The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-31
DOMINION men
BLAME CAPTAIN
OF NANTUCKET
Owners of Monroe Think Berry
Showed Lack of Judgment
i'm Crisis
PASSENGER BOATS CREW
PRAISED BY RESCUED
Those Saved from Wreck De
clare Everything Posi-
Bile Was Done

NORFOLK, VA, Jan 31.-Whether
the loss OF life in yesterdays sea
tragedy of the Virginia peninsula
when the steamer Monroe was sent
TO the bottom in collision with the
Nantucket might have been prevented
was troubling seamen today.
While the general investigation TO
place responsibility for the work has
not been started, officials OF the Old
Dominion line are blaming Capt. Berry
or the Nantucket for at least an err
ror OF judgment. His action In sig.
mailing full speed astern Immediately
following the smash pulled the Nan
tucket's bow out OF the rent in the
side OF the Monroe and let the water
In. Had he simply reduced speed and
kept the two vessels locked everyone
on the Monroe could have clambered
onto the Nantucket before the Old
Dominion liner finally went TO the
bottom.
Oficials of the Merchants and
Miners line say Capt. Berry acted
with complete regard for the rules
of the sea They say that when the
entire truth becomes known at the
federal investigation their command
er will be cleared OF all blame.
The revised list OF the missing to-
day showed that the death toll
claimed by the Atlantic was Al. or
those 10 were passengers and % mem
bers OF the crew.
Most Of the survivors were so far
recovered from their terrible expert
ences today that they were planning
TO start for home. A few are still
in the hospital Two are In a very
serious condition. They are Mrs. T.
]. Woods or Norfold. who was en-
route TO New York TO care for hus-
bands body. he having died the night
before, and Miss Hilda Thacker, an
actress. They are under the care OF
physicians in the general hospital and
fears are entertained that they will
not recover.
rhe government investigation or
the wreck will start on Monday. De-
spite the most positive denials by
the officials of the line the rumors
prevailed here that the Monroe was
inclined 10 top-heaviness. Officials OF
the federal steamship inspection serv-
ice, however, examined the Monroe
only three months ago and passed her
with clean bill OF health.
Despite the fact that so many were
lost. passengers today refused 70
blame either Captain Johnson or his
men. They said that they did every
thing possible. but that the time be-
tween the crash and the sinking OF
the Monroe was so short it was i'm
possible TO do more than was done.
Discipline, ethe rescued passengers as
sert, was never relaXed--
Secretary OF Commerce Redheld to-
day wired the federal inspector that
the inquiry must be thorough and
that all responsibility must be fixed.
Why the commanding officers OF
the two vessels did not hear the sig
nails OF each other in time 10 avert
the tragedy is absolutely unexplained
Both captains insist that their auto
matte sirens were trsed.
Officials Of the Old Dominion line
are keen TO blame the master OF the
Nantucket for the smash, but he in
sists that the complete investigation
will prove that he did all that was
possible TO avoid accident.
Working tugs are searching the sea
in the vicinity OF the wreck for the
hodies of the lost All recovered will
be brought here The forward mast
of the Monroe is sticking out OF thu
water asmute evidence OF the wreck
The revenue cutter officials have
marked the spot win light and a
buoy and will propably blow up tho
wreck next week as mariners gen.
orally agree that there is no hope OF
raising the smashed craft. First.
however, an. attempt will be made 70
send divers down 10 see whether there
are any bodies there that can be re-
moved -