New-York tribune., 1909-01-29
SUIT AGAINST FLORIDA
WHITE STAR FILES LIBEL.
italian Line Asks Limitation Of
Ia Li0biIitu-Accident an Detail.

|
| striction Of liability. The papers say lhaI tlo
| Florida and the Republic came together at o:4o
| m. Saturday. in fog on Nantucket ana 'lia'
| the collision du5 entirely 10 the iaul' 0h 'iie
| officers of the Republic.
| The 1oss oY tba eoujpnent of the Republic the
| vessel itself supplies and freight and passage
| money is placed by the Oceanic steam NavAEauoh @
| COMPANY the owners Of the Republic. at $4,000"
and cargo and personal effects OF the master,
officers, passengers and crew are placed al e'''''
| more.
| The Lloyd-Itaiano in its petition said 1t expected
| to have to defend claims aggregatng more IMAM
a million dollars and asked for the limitation OF
| liability on the ground that the damage NaAuo Vi
| the Florida did not $4,000 The amount
yet to be paid freight is $4,000, and the passage
| money is about $4,000. Therefore. they ask the
| court to the aggregate amount OF the haoiiity
| at a not exceeding S24.On
II would appear that the Loyd-Italiano Is not
| in position to bring cross suit They nave no
vessel to libel as the Republic is under water
| Under maritime law libel can lie only against
| the vessel which did the damage
II still adhere to the belief said c. b. Richard
| of the agents for the line, that the Florida was
not 10 blame Wa will fight any action brought
by the White Star Line to the end"
In q statement issued later he told how captain
| RUspni had boarded the Republic three quarters
of after the collision and found her to be
| badly damaged. Three hours later, having already
taken off the passengers and some steyards. Cap
tain Ruspni, he said offered TO take off the master
| Captain Seaby refused to leave the vessel as he
| in wireless communication with La Lorraine
the Baltic. which he expected alongside In apout
hours spite of threatening weather and fall
| ing barometer, the statements says, the floIlud
| stayed alongside the Republic until a. m SUNDAY
when the freroom gang, the stewards and the snip
papers taken on board from the White star
| steamship The barometer continuing TO fall ule
Florida then got under way, the Baltic coming up
a few minutes later. The rest Of the statement Is
| concerned with the transshipment Of passengers
| from the Florida TO the Baltic
This offer (to take board the passengers was
| accepted by Captain Ruspin." says the statement
and. with the assistance OF four boats FROM the
| Republic and four from the Florida, the transfer
begun. The Republics women passengers went
first, then the women from the Florida after which
came the Republics male passengers, whereupon
word came from Captain Ransom that il the weather
turned worse he would take no more passengers but
| proceed TO New York once. In fear that this
threat might be carried out and the remaining
sengers thrown into panic, two more boats from
| the Florida were lowered quickly to expedite the
| transfer, which finally completed at a. m"
On the ground that the petition for Limitation Of
| liability had been filed ahead of the libel Of the
White Star Line, the italian line got order in
the afternoon staying all suits for damages against
| the Florida. The company gave bond covering the
! $4,000 involved in freight and passage money
The libel Is really the first official statement OF the
conditions just preceding the accident issued by
! line On the morning Of the 23d, II says the Re
| public was on course s 81 degrees E. true. The
engines under reduced speed and under
stand by orders. Fog signals blown. After
| o'clock the master, second and third officers
| Quartermaster and seaman the bridge
with two lookOuts IN the crows nest "all Of whom
were vigiantly attending their duties" The docu-
| ment continues:
| @ ABOUT 5:45 a m signal Of one whistle was
sne ts oST Sn 'h RGTt 6o
| astern' were given TO the engine room and ths
helm was ported; These orders were at once
| whistles was given: shortly afterward there was
loom Of a number Of bright lights. apparently from
a iargc vessel (which proved to be the Florida.
Florida vas bearing down on the Republic at high
aRged blow ainidshps In the Effort to escape sbe
blow the master put the engines OF the Republic
speed, apparently swinging under starboard helm
public. penetrating into the engine room. The col
lison occurred AZ about $50 a. in latitude 401-
| Shoals Light Vessel.
The collision according TO the Sth Article OF the
| libel was wholly due the faults OF the Flor
| ida, In that she did not keep proper course; did
| not keep out OF the way OF the Republic whose
course she crossing; had no sufficient lookout
! and did not give proper whistles or signals; did
not give proper heed the whistles or lights 81
| the Republic; failed by her whistles to Indicate
! her changes Of helm: proceeding at an immod-
crate rate of speed did stop her engines IN
| first hearing the Republics whistle: did not sea
sonably take steps TO avoid the Republic: did not
seasona bly, slow, stop back did not port her
| helm but instead starboarded her helm thereby
thwarting all efforts of the Republic avoid her;
| and in other faults and negIects which will he
! shown the trial hereof
! Resolutions were adopted yesterday by the board
/ OF managers of the New York Produce Exchange
| deporing the loss of property occasioned by the
collision but expressing admiration for the splendid
! seamanship and courage shown by the officers and
crew of both the Florida and Republic The Mar
conf system was also praised being Of great
value in such catastrophes
| Up at the American Seamen's Friend Societ,-s
| headquarters. in West street, they were as busy
as bees yesterday looking after the crew Of tle
wrecked Republic Thanks to the generosity q,
many who had responded to the appeals of the So
| ciety, clothes OF all kinds had been provided Tor
the destitute seamen that their voy4ge back 70
| Liverpool, which will begin the Baltic to-mor-
| row, might be made in comfort
| Most OF the men need full suits of clothes and
| outfits While the society has not been able 70
| provide ell the men with complete outfits Il has
| given full suits to many, and shoes and under
| clothes to all who need them. Working clothes
overals and jerseys have also been provided for
most Of the men, and none will have go back TO
! Liverpool in complete destitution
! The privileges Of the institution were extended to
all the men yesterday, and they seemed TO enjoy
the pool and billiard tables and the reading rooms
| Free baths were also allowed, and stamps we're
provided for all the letters they wished to write
There may be concert there tonight by some Of
the stewards compliment the institution.
The officers and crew of the Republic were enter
tanned last night at two of the Shubert theatres
At the Casino the officers and Jack Binns occu-
| pied the boxes, and number Of the sailors were
seated In the balcony. The house was decorated
with British and American flags The rugged sea
men thoroughly enjoyed Eddie" Foys antics An
other group gathered in the Ma estc Theatre where
| Three Twins is the bill Miss Mccoy and Clifton
Crawford made special efforts please their guests
and were rewarded with sincere applause The
| visitors delighted wit tha