Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-16
IA ccident Companies
Request Insured Per-
sons to Assume Liza
bility.
Heavy Losses Sustained on
Lives of Lusitania Victims
Drive Concerns to Seek Way
Out-One Paid 100000 in
Indemnities.
Policies Now Refused to All Appli-
cants Unless They Agree to Keep
Out Of Danger Area--Many Phila-
delphia Men Sign Waivers.

Many prominent and wealthy Philadel
phians have received a sharp reminder
or the Lusitania disaster In the form OF
requests from accident insurance ON
panies that they sign war rider to
be attached to their accident policies.
These notices have been sent to all hold
ers Of policies wherein the liability of
the company for travel accidents is $4,000
or over, and they are being received by
hundreds Of men who are we'll known in
business and financial circles in this
city. who in years past frequently trav-
eled through what is now the war
zone"
The war rider" states that during the
continuance OF the war In Europe, Asia
or Africa, and for three months after
the declaration OF peace by the Govern
ments at war, the policies shall not cover
accident or injury. whether fatal or non
fatal. sustained by the insured any
where on land or sea east OF meridian 20,
west OF Greenwich. and west OF meridian
40 west OF Greenwich which shall re-
suit wholly or partly. directly or indi-
rectly, from war or riot or from any
weapon, implement, projeotile. explosive
or contrivanee OF any kind used In war
rare, or WnlCn small result from OF pe,
caused by damage to. wreckage or loss
OF any vessel by whatever cause.
MANY BIG POLICIES HERE.
Philadelphia 10 noted in insurance cir
cles for the large number of big accident
policies carried by its prominent citizens
The largest accident contract written by
any company Is one giving 100000 pro-
lection against death by travel accidents
and $4,000 protection against death by
ordinary accidents Many big bankers,
railroad and other corporation officials,
manufacturers and ''men Of affairs" In
Philadelphia carry these 100000 contracts,
and aii of them will be asked to sign q
war rider" There are said to be more
Of these big policies in force in this city
than IN any city OF the country, not even
excepting New York
WHERE RIDER APPLIES.
The war zone" rider in general terms,
Is not effective going west on the Pacific
Ocean until after the Hawaiian Islands
are passed. and going east on the Atlantic
Ocean until a line is reached which Is
about 900 miles from the British Isles, but
is effective in Europe, Asia, Africa and
Australia, and on all islands and in the
waters within this war zone
The accident insurance companies were
so hard hit by the torpedoing OF the
Lusltania that they are going even
further than asking that "war riders"
be signed by present policyholders No |
man today can take out accident insur- |
snce In the leading companies unless he |
agrees in the application he signs that
he will not visit Europe, Asia or Africa
during the present war. One New Eng
land company lost over 100000 by the
of the Lusitania. and other COM
panies We're proportionately hard hit.
Philadelphians who have received the
requests for their signatures to the war
riders are quickly responding, as they
admit that the insurance companies in
sending them out are only practicing rea-
sonable business precaution.
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt and Elbert
Hubbard, who went down with the
IuFitanla, carried big accident policies
Ike those held by well-known Philadel-
phians, and tho claims under these
policies have already been paid The
Vanderbilt and Hubbard policies were
written some years ago and could not
have been secured Just prior to the sail
Ing OF the Lusitanla.