROM HOME OFFICE.
It also came to light that the home
Office Of the Rhine and Moselle has
officially denied its liability on its San
Francisco losses. declaring that the
earthquake clause in its policies alb
solves II. The Rhine and Moselle,
along with the other German com
panies, has been refusing TO either
deny or affirm its liability, waiting
evidently. for the decision by Judge
Morrow in the case OF P. F. Bergen
against the Palatine Insurance Com
pany OF Hamburg. Bergen has at
tackled the earthquake clause OF the
Palatine. a clause almost identical with
those Of the other German companies.
All Of the insurance companies are
awaiting the decision in this case with
anxiety.
Mrs. J. ". OLeary of 1917 Clay
street wrote to her brother in Germany
and asked him TO take her loss direct
70 the head officials Of the Rhine and
MoseIe. IN acknowledging the letter
OF Mrs O'Leary's brother the Rhine
and Moselle refused to pay and pointed
10 line % Of its conditions on the backs
Of its policies. This line is the earth
quake clause. The letter is as follows:
Strassburg. Germany. June "a. 1906
Dear Sir: We acknowledge the receipt
OF d note with your letter heading
dated 2lst May. 1906. notice Of loss for
Mrs. ". J. O'Leary Of read the name
right in regard TO policy No. 1883
We shall forward the notice TO our
general agents in San Francisco
We beg 70 state that Mrs. O'Leary
should also give direct notice TO them
and call your special attention TO the
condition Of which on line 2S excludes
all fire loss caused directly or indirect
ly by earthquake.
The address Of our general agents at
San Francisco is Messrs. Syz q Co, SOS
California street. Respectfully, etc,
RHINE AND MOSELLE FIRE INSUR-
ANCE COMPANY.
ASK FOR STATEMENT.
The directors Of the organized pol
fcv-hoIders OF the Transatlantic Fire
Insurance Company of Hamburg, Ger
many. will demand that the represent
atives OF that company give them
statement Of its assets and Liabilities
and a clear idea Of the attitude of the
company toward the payment Of its
san Francisco losses. They ask that
this information be placed in their
hands by next Monday afternoon, when
they meet again for deliberation at the
Office Of Attorney Walter h Iinforth.
In case the information is not forth
coming the policy-holders will prob
ably be incorporated and an immediate
action begun.
The letter requesting the informa-
tion will be sent 70 the representatives
Of the Transatlantic this morning.
The directors Of the organized pol
icv-holders OF the Transatlantic decid-
ed yesterday to await until Monday
for the answer from the company. 1t
has never published complete state
rent Of its assets and liabilities. The
directors represent about $2,00o,0o0 in
losses.