Evening star., 1914-02-01
Declared Officials Will Place
Blame for Monroe Disaster
on Nantucket.
OFFICERS OF LOST SHIP
ARE HELD BLAMELESS
Speed of Surviving Vessel at Time of
Fatal Collision Not Yet
Determined.

Special From Star Correspondent.
| NORFOLK, Va, January Sit is con-
| iidentiy believed tonight In Norfolk that
the blame for the Monroe-Nantucket dis
aster will be fixed upon the Nantucket.
The Old Dominion Steamship Com
pany tonight filed a libel in admiralty for
nearly Sl,OoO.OoV against the Nantucket of
the Merchants and Miners Transporta-
ton Company the ship that is said in
Norfolk tonight to have caused the
tragedy.
Il was sorry to be obliged to file this
libel against the Nantucket Mr.. Palen,
assistant general manager of the Old
Dominion Steamship Company, said, but
the fact is that We not only are con-
fronted with a great many claims from
cargo shippers, passengers and others,
but we understand that the investigation
of the steamboat inspection service of
the Department of Commerce will show
that We ought to protect ouf rights. The
Old Dominion Steamship Company is
keeping the l. ]. Merritt. tug. out on
the scene of the tragedy to pick up the
bodies of the missing, if possible. We do
not expect to pay the claims against us.
We think the Merchants and Miners
Transportation Company is to pay them. y
These statements by Mr. Palen were
based on a preliminary knowledge of the
report of Robert E Tapley. inspector of
huls for the federal district of Norfolk
in regard to the accident.
Monroe's Crew Not Blamed.
1t is understood that this report gives
the officers and crew of the Monroe
comparatively blameless record 1t is
stated that the Monroe, in fear of the
danger Of fog and heavy sea. had been
proceeding at reduced speed for several
hours on the night of Thursday and early
Friday morning, when the accident oc-
CURED 1t is stated that the officers of
the Nantucket appeared to be less i'm
pressed with the danger of the situation.
In the pilothouse of the Nantucket that
night were Capt. Osmyn Berry, COM
mander of the ship; the second officer and
the quartermaster 1t is stated that the
vessel was proceeding at but slightly re-
duced speed.
1t is understood that the report of the
steamboat inspection service will show
that the heavy cut-water of the Nan
tucket plowed through the bows of the
Monroe and struck diagonally back Of
that point, coming almost into the engine
room, SO that dynamo No. l was almost
Report of Sixty Pages.
The report of Inspector Tapley comprises
stood that the history of the Monroe is
gone into. 1t is stated that the Monroe
had bad record for seaworthiness before
she was put permanently into commits
sion. From her hurricane deck there was
removed a housing known as the observa-
ton pavilion. Her mainmast was also
removed to give less weight above and
better balance below the water line. Since
these alterations she had been regarded
among many technical experts as a sea
worthy craft.
There is just one question that re-
mains unanswered in Norfolk tonight.
And that is, at what speed was the
Nantucket proceeding at the moment
she struck the Monroe? No one will
answer this. Those who are entitled
by right of their position to know dis
claim knowledge. Newspaper men have
been refused d glance at the log of the
Nantucket. This unanswered question
may play great part in the final fix
ing of all the responsibility for the
death of so many persons.
Lauds Colored Employees.
One feature OF the wreck which is
attracting some attention is a state
ment made tonight by H B. Walker,
president of the Old Dominion Steam
ship Company, just before his de-
parture for New York. in which he
praised the colored employees of the
company for their behavior during the
tragedy. He said:
"On all sides today I have hea rd
nothing but praise for the way the
colored help behaved during this acci-
dent Several of our deck stewards
went to the bottom of the ocean be-
cause they were courageous enough to
give up their life preservers to pas
sengers. even when they saw no
chance of obtaining other life preserv-
ers for themselves
II want TO say" Mr.. Walker contin-
ued. that we are proud of these fell
lows. Every one of our boys and girls
will be taken care of. We are going
to have bigger ship than the Monroe
Every colored boy and every coIored
girl that has had any connection with
the line in any way shall have a job
and we will hold jobs for them. so far
as we are able. We want just such
employees as We found we had during
this accident w. b.