The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
REPORT ON ACCIDENT
Captain of the Florida Makes
Official Statement.
GOING AT MODERATE SPEED
italian Liner Unloading Preparatory
10 Being Sent to DrydOck-NO Blame
Attached to Any officer or Mem
Der OF Crew-Newspaper Reports
Denfed-Captain's Orders Obeyeds

New York. Jan. S.-The version Of the
Florida's captain was officially told to-
day in a statement issued by the agents
OF the Lloyd-Italians. after an ail-day
conference between the agents, c. B.
Richard and Company. their counsel.
Wallace. Butler and Brown, the captain
and purser and other officers and mem
hers Of the crew Of the Florida and the
Italian consul general at this port II is
a short and simple statement, but charges
that the Republic was proceeding at high
speed at the time Of the collision
The Florida was being unloaded at her
Brooklyn pier to-day preparatory to being
hustled 10 drydock to have her bow re-
built Eugene Lynch. OF Boston. whose
wife was killed in her berth in the col
hsion while ne was severely injured. died
to-day at the Long Island College Hospital
in Brooklyn. he had said on Monday that
he was going to die and that he might
as well die where he was.
Statement - Company.
The statement made by Richard and
Company. was as follows:
The circumstances Of the collision be-
tween the Republic and the Florida, were
as follows;
The Florida had experienced fog at in
tervaIs for some hours before the col
nsion, and a dense fog existed at the
time Of the collision. The Florida had
been proceeding at moderate speed, blow
ing her fog whistle frequently.
The captain and chief officer were IN
charge OF her navigation on the bridge
and a quartermaster was at the wheel.
ard the lookout was doubled on account
Of the fog.
The Florida was proceeding slowly
when the fog whistles Of another steamer.
which afterward proved 10 be the Re
public. were heard by the officers and
lookouts Of the Florida, OF the starboard
OF the Italian steamer. The Ell
gines OF the Florida were reversed and
two signals OF three whistles each were
blown, indicating that the engines were
going astern: the collision nevertheless
took place. the bow Of the Florida strik-
ing the port side Of the Republic some
what aft OF amidShips, causing a serious
damage % both steamers.
When the Republic became visible in
the fog she was crossing the bow OF the
Florida from starb0ard 10 port and run
ming al a high rate Of speed The helm
Of the Florida was promptly put 20 star
board. hoping 70 swing the bow Of the
Italian steamer 10 starbOard. and 10 as
siSt IL avoiding the danger OF collision.
The other steamer was. however. running
so fast that the vessels COlltded-
Learn Name of ship.
1t was afterward ascertaiued that
the steamer which coIlided with the
Florida was the Republic. OF the White
Star Line.
The collision occurred some distance
southeast Of Nantucket Hghtship, about
5.+5 q N. Saturday. January 3. 1850.
The statements which have appeared
in some Of the papers 20 the effect that
there was any misunderstanding OF
orders on the bridge Of the Florida are
not true. The orders given by the cap
tain were promptly and properly exc
cuted. 1ae seaman whose head was
bandaged was turned IN. asleep at the
time OF the collision, was not on duty.
and was. therefore. not the QuartermasteI
al the wheel.
NO criticism whatever is made by the
captain or any Of the officers against any
member Of the crew Of the Florida The
captain and officers are satisfied tina;
every man did his duty. There is no
foundation for the story that any member
OF the crew was struck or repriUIanded
by the captain or any OF the officers
After The collision occurred. and after
the Florida had ascertained the extent
Of her own injuries, she rendered such
assistance as lay IN her power 10 the
Republic and her passengers.