"TITANIC" CLAIMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1732, 24 April 1913, Page 3

"TITANIC" CLAIMS.

OVER £1,000,000 SAID TO BE INVOLVED. A QUESTION OP LIABILITY. On both sides of Ihe Atlantic considerable intciest attaches to the proceedings ■■which are pendiu!; against the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company in connection with the loss of life and properly caused i>y the foundering of the White Star liner Titanic in April last (says llio "Westminster Gazette" of February L'J). Jii addition to several lest actions in the English Courts, claims aggregating nearly <£'!,250.01)0 liave already keen filed in the United States. The fundamental nuestiohs for derision aio whether the company is liable at all, and, if liable, is it entitled to limit its responsibility under American law for damages to the amount, of the passage and mo;iey paid for the particular voyage, together with the valuo of llio salvage—about ,C 20,000 in ail—or can claimants sue under the British statute limiting shipowners' liability for loss or life 'to «Cl. r ) per ton, and for loss of proix'i'ty t.o „ES per lon, which in the case of tho Titanic would, amount to a sum not Tar short, of « million sterling. This issue is, therefore, of supreme importance. It is not expecled that a decision will Iw arrived at in the United Slates Courts before June at the earliest, and probably not even then, while, so far lis this country is concerned, thu situation i? further cnmpliealed'by the fact thai/on the back of (lie steerage tickets was a. clause exempting I 'the company from damages duo to negligence. i \ No claims havo been made by Mrs. John .lacob Astor or the family of the late Jlr. Charles Jl. Hayes, former president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The largest amount, J;200,000, is claimed by Afrs. Irene Wallack Harris., widow of Mr. Henry B. Harris, who was interested in many Ihcatrical ventures, while, in addition, sla- aslcs'J.'fisoo for hrr own oer-I'-oiml ■ilfects. including a pearl necklace mined at JE-2000. Mrs. Charlotte Cardeza, of Gcvmankiwn, seeks to recover .C35.0G0 for her wardrobe and other properly, the inventory mentioning such items as a pink diamond worth .£4OOO, hatpins the cost of which was =C10(J, anil a whito petticoat estimated at .£l9.

The claim submittofl by Mrs. Lily Millel;, of New York, for the loss of her luisbau:!, the well-known artist, is X 20.000, and Mrs. May Futrelle, widow of Mr. Jacques Futrelle, iUitlior, asks ' JWSO,111)0. Moreover. .l'2o,()fK) is wanted for the loss of an oil-pail in? entitled "The Circassian at the Balh"; ,£11,01)0 for 110,C90ft. of moving picture films; .£20,11) by the Countess of'. Rothes for the loss of personal property, including n diamond marquis ring- worth JJ2(!D, some old lace, and n set of liluck fox and ermine furs; and, :n tho case of ono family, father, mother, ar.d four children, that went down with (he liner, ,£30,000 is claimed by the grandparents.

.Jork. February - "3.—The United states Circuit Court of Appeals has Riven a ■ik-cision allowing the heirs of victims of the Titanic disaster to lile actions against the A\ hito Star Lino for full damage. Tlio total claims, it is staled, excoed sight, million dollars, but the suits will lie deferred until the amount of (lie, liabilities of the AVhito Star ]jine has been settled by the Courts—"Central News."