Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-26
Baltic Lands Over 1900 Rescued Passengers at
New York. Graphic Tales Of Disaster bodies
Of Dead Went Down With the Ship. :
A DARING RESCUE.

Woods Hole. Jan. 25.-The exploit of
Gunner Carl Johanson and his boat 5
crew in finding Captain Sealby and
Second officer Williams after the Re
public had plunged to the bottom has
elected the heartiest praise and COM
mendation from his superior officers.
Gunner Johansnn was averse to dis
cuSSing the matter today but from 9th
or members OF the Gresham crew, the
facts of the case We're learned.
Fearing that the Republic in her
final plunge might carry the Gresham
down with her it was arranged that
Capt. Sealby should send UP bluo
light signal when the Republic began
To 80 down.
Gunner Johanson and his boat crew
consisting of Seamen Hansen. Matte
son, Becker and Smethurst, aided by
four members of the Republics crew
were waiting for the signal light, TO
launch the life boat. The chief officer
IF the Republic, who was thoroughly
chilled by exposure had gone below on
nc Gresham 10 get warm and had re-
III 4 4 tiat he be notified when the
)Gat PIT OF, as he wished TO partici-
pate in the attempt to rescue his COM
nander
The sea at the time was running so
Ugh that water was coming in through
he deck ports of the Gresham. The
light was dark and the density of the
'os added to the difficulty of the situa-
ion.
Suddenly the blue light flashed. TIE
lempen hawser connecting the Repub-
he stroke of an axe and at the same
instant the Gresham's lifeboat was
owered and was on it's way TO the spot
where the Republic WAS sinking be-
icath the waves.
The first officer of the Republic was
summoned, but so quickly had johann
sons boat crew done their work that
1y the time the Republics first offlccr
appeared on deck the lifeboat had dis
appeared in the fog. The first officer
when he learned that he had been left
| ,chinG burst into tears and refused t.
| be comforted.
Out in the fog and the darkness went
| the liteboat. a small spar, possibly g
| flagstaff shot up from the water and
| struck JOhanson in the face, badly
cruising it. but inhicting no serious
| lamagc. For long time the boat wa.
| owed back and forth over the spo;
where the Republic had sunk but nc
I ign of either Captain Sealby or Sec
md Officer Williams could be found.
| After a half hour or more of search
| ng Second Officer Williams was found
| swimming around. He had run t.
he after rail and dived overheard just
| rs the ship went down. There was n,
| iOating Wreckage about him and al
| :hough he was hampered by his heavy
| OnG oScrCoat. he managed to swim il;
| the chilly water for nearly half an houl
)eforc being picked up. When hauleo
! INTO the Greshams lrcDoat he was
| veil nigh exhausted.
4 few moments later m response /,
| he shouts of the boats crew. a faint
| .ry came out of the darkness Heading
| he boat in the direction whence the
| sound came. Gunner JohanSon came
Upon q floating grating to which Cap
tain Scalby was clinging. The com
handler of tho Republic, like his sec.
md officer, was in a state of almos,
complete exhaustion when talScr
aboard the lfeboat.
/ Fhe boat crew tnen enGeaVOfCu I,
make its way back to the Gresham
| Which had been signalling constantly [;
| ;rdicate her whereabouts and less thar
La quarter OF an hour after Captain
sealby had been picked up Johansor
ard his crew had brought the life
beat alongside the Gresham.
Captain Sealby told the men in TIL
boat that after lie had climbed to TIL
'oremast head he waited there as tn
Republic sank and as the water reach
cd him he let go and struck out. Hard
ly had he released his hold on the spa
when ne struck against a piece O
Iwreckage. which proved to be a per
ton of wooden grating and wliicl
Iaided in keeping him afloat until h
could be picked up.
Neither Captain Sealby nor Secon,
officer Williams wore life belts an,
each was clothed in the regulation win
ter overcoat when the ship went down
When the lifeboat drew up alongsid
Of the Gresham and those on board tn
.,,ttar learned that the two brave Of