The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-01-28
SHIPS IN COLLISION
White Star Liner Republic and
and Lloyd Liner Florida
MEET Off NANTUCKET ISLAND
Republic Goes to Bottom After Un-
loading Her 781 Passengers and
Crew-Greatest Feat in History of
Wireless Telegraphy - Four Are
Killed.

New York, Special.-Grave anxiety
pervailed here Saturday and Satur-
day night as the result of the thrill
ling maritime drama being enacted
off Nantucket on the coast of New
England, following the ramming
early Saturday of the big White Star
liner Republic with 761 souls
aboard, by the steamer Florida, of
the Lloyd-Italian line. The wireless
telegraph played an important part
in the grave incidents happending n.
sea, far from the shore, and proved
its. utility as it has never done before.
Bit by bit it told the tale, first an
nouncing the news of the collision
! and the plight of the liner, which
news came direct from the injured
ship itself. Then it told Of the res
cue of the Republic passengers, the
I condition from time to time Of the
sinking ship and finally summoned
from the adjacent seas the White
Star line Baltic, the French steamer
La Lorraine, the Curnader Lucania
and the revenue cutters Achushnet
and Gresham.
At 8 O'Clock p. m. the wireless
brought reassuring news from Cap
tain Ransom, Of the steamer Baltic.
He said that the Republic was still
afloat; that the Florida, with her
own people and most of those from
the Republic aboard, close to 1000
souls in all, was nearby and that the
Baltic was near the scene, standing
by ready to lend aid. The steamers
La Lorraine and Lucania. Captain
Ransom said, were also in the vicinity
and the Republic through her wire
less outfit, was directing the move
ments Of the shipe of rescue.
Until an early hour Sunday it was
believed the crashing together of the
two big ships had not resulted in
death of injury to a single passea-
ger, or member of the crews. Shortly
after midnight, however, the wireless
telegraph flashed the news that two
passengers on the Republic had been
killed and two others injured. Late
in the day another wireless message
told Of four deaths on board the
Florida, either of members of the
crew or steerage passengers.
It is apparent that the Florida
must have been between 30 or 40
miles off her course in being any
where near the Rapublic. as the east
bound and westbound steamer lanes
here are that distance apart
The collision, being amidship, al
most Immediately flooded the engine
room Of the Republic and of course
rendered her ABSOLUTELY helpless.
Fortunately, her wireless equipment
was well supplied with storage bat
teries and three were used for more
than six hours, until they gradually
became exhausted After that, re-
course to signalling by means of sub
marine bells was adopted.
In the middle of the forenoon the
transfer of passengers to the Florida
was made, and although the fog was
very dense, unusually calm weather
for this season of the year in the
North Atlantic enabled the transfer
to be n1de without accident. BY
noon the Baltic and LaLorraine were
close to the scene Of collision. but
owing TO the dense fog, were unable
to locate the Republic, although the
submarine bells could be heard fpe-
quently.
The prompt closing Of the Repub-
lies water-tight compartments which
kept her afoat and undoubtedly
saved the lives of many of those or
board. In the afternoon it was Learn.
ed from the Baltic that these com.
partments were still holding the YES
sci above water. but that the bulk.
heads and compartment doors were
under fearful strain and likely tc
give way at any moment.
A dis1atch Mt $50 Sunday night
enid: "Renublic gone down. No one
aboard. All crew safe on revenue
cutter Gresham"
An hour later another wireles.
message was received stating that the
revenue cutter Gresham. with the
Republic crew on board was pro-
ceeding to Gayhead.
The Republic passengers found
300 returning Italians, many Of them
survivors Of the earthquake. on board
the Florida, which left Naples on
January 9th.