THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230325
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
One year to the day after a New Mexico businessman filed a claim to the historic shipwreck Lusitania, the last competing claim to the great ocean liner was dropped.
On Wednesday, a Massachusetts widow withdrew her claim. Her husband had bought the World War I wreck from the ship's insurance company in 1967.
It was the second and final competing claim to disappear. In December, a federal judge dismissed a third claim to the wreck filed by a group of American divers.
That leaves F. Gregg Bemis Jr. of Santa Fe - the man who started it all with his claim in February 1994 - as the undisputed owner of one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world.
Only one hurdle remains: The settlement must be approved by U.S. District Judge J. Calvitt Clarke Jr., who has expressed displeasure in the past over Bemis' custodianship of the ship.
A trial had been scheduled for Thursday, March 2. It may be unnecessary, depending on how Clarke rules.
The Lusitania, a British luxury liner, was sunk by a German torpedo just off the coast of Ireland in 1915, in the first year of World War I. The sinking killed 1,198 passengers and crew members, including 128 Americans. The sinking helped draw America into the war.
In 1967, American diver John F. Light of Boston bought the shipwreck for 1,000 pounds from the ship's insurer, The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association.
The next year, Light sold shares in the shipwreck to Bemis and George Macomber. The three became partners, each owning one-third of the Lusitania, and tried unsuccessfully to salvage the ship.
Eventually, Bemis bought out Macomber and Light. He bankrolled another salvage expedition in 1982, and this one turned up many artifacts, including three propellers, silverware, and the ship's bell and horn. The items were auctioned at Sotheby's.
In 1993, Bemis sanctioned and took part in a scientific dive sponsored by National Geographic. It became a 1994 TV special and magazine cover story.
Before the TV show aired, on Feb. 22, 1994, Bemis filed his claim to the Lusitania in Norfolk's federal court. The judge appointed him temporary custodian of the wreck and, for a while, it appeared he would go unchallenged.
In August, however, Light's widow, Muriel C. Light of Scituate, Mass., filed a competing claim. ``I'd rather leave the wreck alone,'' she said in an interview at the time. ``Let's not start bringing bits of it to Virginia Beach. . . . This is an historic wreck.''
Bemis has said he wants to conduct scientific and salvage dives to the wreck, and to create a traveling exhibit of artifacts.
In September, four American divers led by Gary Gentile of Philadelphia filed a claim. The judge dismissed that claim in December, saying it was filed too late.
On Wednesday, eight days before the trial is scheduled to start, Muriel Light withdrew her claim and assigned her interest in the Lusitania to Bemis.
In exchange, Bemis has agreed to recognize John Light's contribution to the Lusitania's history in any museum exhibition he mounts. He also agreed to donate artifacts from the ship to two museums in Ireland, near the wreck site, said Light's lawyer, Patrick M. Brogan of Norfolk.
Asked if any money changed hands, Brogan replied, ``I'm not going to say.''
``She was never after any real monetary gain,'' Brogan said. ``I guess eventually she just wants recognition of her husband's contribution to the Lusitania.''
In Santa Fe, Bemis declined to discuss the settlement. ``Until the judge issues an order, it's not done,'' Bemis said.
Bemis' lawyer, Glen A. Huff of Virginia Beach, could not be reached for comment. by CNB