New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-28
FINANCE HOLDS 100000
LOCKED IN PURSER'S SAFE.
HeoUy Sea Balks York of Wreckers
on Sunken Ship.

A futile attempt was made yesterday TO raise the
Panama liner Finance which rammed and sunk
in the Main Ship Channel on Thursday oy the
White Star liner Georgia. The east vino when
responsible for the four-day fog blanket, the
cause the wreck. suddenly shifted 10 the west
and the day broke clear and cold Several wreck
ing tugs Of the Merritt-Chapman Wrecklng Coih-
pany. which were on hand soon after the coIhSoii
on Thursday and remained by the Finance throuEh-
ont the night began work early yesterday morning
with force Of sxty-fve men, including two divers
who examined the steamers hull
The west wind kicked up heavy sea. and by the
time the wreckers had settled down to work II was
apparent that the weather was too severe 10 permit
the preliminary work Of salvage
Captain lfowbray, who has slept only few hours
Stree his vessel sent to the bottom. was Win
the wreckers He knows every inch OF the steamer
and will be of invaluable assistance in getting her
onos+ II the task Is possble The wrecking COM
many has hopes Of saving the Finance, and so nave
the officials Of line, but 1t is the opinion OF
many shipping that the vessel VIII be total
loss.
gone down near this city in many years. Locked
UP in the pursers safe in the submerged steamer Is
500 900 in specie which was being shipped TO the
sthmus TO pay off employees OF the Canal zone
one Of the wreckers, who returned TO the city
yesterday. said the money in the safe would De
one of the first things hauled out If the work
OF saving the Finance herself was abandoned
The specie is safe aboard the sunken steamer
he seid. ''as If Il were in bank.
Divers succeeded yesterday in taking out Twelve
sacks of the Finances big mail consignment
These with the six sacks saved on Thursday were
taken 10 the General Postof1ce and dried. Inc
addresses on many letters were leg1ble, ana the
letters will be sent 10 their various destinations on
the Advance to-day. Small pastors on which was
printed an explanation of the damaged condltloh VI
the mail put the letters
After the extent of the damage to the steamers
hull is learned extra divers will be sent down 10
4t,o n nun ms
will be started The Finance had large cargo
and was loaded well down TO her water line The
wind from the west increased last night, and un-
less the weather moderates to-day the wreckers
will have another idle day.
The choppy running off the Hook yesterday
bounded against the superstructure, and II Is
feared that deck fittings will be loosened and car
ried away L the wind increases Had the Finance
sunk north of the Narrows she would be protected
from the swell of the open and stand a better
chance of being saved
The Finance as she lies submerged is worth
$4,000 to the line. Her cargo IS valued at about
$4,000 Only six Of the 763 mail sacks taken aboard
when she left port Monday have been recov-
cred
Edward A Drake vice-president and general
manager Of the Panama Railroad Steamship Line,
spent of his time yesterday in looking out
for the welfare Of the Finances passengers. 1t
was due to his untiring efforts. maintained from
the he heard Of the collision Thursday,
after they landed from the George, which brought
them up 20 the city. Mr.. Drake said yesterday
that Captain Mowbray's conduct throughout the
trying situation heroic.
Mr.. Drake said that substitute for the cargo
of food supplies and refrigerated meats that were
consigned 70 the Canal Zone on the Finance would
be rushed 10 the isthmus from New Orleans, and
tina. as little inconvenience as possible would be
caused the isthmus by the loss OF the Finances
cargo
Captain Ira Harris. supervising inspector of
steamboats,, said yesterday that every accident
within its Jurisdiction involving loss of life
investigated by the steamboat inspection service
investigation of the collision between the Finance
and the George would be held. Late in the after
noon just the officers Of the local steamboat
inspection service were leaving their offices in the
Custom House, Captain Mowbray handed in his
formal report Of the accident. too
fer the report be considered until to-day, and
it was filed away. The investigation will have
10 wait for the return of John c Crone, inspector
of boilers who with Captain Henry NJ. seeley
local inspector of steamboats, viii sit board of
inquiry. MI Crone will be back Monday
The investigation may be delayed also until the
Finance has been raised and put in drydock if this
is deemed feasible that the of the
damage may be determined.
II the opinion OF experts yesterday that If
Captain Clarke did not put The Georges helm TO
port as he signalled he would do Just before the
vessels came together he should bear the blame
day night that if the Finance had gone straight
ahead. instead of stopping and reversing, when the
signals had been exchanged the accident would
rot have occurred.
John Lee and P. a. c. Franklin. vice presidents
of the International Mercantile Marine. held a
ference with regard TO the collision at the White
Star Offices in the morning, Captain Clarke and
other officers Of the Georgia being present Later
Mr.. Lee and Vice President Drake. of the Panama
Line met ana talked the collision, but the
result Of the meeting not given
The George Will sail for England Tuesday
ccrding to schedule. as her damage is slight Over
there whatever repairs needed will be made
To her dented bow. and If the English authorities
see fit investigation will be made into Captain
Clarkes share in the collision.
At noon few score relatives and friends of the
passengers who had been the Finance and
now on the Alliance which lies in the middle Of
the North River off 36th street. visited the Panama
Line pier at 9th street and taken alongside
a New York Central barge They took out
with them clothing and dainties for the survivors.
on the same barge the steamship company setlt
extra consignment of provisions and cloth
ing The company in the morning commissioned
two big department stores TO provide necessary
clothing for the eigity-two passengers rescued.
Some Of the passengers. who expressed the desire,
landed at the pier in their temporary gar
ments and driven In closed cabs to the stores TO
pick out what they wanted.
Some fifty of the passengers will start for Girls
tcbal to-day on the Royal Mail steamship Orinoco.
which viii leave her pier at Christopher street
and North River at o'clock this afternoon
TRADE WARS IN THE FAR EAST.