The sun., 1916-09-20
Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd,
Willing to Pay $01,296 for
Disaster Losses.
CLAIMS ARE $5,883,479
Petition Alleges Liner Was
Attacked by More Than
One Z Boat.


Lusitanla disaster. the Cunard steam-
ship Company. Ltd. as owner Of the tor
pedocd vessel flied a petition in the
United States District Court yesterday
asking that its liability be limited under
the American admiralty laws to 1926.
The outstanding feature Of the petition
Ia the allegation that the Lusitania was
attacked by at least two and possibly |
three submarines instead Of by one UNI
dersea craft as heretofore supposed.
Germany is referred to In the petition
rs n public enemy" which disresards
The following graphic story 10 told In
The court papers Of the sinking Of the
ship OF the south coast Of ireland or
May Z. 1915:
AT about 2:i5 =. NJ. when the vesse,
was ten or fifteen miles of the Old Head
~ kinsale and proceeding at eighteen
knots an hour. the weather being clear
and the sea smooth. the lookout on the
starboard side of the forecastle head saw
a burst Of foam about four points OF the
starboard bow. followed by the wake Of
two torpedoes which were rapidly ap-
preaching the vessel. one q little behind
the other. approximately ut right angles
TO the ship's course.
PORE Great Hole IN ships Hsll.
ale Immediately called through a
m~eeaphone to the bridge: 'Torpedoes
coming on the starboard side Within
q few seconds thereafter the Lusitania
was struck on the starboard side be-
tween the third and fourth tunnels. the
explosion tearing n great hole in nor hull
and causing the sea to rush in. Both Of
the torpedoes were discharged by n Ger
man submarine or submarines Shortly
after q torpedo was launched from an
other German submarine on h port
side OF the Lusitania. but this torpedo
did not strike the vessel. The hostile
attack was not preceded by any warning
or visitation and search. by a signal TO
heave to or by any warning or sigma OF
any kind. and no submarine had been
sighted before the torpedoes were dis
CHARGED.
'"The master was on the bridge at the
time the Lusitania was struck and re-
manned there giving orders until the ship
sank. He went down with the ship and
was subsequently rescued. When the
ship was struck he Immediately ordered
the lifeboats lowered to the rail and orr
'dered that the women and children he
pldttu III tItV'u uIFks INV
ately the Lusitania took a heavy and
Increasing list to starhoard. Her engines
were disabled and could not he reversed.
O Calls Were Answered.
checking the Roadway Of the vessel. TIL
Mseconi operator Immediately sent out
an g o s. call and another message
reading Come at once big list. ten
miles south Head Old Kinsale.' which
messages were repeated almost continu-
ously and acknowledged"
The narrative then tells how all the
coiiapsibis lifebosts were loosened 30
that they would float when the ship sank
and the crew began distributing the life
belts among the passengers. Because Of
the list to starboard. however. and the
continued Roadway OF the ship great dif-
fieuity was experienced with the launch
Ing Of the boats. Some Of the boats,
says the petition. were lowered with
passengers, but Gin spite Of all possible
efforts to saw all on board the vessel
aank within a few minutes and with q
heavy loss Of life"
The loss Of the ship: the lives and the
cargo. the petition continues. occurred,
therefore, without the privlty or knowl-
edge Of the owners and was luz to and
"caused by the acts OF a public enemy. to
Wit by the unlawful torpedoing Of the
LuSitania by a German submarine or
submarines In violation Of the laws Of
nations or Of the laws and usaGes Of
W1r A. recognized by civili3ed nations"
0ontributory Negligence Deniea.
Nor was there any ~contributory negli-
gence on the part Of the owners or those
IN charge Of the ship. the petition al
lagee. inasmuch al every precaution was
taken to make the ship seaworthy and
navigate II safely. When the ship left
this port, It is set forth. II was efficiently
manned and equipped and in charge of a
licensed and competent master. who had
been In the service Of the company since
1854. 1t was supplied with an ample
number Of l%ifeboats, life belts, life
Jackets and life buoys and. being un-
armed, was entitled to the rights and
privileges of a merchant ship. including
freedom from attack without previous
visitation. search or warning. and with
out provision being made for the safety
Of the passengers and crew.
Under the Federal maritime liability
law the monetary responsibility in sea
disasters Is limited to the value Of the
wreckage recovered plus the freight and
passenger moneys taken In by the ship
on Its last voyage. II the petition IL
granted this sum would be divided pro
rata among all the claimants.
Court Enjoins All Litlgants.
Immediately after the filing Of the
petition yesterday Judge julius NJ. Mayer
OF the Federal District Court issued the
customary monition cnjoining tho llti-
giants In all the suits so far filed from
pressing their actions during the pend
ency Of the limitation proceeding and re-
curing all claimants to file their de-
mands for reimbursement with Alex
ander Gilchrist. clerk Of the court.
The court also appointed Henry w
Goodrich special United States com.
missioner to determine the actual
amount for which the line would be
liable under the limitation. In the mean
time the steamship mpan by special
arrangement with the Maryland Casualty
Company. put up an ad Interim bond for
800 900. The petition was nled by
Lord, Day & Lord. attorneys for the
Cunard Line.
: Some Of the Lusitania survivors In
stead OF suing the line made claims
against the German Government through
the State Department. After a years
negotiating, however. the State Depart
ment recently Informed Leavitt J. Hunt
Of the firm Of Hunt. Hill & Belts. attor-
neys for the Lusitania survivors commit
tee, that the Department IL still unable
u say whether or not the German Gov.
rnmen Intends to recognise these de-
mands for reimbursement
Memorial for Dr. j.. II. Murphy.
CHICAGO. Sept. IA $500, 900 me.