The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-14
MONROE'S PUMPS NOT
USED, SAYS CAPTAIN
Admits They Were Not Even
Started After the Liner
Was Rammed.
NO TIME, HE DECLARES
Government Inquiry Brings
Out Fact That Nantucket
Hit Vessel Twice.
NO TIME. HE DECLARES

PHILADELpHfA, Feb. lathe pumps Of
the Monroe were not even started fol-
lowing the ramming OF the Old Dominion
liner by the Merchants and Miners
steamer Nantucket Off the Virginia cnpes
on January 80. according to an admission
by Capt johnson OF sne wrecked vessel
This admission was given to-day at the
Government inquiry into the cause Of the
collision. which cost forty-one lives
Capt. Johnson declared that he realized
on the instant of the collision that the
Monroe was doomed to sink In few
minutes and that IL would do no good to
start tie pumps.
That was an awfully big hole the Nan
tucket cut in us he said. And anyway
the engine room was flooded and the en-
gines stopped and the lights went out In
few minutes.
The direct examination OF Capt. John
son was ended this morning. and after he
had been thanked by capt. Sergeant for
the frank and manly way in which he
had given his testimony he was turned
over to John r. Lewis. attorney for Capt
Berry, for cross-eXamination. During the
latter part of his direct testimony Capt
johnson said he could not understand why
the Monroe sank quickly considering
that the vessel had five supposedly water
tight compartments .SUr could he I'M
derstand why she went down stern first
when the hole opened By the Nantucket
was IN the bow.
Mr.. Lewis's opening questions intimated
doubt as to the actual watertightness
or adequacy of the Monroe's bulkheads
The attorney also suggested that the
matches covering the entrances TO the hold
of the vessel had M
fully before sailing and that water had
run down them, help,ng to sink the YES
sci.
1t was brought out during the direct
examination of Capt. johnson that the
Nantucket really hit the Monroe twice
The first time she struck US at right
angles" said capt. Johnson. and seemed
to bounce back like a rubber ball from
wall. ! rang for full speed astern the
instant OF the collision, hoping to hold
the two vessels together and thus delay
the sinking OF the Monroe until all the
passengers had been transferred
But the Nantucket was veering TO the
right when we met and after bouncing
away swung back again until We came
together broadsidc on. This second i'm
pact was harder than the first one. II
may have started some plates or at least
crushed some headlights and let in water
that way. The Nantucket kept right on
going. and was two three hundred feet
away in a couple of seconds or so. There
was no time 20 lash the two boats to-
gether.
The way the Monroe sank compli-
Gated matters and prevented mo from
saving as many passengers as could
IL she had gone down bow foremost"
After announcing that the board had
completed Its exauiination OF the witness
Capt. Sergeant gave Capt. johnson an
opportunity to explain any OF his tes,i-
mony or to make any additional state
ments.
II desire to explain" said Capt John
son, that the two whistles I blew on
first discovering the whereabouts Of the
Nantucket w.r" not for him to direct his
course to starhoard. hut to show him
that | was directing my course to port
knew then that a collision was inevi-
table, and | wanted to receive "A CHANGING
blow"
Capt Johnson was positive that the
bulkheads We're in good condition. lie
had looked them over himself on Jan
uary IN company with Capt. Taylor.
a Government inspector OF Norfolk.
Answering question from Mr.. Lewis
Capt. johnson denied that the Monroe
was in any sense cranky boat" or
that any one had told him she was lie
also denied that he knew the old DO
miniou Line had the Monroe listed for
sale.
Capt. Sergeant then propounded to the
witness several Hypothetical questions
Taking "A hypothetical situation approx
mating that of the Monroe and the Nan
tucket when Capt johnson first became
cognizant of the Others presence in the
vicinity. capt. Sergeant asked
IF another vessel was found approach
ing your starboard bow at "A four point
bearing, 1000 feet distant, could you go
astern ninety feet in minute and a half
so as to permit the approaching vessel
10 cross your bow
YES sir, under certain conditions but
no' in the peculiar instance that resulted
in the collision was the reply. MY ship
was not at a standstill as would be
necessary but II was going ahead, though
the engines had been stopped"