The Washington times., 1914-02-01
,as learned that Inspector Tapleys

vas learned that Inspector Tapley's
conclusions are:
The Nantucket was off her course
rben She rammed the Monroe, and
for that reason she is held respon-
sible for the disaster. The Monroe
was proceeding cautiously along the
jnner route. where she belonged, un-
iii she heard the siren Of the Nan
tucIet. Then she stopped.
The Nantucket had veered from
the outer course. She should nave
been several miles away from the
Monroe, but was running landWard
when she struck the Old Dominion
The Monroe was carrying heavy
cargo of loosely packed freight.
When the prov Of the Nantucket
tore into her the freight was dls-
placed, and she rolled to a greater
extent than might have been tne
case had she. been lightly burdened.
Tbe rolling accelerated the en- o.
trance of water and caused the Mon-
roe TO list more rapidly than Woulo
fave been the case had she been
lightly burdened.
Siren Sounding Continuously.
The Monroe went to the bottom like
q funp of lead. according to all &C
counts told by her officers. 1t was not
,en minutes from the time OF the col
Iision until she had disappeared IN tne
cold waters of the Atlantic. Her siren
whistle. sounded continuously by = an
automatic device for fogs, was sui
--king when she went down.
--r-- ~ port News, where she was
.- the information that, as
- Ii4,-g.. sr- !. the Old Dominion
-i-s- ne. uuse- Eorthy. Atter ner
5,ls,',a'aF ehs -Tas put 6a.strnc,I,Te back I0r IRE
,rrr-s-F. The asaokestack was snort
,--r. 5flc .,sast removed, hurr1canss
dec, -.5Eeryali-u cabin taken on. ana
hatche. trazzPosa d to diminish ner Top
Even after q Sc alterations it was
.ound that the onroe's abnormal Iree-
board was a menace to safety ana z
discomfort to travellers because OF her
lsbored roll in bad weather. :.
The rapid sinking of the Monroe - -
believed to have been largely due TO
II Tbe holes in the prov Of the Nam
1ucket are well above the water nne.
She steamed to Norfolk and then 20
Baltimore without .,sa ship2iRss d3 1se Mono: Ts.
VRs below the waterline is Que, ac-
cording to mariners. to the 1act tnaI
the Monroe was pitching with her sIar-
board side high out of the waves When
the Nantucket struck.
Divers Still at HoIk.
ps-ers are at work today eSplorlns
the cabin of the sunlen Monroe, wnlch
lies in sepenty-fiye feet OF water on hog
Island. The Merritt, } wrecIdng tug, Is
on the scene and The revenue cutter
onondaga is also cruising near by IN the
hope of finding floating bodies. AT noon
wireless messages from the cutter re-
rorted that not a single body had oeen
recovered. ..s-.-
II is now believed that the majority
of those lost were imprisoned II thslI
staterooms The gale, which blew on
shore yeyterday, may have swept ou!
10 sea the bodies Of those who perisheC
after leaping from the tilted Monroe:
Divers probably will be called IN the
Federal investigation to give evldenct
Concerning. the position and extent oi
the hole cut into the side Oh the los
Trer by the steel prov o. the Nan
ticket.
Seafaring men who laxe examined th'
smashed bow Of the Nantucket and WHIT
have learned Captain Johuson's dSscrip
ten Cf how he ordered the Monroe ful
speed ahead, unite IN SasinS the deIn
age TO his ship must have been create
than II he had held his boat at stand
still. The impact was greater, am
What added to the injury was the fac
tf1at the Monroe was p5inted hard
starboard to avoid q collision. HAD sh
been held to her course, they aSSerl
tho ships might have met head-on
possihly have iyrazAo.
Accusations Against Berry.
Accusations against Captain Berry, o
the Nantucket, contained in the libe
filed by Captain johnson, Of the Mon
roe, are as follows:
That the Nantucket was miles of he
course.
That the Nantucket was proceeding a
full speed. after hearing the fog sire
Of the Monroe.
That Captain Berry swung his sht
away from the Monroe after hittin
her instead of keeping close enough t
save the passengers and crew OF tn
ili-fated steamer.
Captain Johnson has sued for S,Ooo.oC
damages, placing the value Of the los
boat at $4,000 and the cargo at $4,000
Should the investigation show that tn
master of the Nantucket was to blam
for the disaster It is estimated that tn
Merchants and Miners Steamship Com
psny will face damage suits for loss c
life, injuries and loss Of baggage ths
viii total thousands of dollars.