The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-02-05
HEAVY DAMAGES FOR
Big LINERS LOSS
The Republics Owners Want Two
Milton Dollars.
PUT BLAME ON THE FLORIDA
Libel Suit Grows Out Of the Sensation
al Wreck Of the White Star Line
Boat Last Saturday Each Captain
Shifts the Blame, Claiming He Was
Running ct Moderate Speed.

Running at Moderate Speed.
New York tSpec:al) The Oceanic
Steam Navigation Company, which
owns the steamship Republic, sunk
of Nantucket Shoals lightship in COLI
lision with the italian steamship
Florida, filed libel against the lat
ter vessel in the admiralty branch
of the United States District Court
Damages in the sum of $4,000, 600
are demanded for the loss of the
ship, her equipment, stores, of an
estimated value of 81, 100000, and
for the loss of the cargo and personal
effects of the master. officers, crew
and passengers of an estimated value
of supplies freight and passage mon
ey, all of 100000.
The owners of the Florida, the
Lloyd Italiano Societe Di Naviga-
Zone, stole march on the owners
of the Republic by filing before hand
in the same court a libel and petition
against the Florida for limitation of
the vessels liability and then secur-
ing restraining order from Judge
Adams staying all proceedings
against the Florida growing out of
her collision with the Republic. This
restraining affects at least temper
arily the libel fled by the Oceanic
Steam Navigation Company.
The libel and petition filed by the
Italian corporation says that the
Florida is 5,118 tons gross, and g.
2S1 tons net, register; 381 feet in
length, and 48 feet beam. She is
registered in Naples and sailed from
that port for New York January 10
with 824 Storage, and IA cabin, pass
sengers, besides cargo consisting
principally Of maearoni All went
well until the collision with the Re-
public on the morning OF January %.
There was q dense fog at the time,
and the florida was proceeding slow
ly, blowing her fog whistles at fire.
Quent intervals.
The captain and chief officer were
on the bridge, a competent quarter
master was at the wheel and look
outs, which had been doubled on ac-
count of the fog, were properly sta
toned. Fog blasts were being given
every minute and q half, says the
libel and in return the fog whistles
of the Republic were head some
where off the starboard bow" The
Florida's engines were Immediately
reversed and two signals of three
whistles each were blown to indi-
cate that her engines were going
astern. When the Republic was first
seen she was crossing the Florida's
bow from starboard to port and the
latter boats helm was promptly port
ed with the intention of swinging her
how to starboard to avoid collision
If possible. The Italians bow struck
the Republic on the port side some
what aft of amidships.
After the collision, the libel con
tinues5 the~speed OFFS the Republic
carried her out of sight in the fog.
After patching up her damage as
much as possible, the Florida started
on search for the other boat.
The libel then states that the col
lision occurred without any fault on
the part of the Florida or those nav
igating her, but was solely due to the
faults of the Republic and her of
ficers, which faults are enumerated
under several heads.
Not being responsible in any way
for the collision, the petitioner
claims the benefit of the limitation
of liability as provided for in sec
tions 4,2S3, 1924 and 1885 of the
Revised Statutes of the United States.
The court is asked to direct the
seizure and attachment of the vessel
by the marshal, and this was done
by United States Marshal Henkel.
The court is also asked to appoint
4 trustee to take charge of the Flor
Ida and also a commissioner to take
proof of claims This has not yet
been done. The bond for the overs
was given by Oscar L. Richard in
the sum of $4,000.
In the libel fled by the owners of
the Republic it Is stated that the
fault 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 Repub-
lie. whose bows she was crossing;
that she did not have a proper look
put and did not give proper signals
or whistles; that she did not give
proper heed to the whistles of the
that she failed by whistles
to indicate the. change of helm; that
she was proceeding at immoderate
speed and did not stop her engines
on first hearing the Republics whis-
lies. and that she did not port her
helm, but instead starboarded 1t,
thereby thwarting all efforts of the
Republic to avoid her.