The Washington herald., 1909-01-26
SLOWLY MOVING MONSTER
CRASHES INTO HER SIDE

The Republic was marking time in the
ocean. her screw revolving lazily, just
enough 10 give her seaway. Sealby had
reeied her in quickly when the answer
ing roar Of a fog-horn rose out or the
gray waste. When he saw the blur
moving rapidly toward the Republic he
sounded three quick. short blasts-"Full
speed astern." Tneu the Republic
whistled once I am going TO pass on
your port side
Instantly the other ship Whistled once.
the curt notification that she too would
pass 10 port Of the Republic The next
instaRt-or 50 it seemed-tbe strangers
bow hit the Republic a little slantingly
aft Of amidships on the port side. sink
ing itself through steel walls. timbers.
coal bunkeTs, piercing 10 the engine room
and crushing i've staterooms as q man
crushes an empty cigarette box in the
palm Of his hand
The Republic was pointing a little south
Of east. her nose toward the Azores. The
stranger. heading for New York. was
proceeding southwest Some OF the Re
puhlic's people said that the Florida was
travelling pretty fast ripping along
through the fog al nine OF ten knots.
Her speed was difficult TO estimate. she
doomed up so suddenly. but from the size
and the depth Of the wound she dealt
the Republic. il was apparent 10 those
on board the bigger vessel that she
wasn't drifting by any means.
COOl-headed Discipline shown.
The accident was followed BY an ex-
hibition Of cooI-headed discipline and
capabiiity on the part Of the crew OF the
Republic. and by as fine a display Of calm
restraint and courage on the part OF the
passengers generally as can be read in
marine history. The ship was staggering
and Cuivering from the fearful blow. the
water was pouring into her hull. the lights
had gone out. and the Republic was IS
dark as a cellar from stem 70 stern; no
body aboard knew in the first half hour
Or so whether the ship could stand up ten
minutes or q day. and everywhere in the
confusion and pitch dark people, shocked
out Of sleep. hardly dared think what
might have been the fate Of relatives and
friends.
But there was no panic and no sign OF
one anywhere on the ship. The first
cabin passengers, making their way 20
the corridors and thence TO the prone
made deck. went quietly and quickly
calmed BY the officers aud the stewards.
IN the steerage the eXCitabie Italians
started a great screaming al first 4
few Of them rushed toward the upper
decks The impulse Of fright died away
quickly The under stewards, Italians
most Of them. went among their coun-
trymen, soothing their fears and assur-
ing them that there was no immediate
danger. perhaps none al all.
Not even the swift tongues of the res
CUed passengers. eager to narrate their
curious experiences, could more than
sketch roughly the picture that the cor
ridOrs Of the Republic presented in the
first few minutes after the crash. There
were very few who were daring enough
to put on ali Of their clothes. Men and
women caught Up with the utmost haste
what garments happened 10 be handiest
Some Of the women went 70 the prone
made deck and stood for hours in bare
feet. In night dresses. protected from the
raw cold by mems coats OF a skirt that
had been snatched UP. Many Of the men
were able 10 get into their trousers and
shoes, and had 20 be content with their
fur coats for other covering. Il vas
motley crowd that the cool officers and
stewards assembled finally on the prone
made deck TO wait for whatever might
heu0en