Evening star., 1914-01-31
MAY SHOW NANTUCKET
FAILED TO HEED WARNING
Vessels Officers in Pilot House at
Time, 1t Is Said.
THE MONROE AT sTANDsTIL1
Kept Up Constant Signaling in Fog.
Testimony Is Expected to Show.
No More Bodies Found at
Scene of Crash.

>' a. lahidi 81
Y ith the writing of the final tragic
summary showing that fortv-onc
persons .perished early Friday
morning when the old Dominion
liner Monroe turned turtle and
sank following collision off the
Virginia coast with the Boston
Baltimore steamer Nantucket. it
was TODAY announced from the
office of the nited States local
steamboat inspectors at Norfolk
that investigation into the cause
at The disaster had been made and
completed
The revised list shows that OF
the total of IL persons whose lives
were lost 10 were passengers and
p were members of the crew. OF
the total OF % persons saved, 80
were passengers and 90 were MEM
bers of the crew.
II was stated that the investigation
made yesterday by r. E. Tapley. local
inspector. and Thomas J. Haniou. an
assistant inspector. when witnesses ex-
=nined included all the officers and crew
OF both vessels who were watch at
the time of the collision. The findings
of the local inspectors probably will be
made public Wednesday or Thursday of
next week.
The testimony will cover probably fifty
or sixty typewriter pages and will be
revised by the local inspectors after the
work has been finished by the stenogra-
pher-
Inspectors on Nantucket.
inspectors Tapley and Hanlon We're
aboard the Nantucket when she docked
here yesterday afternoon, bringing the
Monroe's rescued. They had boarded the
steamer some distance out from tug
Attorneys representing both the Old Do
minion Steamship Company and the
Merchants and Miners Transportation
Company were also aboard, and it was
stated today that the investigation which
had been largely conducted on the Nan
tUchtt as she came up 10 Norfoik was
anp.eted in this city last evening.
No Official statement could be obtained
IodaE TO tie result of the investiaa
ton. 1t is understood however. that the
testimony viii show that the Monroe had
stopped her engines and was almost AT
a standstill when the collision with the
Nantucket occurred IL is also said the
record will show that the Nantucket was
steaning toward the Monroe after the
latter had blown two whistles three
times.
Saw Nantucket's Lights.
II is further stated that the testimony
wiii snow tt:at Capt. Barry. the second
officer and the quartermaster of the Nan
tucket. We're ali in the pilot house of
heir ship when the two vessels came
together and that the lookout on the
Monroe saw the lights on the mast of
the Nantucket about two minutes before
tne crash occurred. These lights were
seen dimy through the dense fog.
II is also expected that the testimony
taken at the investigation will show that
me Monroe and Nantucket met about
rwenty-four miles southwest Of Winter
quarter lghtship at ] 10 a. m. in a dense
fog. with a light southerly wind and a
choppy sea with slight swell.
The Monroe met light fogs intermit-
tently after passing out Of the capes and
had stopped frequently while they sur.
rounded the ship. The Monroe was
equipped with an automatic time whstl.
and this was blown at intervals of one
minute during the fog.
Horn Blows Every Minute.
When the heavy fog wrapped the YES
near Winter Quarter lightship. th,
Monroe. II is said. stopped and aftel
blowing the fog horn every minute CAV.
iwo blasts. 10 which the Nantucket re,
>ponded. She then Repeated The tw.
blasts twice and almost before the las
one had died away the bow of the Nan
tucket uloughed IFS way into the Mon
rues starboard just above midships al az
sngie % about forty-five degrees A:
soon as th. Nantucket backed away IN,
Monroe began TO list and in ten minute.
'iad sunk.
That more boats weIe not lowered from
h. Nantucket and more people We're no
saved was due to the sWiftuess viii
:. nich it all happened and was over Tha
i uety-nine persons were saved is re
-sded by mariners as splendid work.
Scope of the Inquiry.
assistant Secretary Sweet of the De
pertinent of Commerce ordered q
sweeping inquiry into the causes ane
circumstances that led to the catastro.
phe. The inquiry was directed alon.
three distinct lines. follows
Whether the masters of both vessel.
used every possible precaution to pre-
Eent the tragedy. including a low
speed headwav and continual use O
foi. horns
Whether The terrible death rat.
among the passengers of the Monro,
Mas due in any way TO lack of disci
n pline among the wrecked ships crew
Whether the two vessels were il
their proper positions prior to the col
lision.
The question of "a possible panic 81
Continued on Eighth Pagel