The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-10-30
Master of Ill-Fated Vessel,
and Fred Gilmore. for
Agents. File Statements
ALLEGATIONS IN
FIRST LIBEL DENIED
Say Scane Statements Made
in Scalese Claim Untrue,
It Is Asserted.

Two claims, and an answer to the
libel of Joseph Scalese were filed in
the federal court yesterday in the
case of Joseph Scalese ". the steamer
Wasp, libel brought several weeks
ago for salvage. The original action
was brought for services which the
libellant states he rendered in saving
the vessel after it had been aban-
doned in the storm of September 10th,
forty-five miles southeast of Pensa-
cola light.
One of the claims filed yesterday
was by Captain Alex SunSberg, mas
ter of the illfated steamship, and
agent for the Wasp Steamship Com
pany of San Francisco, owners of
the boat. The other waSlby Frederick
Gilmore, as agent for c.. C. Mengel
and Bro. Co. of Louisville, consignees
of a cargo of mahogany logs aboard
the steamer when the storm struck,
and claims as the consignee's interest
the 143 logs remaining aboard the
steamer after she was brought to
Pensacola.
In the joint answer filed by the
two claimants the statement made by
the libellant that the gulf was rough
on October End, when he started to
salvage the wreck, is denied, and the
assertion made that the gulf was
comparatively calm, as the storm had
passed, and that the libellant by GO
ing out to the wreck in a fishing
schooner did not risk his life, or en-
danger himself in any way.
The answer also denies the state
ment of the libellant that the wreck
was floating in 120 fathoms of water,
hot Tho onchnr-
ed in 55 fathoms.
1t is admitted that the steam tug
Nellie arrived at the wreck, at six
o'clock Thursday October 4. with
Captain Sundberg aboard, and that
the anchor chain holding the wreck
was cut as alleged by the libellant,
but was done by direction of the
ships master. 1t is also admitted
that the tug Echo, came up as the
Nellie was towing the wreck to Pen
sacola, and volunteered assistance
but on being told that no help was
needed, returned to Mobile.
The answer denie., that the fishing
schooner "Sea EN- towed the Wasp
to Pensacola, and declares that the
fishing schooner remained tied to the
wreck while it was being towed to
port, and seriously retarded the pro.
press of the rescuing party on the
Nellie.
In concluding the presentation of
the case, an account of the wreck is
added to the answer, and it is stated
that after portions of the cargo had
been jettisoned in an effort to save
the steamer from the storm, the
pumps became clogged, and the ris-
ing water in the hold of the steamer
II. I4,.
ing the craft helpless. AS the storm
increased the deck houses were car
ried away, and the lives of those
aboard the boat so imperiled that life
boats were lowered, and everyone
left the slip.
This occurred at four o'clock in the
afternoon, and for two hours the life
boats clung to the wreck, for shelter
from the mountainous seas. Their
position of safety was abandonec
when oil from the ship covered the
surface of the water, and being blown
by the wind into the faces of the oc
cupants of the lifeboats rendered the
position. close to the hulk untenable
At six o'clock the boats cast of
from the wreck, and started toward
Pensacola. After progressing about
three miles, according to the s-s wei
to the libel, they sighted the fishing
schooner Culebra, and were taken
aboard. Thew then returned to the
wreck, and with a chain 90 fathoms
long, anchored it in C5 fathoms Of
water, at a spot AZ miles soutbeaAt
of Pensacola light.
Aboard the Culebra they came to
Pensacola, made arrangements to sal
wage the Wasp, and on returning tc
IL L. l.
libellant in the schooner "Sea EN-"
tied to the wreck, rendering, accord
ing to the claimants absolutely no
service in saving the wreck, and his
presence being entirely unnecessary.