The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-02
Captain Berry Puts All
Responsibility on Cap
tain johnson.
CLAIMS RULE OF
SEA WAS BROKEN
Wreck of Old Dominion Liner Is
Located, and To-Day Divers
Will Attempt to Recover
Bodies-Predicted That
Criminal Prosecution
Will Be Instituted.

Baltimore. Md, February The
steamer Nantucket, which was in coll
iision with the steamer Monroe on Fri
day morning. docked here to-day In
written report to officials OF the Mer-
chants and Miners Transportation
Company, Captain Berry said that in
an endeavor to avoid collision with
the Monroe. the Nantucket's helm was
put hard aport to keep to the right.
put the Monroe proceeded at full speed
and tried to cross the bow of the
! Nantucket She succeeded in getting
partly past the Nantucket's stem, when
the vessels collided. the Nantucket's
stem striking the Monroe's starboard
bow forward of the pilot house at right
angles.
The Monroe passed under such great
speed, according to Captain Berry's
report, that the stem of the Nantucket
was bent sharply toward her starboard
SIDE and the Nantucket slowed around
so that her port side was scraped by
the Monroe. crushing one of the Nan
tuckets port boats. The Monroe pass
ed on out of sight At the time or tbs
collision tho Nantucket's engines were
running at full speed astern, and had
| been running so for some time pre-
Vious to the collision.
On Usual Course.
captain Berry said that, while the
Nantucket was on her usual course.
rog signals OF a vessel afterward found
TO be the Monroe. were reported ahead.
The fog was low-lying and at times
clearer than others. The fog signals
OF the Nantucket were sounding at
regular intervals. The fog signal OF
the Monroe again was heard, and this
time on the Nantuckets port bow.
The next whistles heard from the Mon.
tVyn
that the Monroe was trying to pass
the Nantucket starboard to starboard,
| contrary to the rule.
Captain Bcrry's report continues as
follows:
The Nantucket appeared seriously
| injured, but was manoeuvred to aid in
the work of rescue. continually using
her searchlight. Wireless communities
tion was established. and several ves-
seis offered assistance, the first to ar
rive being the Hamilton. which con-
Voyed the Nantucket to Norfolk
The relief squad attending the pas
sengers was increased by those who
could be spared from attention to the
safety of the Nantucket and under
careful attention those suffering most
from the collision were removed with
the exception OF ono man. who. after
great effort could not be revived. and
also II Mrs Harrington, who died after
she had been assigned to a statcroom
with her husband and all possible caro-
ard attention given her.
III can be established that the stew
ard, stewardess, and chief engineer
worked incessantly in an effort to aid
and revive Mrs. Harrington. Thero
was no attack made by Mr.. HARRINGTON
or any one. and there Is no foundation
for this report After her death. her
body was carried to Norfolk, and wire
less instructions were given in advance
to tako care of 1t.
Many passengers OF the Monroe re-
cetved on board the Nantucket would
have died had they not been resusci-
tated by the vigorous. prompt and sue
cesSful work OF those assigned to that
duty The reported statement indicat-
Ing that one of the Nantuckets boats
had plug out and was not euuipped
with life preservers, Is proven untrue
by the fact that the Nantuckets boats
returned with all the people they could
find'
Accuses Captain SoI,nson.
Shortly after the arrival of the ves-
sci conference was held between
Captain Berry and the officials of tho
Merchants and Miners Line. After
ward. Captain Berry gave out state.
ment, placing the blame for the coll
lision on the shoulders of Captain John
son. OF the Monroe. He claims that
Captain Johnson was guilty OF viola
tion of the maritime rules by attempts
ing to pass the Nantucket starboard To
starboard.
The officials OF the Merchants and
Miners Company congratulated Captain
Berry on his good work in connection
with the disaster, ana have decided to
present him with n letter of commen-
daton for the conduct OF himself and
his officers and crew in the rescue work.