Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-28
italian Liner Blamed for COL
|ision With Republic.
$4,000, 900 DAMAGES ASKED
Charged With Not Keeping Proper
Course and Other Derelictions.
GOING AT 1MMoDERATE SPEED
Praise for Officers and Crews of Re-
public and Baltic Officially Rec
ognized by Employers.

NEW YORK. January 2s.-Counsel
for the Oceanic Steam Navigation
Company. owners of the White Star
line steamer Republic, today filed libel
in the United States district court against
the steamer Florida of the Lloyd-Itaiano
line, which ran down and sank the Repub-
lie off Nantucket lightship.
Damages amounting to 81. 800. coo for the
loss of the ship and 100000 for the loss
Of cargo and effects, of the passengers and
crew were claimed.
1t was asserted in the libel that the col
lision was due to no fault on the part Of
Capt. Sealby Of the Republic. but wholly
to the faults of the Florida, which. it was
alleged, did not keep proper course had
no sufficient lookout. did not give proper
the Republic; that the Florida failed to in
dictate her changes of helm; that she was
proceeding at an immoderate speed, and
did not stop or back her engines.
Florida Speeded to Crash.
The assertion was made that when the
officers of the Republic first heard the
whistles Of the Florida in the fog the Re-
public's engines were run full speed astern
and that her helm was put aport Short
ly afterward the Florida appeared broad
at high speed and threatening to strike
the Republic a right angle blow amid
ships.
''In the effort to escape the blow" de-
clares the libel, the master put the en-
gines of the Republic ahead, but the
Florida came on at high rate of speed,
apparently swinging under starboaro
helm. and crashed head on into the port
side of the Republic, penetrating into the
engine ROOM
How Collision Occurred.
1t was also asserted that at the time
of the collision the Republic was running
at reduced speed; that the captain. two
officers. a quartermaster and a seaman
were on the bridge, with two lookouts In
the crows nest.
The Florida's bow. it is declared, struck
the Republic nearly a square blow and
made a narrow vertical cut, extending
below the water line. starting the bulk
heads. The top of the Florida's bow
wrecked the cabins along the saloon and
promenade decks. and killed two pas
sengers and injured others.
The Republics bulkhead doris were
closed and the ship began to settle.
The court was asked to condemn the
Florida and order the payment of
s., O0O, 600 damages to the owners Of the
Republic.
The italian company also will file g
libel developing every phase of its charges
concerning the navigation of the Repub-
lie.
Ohicials Of the Lloyd-Italiano line will
not discuss the accident, but state that
it will cost $4,000 to repair the damage
to the Florida.
Recognition of the skill and bravery Of
the officers and crews Of the steamers
Republic and Baltic is made by the direc-
tors Of the White Star line In the follow
ing statement:
1.-The board of directors of the Interna-
tional Mercantile Marine Company. at a
meeting held Tuesday. having been ad-
vised of the disaster of the White Star
line steamer Republic. which resulted in
her total loss, and having been Informed
by the executive officers Of the company
of the consummate skill and matchless
bravery displayed by the officers and
crews of the Republic and Baltic in rescu-
ing from imminent danger under excep-
tionally adverse circumstances every i'm
periled passenger. deem it eminently fit
to place on record an expression of their
admiration of the valiant services render
ed and undaunted spirit shown by the
officers and crews of the Republic and
Baltic in the face of extreme peril
1.-THE board directed the secretary 10
forward to the officers and crews of the
steamers Republic and Baltic copy of
this minute.