The Washington herald., 1909-01-29

New York, Jan. &-The Oceanic
Steam Navigation Company. Limited,
which owns the steamship Republic, sunk
last Saturday of Nantucket SfOais
lightship in collision with the Italian
steamship Florida, fled a libel against
the latter vessel this afternoon in the ad-
miralty branch Of the United States
District Court.
Damages in the sum OF 100000 are
asked for the loss Of the ship, her equip
ment. stores. supplies. and freight. and
passage money, all Of an estimated value
Of 81. .50500e. and for the loss Of the cargo
and personal effects OF the master,
officers. crew. and passengers, OF an esti-
mated value Of S5O0OOe.
The owners Of the Florida, the Lloyd
Italiano Societa dl Navigazione. however.
stole march on the owners OF the Re
public BY fling beforehand, in the ssma
court, a libel and petition against the
Florida for limitation OF the vessels
liability. and then securing a restraining
order from Judge Adams, staying all
other proceedings azainst the Florida
growing out OF her collision with the Re
public This restraining affects, at least
temporarily, the libel hied by the Oceanic
Steam Navigation Company. Limited.
Says Florida Not 10 Blame.
The libel and petition fled by the ItaI-
ian corporation tells OF the collision. and
OF how it occurred, and states that Il hap
pened without any fault on the part OF
the Florida or those navigating her, but
was solely due to the faults Of the Re
public and her officers. which faults are
enumerated under several heads. II is
alleged principally that the Republic was
going at an excessive rate OF speed
that she did not sound sufficient or prop
er fog signals; that she did not main
tain a proper and sufficient lookout: that
those n charge OF her negligently failed
TO hear. or II they did hear. Gid not heed
the fog blasts OF the Florida. and. finally.
that the engines Of the Republic were
not stopped. but that thereafter she was
navigated without proper caution
The petition apprehends thai there
win be claims asserted against the Flor
ida and her owners IN an amount ex-
ceeding SI.000OO0. and that various pas
sengers on the Republic who have lost
personal property OF sustained injuries
viii make claims. added TO the claims
OF N, representatives Of those who lost
their lives in the collision. aggregating
several hundred thosand dollars, and also
that the owners Of the cargo wiz assert 9
Ike claim.
There viii also be alleged. says the
petition. salvage claims on behalf Of
the tugs here which assisted TIE Florida
70 her dock The damage value Of the
vessel. the petition continues. does not
exceed Sa0o01o. the freight amounts 20
only a.Go0 and the passage money 70
s.. COO more. making an aggregate amount
OF S23s.090 which represents the owners
interest in the Florida Not being re-
sponsible IN any way for the collision.
the petitioner claims the benefit Of the
limitation Of liability as provided for n
sections 42S3. E2S4. and 42s5 OF me Revised
Statutes Of the United States.
Marshal Seizes Steamer.
The court IS asked 10 direct the seizure
and attachment OF the vessel by the
marshal. and this was done this after
noon by United States Marshal HenckeL
The court IS also asked TO appoint g
trustee 10 take charge OF the Florida.
and also a commissioner TO take the
/ proof OF claims
In the libel fled by the owners OF
the Republic 1t is stated that the fault
I OF the collision lies wholly with the
Florida, IN that she did not keep a proper
course. that she did not keep out OF the
course OF the Republic. whose bows she
was crossing; that she did not have q
proper lookout. and did not give proper
signals OF whistles; that she did not
give proper heed 10 whistles Of the Re
public; that she failed by whistles &c
indicate the changes Of helm; that she
was proceeding AT lmmoderste speed
and did not stop her engines on first
hearing the Republics whistles, and that
she did not port her helm. but instead
sfarboarded il, thereby thwarting all the
efforts OF the Republic TO avoid her.