New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-01
Charges That Ramming
Ship Was Improperly
Navigated.
LAWS OF SEA IGNORED
Action Against Merchants ana
Miners Transportation COM
pany Filed in Norfolk.
rBy Telegraph 70 Tn. tribune ]

Norfolk. Va. Jan. 3l.-Captain john
son Of the liner Monroe. in behalf OF
the Old Dominion Steamship Company
tonight filed salt in the United
States Court against the Nantucket
and the Merchants and Miners Trans
portation Company. He asks SLOW
600 damages.
He states that the Nantucket vas
responsible for the collision which sank
the Monroe and sent forty-one persons
to death and that he was in no way AZ
fault His statement and the charges
against the Nantucket follow:
"At about 1.25 O'Clock a. m. APP
proximately. ships time, the fog hav-
ing again set in heavy the said ship
was running AT greatly reduced RTE
Of speed.
The ibelant and the second officer
of the said ship were in the pilot house,
together with the quartermaster. who
was at the wheel. The regular look
out was stationed as far forward as
possible on the bow. and was diligently
attending TO his duties. In addition
thereto there was an extra lookout
who was likewise stationed as far for
ward as possible on the bow and who
was diligently attending 10 his duties.
During all Of the time that the said
ship was encountering the fog her
automatic fog whistle was being blown
al regular intervals as required by law
which whistle an unGsushy .ai-o
one, with great carrying power
impossible 10 Avoid Impact,
"At about / 2S O'Clock. approximate
ly. ships time. the fog signal of one
blast of a whistle from steamer was
heard. which seemed 10 be about three
points on the starboard bow. Inc
Monroe at this time was heading
y. f. \ ~. compass course. Where
upon the engines of the Monroe were
Immediately stopped and remained
stopped for about minute, "hen
bright light was observed about Tour
noints on the starboard bow, but on
account or the loS IL wac i''l''N"''
tell at what distance.
las soon as this light was Observed
two whistles were blown by the Mon-
roe and her wheel was put hard a-star-
board. which was the best thing under
the circumstances that could be done
to avoid a collision, and the engines
were put full speed ahead. WIN inc
sneed of the Nantucket IT was impossi-
bic. however, TO avoid collision, anu
the Nantucket, coming on with app9r-
emily undiminisheC speed. struck tnei'
Nonroe on her stnrboard side at The
forward overall gangway, just forward
Of the pilot house, the collision taxing
place in less than minute after tne
Nantuckets light was first observed.
. large hole was torn In the side OF
the Monroe below the waterline. The
collision took place approximately
thirty two miles north OF cape Charles
Lightship.
THE Monroe Immediately began TO
All. and seeing that she was in immi-
nent danger Of sinking orders vera
given TO arouse all the passengers and
clear away the lifeboats I'm the mean
time. the Nantucket had swung around
the stern Of the Monroe and was lyirs
off about a quarter of a mile.
THE Monroe proceeded TO fill rapid
~. and about four minutes after the
collision was nearly on her beam ends.
one of the lifeboats on the starbOard
side was smashed in the collision and
another was swamped while being
launched The remaining lifeboats on
the starboard side were got away
as quickly as possible. II being impos-
sible. on account Of the heavy list TO
starboard. TO launch the port side life
boats. Not more than ten minutes
after the collision the Monroe foun-
dered in about fifteen fathoms of water,
going down in approximately the same
Mace al which the collision occurred.
Saved in Their Own Boats.
Many Of the Monroes crew and
passengers were saved in her own
boats and others were picked up oy(
boats from the Nantucket, which was
standing by and rendered all aid pos
sible under the conditions. Nineteen
passengers we're lost and % Of the crew
were lost.
THE libellant further alleges that by
reason OF said collision he has suf-
fered damages i'm the total loss of the
said steamer Monroe. with her stores ,
and munitions and her cargo andy
freight and the effects Of the master
and marine aboard. which were lost.
as we'll as the baggage and personal
effects Of her passengers. which were
lost, and on account OF the expenses
arising out OF said collision. In sum