New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-25
Udine Arrives from Italy
Chartered by Thankful
War Refugees.
X. \. {. SMITH LED
FIGHT FOR LINER
Gold Won by Few Minutes DR..
Butler Had but % Gents
Vanderbilt Gave Aid.

their vast armies. she flew the Italian
q lg, but -h" was practically owned by
her passengers. and had II not been
for the business ingenuity and energy
of four energetic Americans she would
stIl Dee no Genoa on or her regular
service 10 the Argentine.
T.. =. G.. Smith, Commissioner OF
Docks and Ferries, who was in tee
Tyroi with his family, learned that war
was iI the making and managed 10 re
10 \cui,. Later DE got over 10 Genoa
and there found q situation which at
first glance seemed impossible of solu-
tiou. Presently he ran across Fred
cricH ". Vanderbilt. Gano Dunn, prcsi-
dent of the j. G.. White Company, and
DR.. Nichols Murray Butler, president
OF Columbia University.
Individually these men could in time
have got away from italy. but. as
was learned yesterday with the arrival
Of the steamship, their interests were
not centred in themselves, but iu the
stranded Americans who roamcd about
the Italian city practically pcuuilcss.
Cash, iu gold, was the only sort If
specie that had any value I'm Italy
when the four Americans descended
upon the city. Those who roamed the
streets were willing 10 pay, hut no.
where could their letters Of credit be
converted into gold. The four men
tried in vain 20 arrange Tor accommo-
cations for their stranded countgvme1
and women and themselves, but they
were bailed az every turn.
Finally, they agreed that If they
could not get the accommodations
sought Tor they would charter snip.
Of that were possible, and take back
all who wanted 10 come.
The committee. which included Mr.
Smith. Mr.. Vanderbilt, Nr. Dunn and
Or. Butler. sought the representatives
OF the Lloyd-Sabaudo Line. Thcy found
the owners considcrate, but the prob
lem of getting cash for deposit iu adj
vance 20 secure the vessel was for the
Americans only another great OBJ
stacle. Negotiations were started over
and over again, and al last terms we're
agreed upon. The company required
that 10000 francs should be paid 20
the Lloyd-Sabaudo Line before $50
p. m. on August :, and the remainder
100000 franc, be paid Angus. II, the
proposed sailing date.
Get Cash at Last Minute.
The American committee assured the
company that these terms would ne
agreeable, but at that time they were
uncertain about getting the money. y
moratorium had been declared IN Italy,
AID the banks were restricting their
payments to deposItors 10 small sans
daily.
II was then practically impossible for
the banks TO give cash on letters OF
credit issued In America. but at the
las. moment Nr. Sarantino, genera!
manager of the American Express Com
pauy, announced that he would accept
the personal checks and personal guar
antces Of the committee % enable them
90 make che 10000 frame deposit on
August I. This was done just five min
utcs before the option on the tdine
expired.
All that could be raised in actual
cash from the 800 passengers anxious
80 sail was 10000 francs. Gold 10y this
time WA. al "a premium OF - per cent
This. with bankers commissions and
extra charges, brought the total mp TO
about $4,000 francs gold. OF approx
matcly $4,000.
Va, Smith learned that the National
CITY Bank Of New York had large de-
rosits in the Genoa banks, and they
tried 20 get into communication with
this city, but without success. Finally
Nr. Smith sent a personal cable TO
Frank A. Nanderlip, president of the
National City Bank of New York, and
the latter replied Immediately on re-
cent Of the cable. on August g, that
the funds would be transferred TO
Genoa VIA London. Communication
"i.h London was bad. and all hope OF
Getting the required sum was ahau-
doncd, when the American Express
. hFs
accepting drafts attached 20 letters OF
credit. TO receipts for prepaid return
Passage and various personal checks on
prominent banks and trust companies
iu the United States
One Of the salient reasons FOR char
tering the ship was that 10 should be
for Americans only that those who
travelled on il should have comfort
and all convenIences and that no I'M
migrants would he taken.
The Udine was rated by those who
chartered her as one-cabln snip, and
all passengers. wherever quartered,
should have the full privilege Of the
decks and public rooms. The minimum
rate for accommodation IN the saloon
were fixed at $3.50. tine second cabin at
500. and dormitories fitted up between
decks at $50.
Hardly had the chartering Of the
vessel been assured when every ac-
conSmodation was taken. The commit
tee had only one regret, and that was
for the many Americans LETT behind.
Some of the travellers who were abso-
lutely without funds were taken over
free OF charge.
The undertaking left upon the hands
of the committee a deficit OF $4,000,
which 10 declared would be shared
equally by all.
A committee was formed to report TO
this government on the deplorable
plight Of Americans in Italy. If the
State Department does not care TO con-
fer with the committee here, member
said. a representative will be sent to
Washington.
The chartering committee and all the
passengers brought home were en-
thusiastic in their praise OF Thomas
Nelson Page. the American Ambassador
at Rome, and Of John Edward Jones.
the consul general at Genoa. for their
efforts I'm assisting the stranded trav-
ellers TO get hore
Merry Journey on Ship.
Throughout the journey Of eleven
days the passengers enjoyed them
selves as merrily as # they had been
returning from pleasant vacations IN
continent Of peace.
Mrs. Frederick W. Vanderbilt said
she and her husband had an Austrian
courier with them, who being a clever
fellow managed to keep them out Of
difficulties while motoring from Tyrol
through Switzerland 20 Genoa.
"Ihe sight IN Genoa was appalling
she said II never want 90 be brought
face 10 face again with such situa-
| ton. ! felt greatly grIeved whom