TITANIC CLAIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 284, 23 April 1913, Page 3

TITANIC CLAIMS.

OVER £1,000,000 INVOLVED.

On botli sides of the Atlantic considerable interest attaches to the proceedings' which are pending against the (Manic Navigation Company, in connection with the loss of life and property caused by the foundering of the White Star liner Titanic in April last. In addition to several test actions ill the English courts, claims aggregating nearly £1,250,000 have.,already been, filed in the United States. ' . ,i

The fundamental questions for decision are (says the Westminster Garotte) whether the company is liable at au,. and, if liable, is it entitled to limit? its responsibility unijer the American law for damages to the amount of "the passage and freight money paid fofc theparticular voyage, together with the value of the salvage—about i'2o,(f)o in all-or can claimants sue under theBritish statute limiting liability for loss of life to £ls per ton, and for loss of property to £8 per ton, which in the case of the TitaAic'Would amount to a sum not far short of a million sterling. The issue is, therefore, of supreme importance. It is not expected that a decision will be arrived at in the United States courts before June at the earliest, ond probably not even then, while, go far as England is concerned, the situation is further complicated by the fact that on the back of the steerage tickets was a clause exempting the company from damages due to negligence.

No claims have been made by Mrs. John Jacob Astor or the family'of the late Mr. Charles M. Haves, former president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

The la rgest amount, €200,000, is claimed by Mrs. Irene Wallack Harris, widow of Mr. Henry B. Harris, who was interested in many theatrical ventures, while, in addition, she asks £SOOO for her own .personal effects, including a pearl necklace valued at £-2000. Mrs. Charlotte Cardcza, of Germanstown, seeks to recover £35,000 for her wardrobe and other property, the inventory mentioning such items as a pink diamond worth £4OOO, hatpins the cost of which was £IOO, and a white petticoat estimated at £lO.

The claim submitted by Mrs. Lily Millet, of New York, for tiie loss of her husband, the well-known artist, is £20,000; and Mrs. May Futrelle, widow of Mr. Jacques Futrelle, author, asks £OO,OOO.

Moreover, fiO.OtiO is wanted fopthe loss of an oil-paint iii» entitled "The Circassian at 11m Hath"; £II,OOO for 110,000 ft of moving picture films: £2OOO bv the Countess of Rothes for the logs of personal property, including a, diamond marquise rinjr worth £2OO, some old lace, and a set of black fox and ermine furs; and. in the ease of one family, father, mother and four children, tliat wont down ,willi tho liner £3OOOO is claimed hy the grandparents.' ' '