The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
BRITISH INSURANCE
AGENTS ARRIVE.
Will Keep Mum Until
They Have Probed In
to Complex Situation
PATIENCE ADVISED

OAKLAND. July 14.-Anxious hold
ers of matured fire policies in the Com
mercfal Union Assurance of London. the
Alliance Assurance of London. the Pal
atjne Insurance Company of London and
the Commercial Union Fire Insurance
Company of New York, all earth
quake clause" corporations. will have
to exercise their patience for week
or ten days more before they will know
whether they are to receive something
or nothing on their policies or whether
the concerns viii offer to compromise
with the claimants-at least. so says
CI +. Mullins. Pacific Coast manager fGr
the companies named.
E. Roger Owen, representing the
Commercial Union Assurance Company
and the Palatine Insurance Company,
with Douglas Owen of the Alliance
Assurance Company. arrived here to-
night from England, hut were not, ac-
cording to Manager Mullins. prepared
"a give out any definite statement as 20
what position their respective eonapa-
MES were to take with regard to set
Ting their San Francisco liabilities ul-
'Sil they had thoroughly eanvassed the
situation and made known their find
ings and recommendations to the horne
Offices. Speaking for the foreign insur-
ance men, Mana ger Mullins saida
Il notified the gentlemen by wire
when they arrived III New lork to be
very careful and not give out any in
terviews to the press until they had
Sc EN- me and we had discussed all of the
circumstances attending the earthquake
and fire destruction In San Francisco
and the positions that our compnnics
have assumed since the catastrophe.
Until the London representatives OF the
companies and myself have gone over
the situation thoroughly nothing DEF
mite will be announced. / feel sure
that within ten DAYS the patient and
impatient public will know exactly
where my companies stand and wha;
shev will be ready and willing to 40 by
their policy holders who sustained fire
losses in San Francisco.
The gentlemen from England did
not arrive here prepared to give out
definitely what the companies are ready
to do. They do not know themselves
and cannot be in a position to judge
what should be done until they have
had time to investigate the chaotic sit
uation brought about by the San Fran
cisco disaster. Tomorrow / shall take
them on fishing or an automobile
trip and give them chance to re-
cupcrate from their journey across the
Continent, SO that they will be ready
to start or Monday TO perform the task
that is before them. I trust that the
policy holders win continue to exercise
their patience a-few days more. as their
claims will not be endangered by await
ing the final action or the representa-
tives from the home Offices
The Commercial Union Fire Insur-
ance Company of New York is con-
rrelled by the interests tha. direct the
affairs OF the Commercial Union Assur-
anee of London. and it Is expected that
the course pursued by the English
firms in settling with their San Fran
cisco liabilities viii be followed by the
American company.
Henry Abelf of the Norwich Union
of London Is one of the representatives
of the Palatine, Alliance and CONNER
cial Union Insurance Company. The
Norwich Union has a policy that con-
tains the Earthquake clause and thus
far has not paid any of its San Fran
cisco liabilities.
In insurance circles 1t is being whis-
pered that the representatives of the
English earthquake companies VIII
probably offer a compromise to their
San Francisco liabilities somewhat
after the manner that the Rhine and
Moselle is now doing.