New-York tribune., 1909-01-27
FREE FLORIDA OF BLAME
ITALIANS SIDE OF CRASH,
Line Mag Be Liable for 81 ,0@0, 900,
1t Is SAID.

Inauirers about the Florida Of ths Loyd-ttaliano
Line were referred yesterday by the agents OF 'he
line, c. B. Richard g. CO., to Wallace, butier az
Brown their counsel. and back again. and finally
a statement was given out asserting that the flot-
ida was not 10 blame No was allowed TO see
Captain Raspini any of his officers, ana no
statement whatever was made by him, according
to Mr. Richard. Archibald Thacher. or the Iesat
firm though several were attributed to him.
The piec was strictly guarded yesterday AND the
men of the Florids, who at work on her. were
not allowed give any information or to leave the
pier.
Sailors all over the city who have seen the bat
tered and smashed Florida have nothing except
praise for Captain Ruspinrs skill and nerve in
bringing her to port, and say that he would nave
saved every soul the Republic even without the
aid OF the Baltic They that he and his offcers
lived up to the finest and best traditions OF ths
The official statement given out at the offices OF
c. B. Richard 81 Co follows:
The circumstances Of the collision between the
Republic and the Florida were as follows: :. .
some hours before the collision, and a dense f9g
had been proceeding at moderate speed. blowing
her fog whistle frequently
M The Sa2a and an S chief 9oes sn% %ePe m
was at the wheel and the lookout was doubled on
The Florida was proceeding slowly, when the fog
proved to be the Repu5itc were heard by the Of
fcers and lOokouts Of the Florida of the star
The engines Of the Florida were reversed and
two signals OF three whistles each were blown, In
dicatng that the engines were going Asternt the
collision nevertheless took place the bow or the
somewhat aft Of amidships, causing serious dam
to both steamers
When the Republic became visible In the fog shS
was crossing the bow of the Florida from star
board TO port and running at high rate OF speed
The helm. of the Florida promptly put 10 star
board hoping 10 swing the bow of the italian
danger OF collision The other steamer was. hoa--
ever. running fast that the vessels collided.
It afterward ascertsined that the steamer
which coilided with the Florida was the Republic,
OF the White Star Line.
The collision occurred some distance southeast
OF Nantucket I4ghtship about 5:45 a. m. Saturday.
January %, 1903
The statements which have appeared I'm some of
the papers the effect that there any IuslIr-
derstanding of orders the bridge OF the Florida
not true. The orders given by the captain were
whose head was bandaged turned IN. asleep:
at the time OF the collision, not on duty. ana
was therefore, not the quarterDaster at the wheel
No criticism whatever is made by the captain
crew OF the Florida The captain and officers are
satisfied that every did his duty, There is no
foundation whatever for the story that any member
of the struck or reprimanded by the cap
tain any of the officers.
After the collision occurred and after the Florida
had ascertaned the extent Of her own Injuries she
rendered such assistance as lay In her power 10
the Republic and her passengers.
Should the admiralty courts hold that the Of
ncers OF the Florida at fault her owners will
be liable for Sl020ooO the value OF the Italian
steamer her passenger fares and cargo charges
This was explained by counsel for the line. The
italian line is a stock company with q capital
stock Of s40OO.O0O Nearly all the stockholders and
officers in Italy.