Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-01-28
COLLlOED At SEA.
WHITE STAR LINER REPUBLIC
RAMMED BY STEAMER FLOR
IDA IN DENSE FOG.
1ELp CALLED BY WIRELESS
Other Vessels Came quickly to Rescue
And Passengers From Both Yes
sells Were Transferred
to Baltic.


Boaton, Jan. 25.-Through clou,
Of fog that yelled the entire north
east coast early Saturday morning,
wireless message Of distress from thu
White Star liner Republic, rammet
and sinking rs miles from land
reached two big liners just nearing
New York, two revenue cutters alonG
the Massachusetts coast and tugs and
smaller craft plying local waters.
| The big liners wheeled and made
eastward, the revenue cutters lifted
anchors and steamed away through
the pail at perilous speed, and scores
Of smaller vessels, called by the re-
peated wreck signals of the laundering
Republic, raced to save the 461 pas
sengers and the crew Of the disabled
ship.
A few hours later the wireless
flashed along the coast the news that
the ships had won over the sea. Reve-
nue. cutters and an incorsing liner
stood by as the Republic slowly set
tied down and took of the cheering
passengers one by one.
Details Of the collision came fitfully
by wireless Sunday from many receiv.
ing stations along the New England
coast line. The story, though in brief
but potent messages, told how the
passengers Of the Republic and the
Florida spent many anxious and I'm
comfortable hours following the wreck
and not until eight O'Clock Sunday
morning when all were safe and sound
on the Baltic did they have feeling
Of security.
After the transfer Of the passengers
from the Republic to the Florida,
which had no accommodations for the
400 and more additions to her already
heavy list, Capt. Voltolin Of the Italian
ship gave orders to stand by until
further help arrived. An examination
Of the Florida showed that her cut
water and bow had been crumpled as
II she had crashed into a stone wall
and her two forward compartments
were filled with water. The Florida,
however, showed no signs Of sinking,
though she was slightly down by the
head. It was deemed best, therefore,
at late hour, to transfer not only the
Republics passengers, but all those
on board the Florida as well. Capt.
voltolin believed his progress to New
York would be slow and there were in.
sufficient accommodations and supplies
for SO many passengers.
Shortly before midnight the re-trans-
fer Of the passengers from the Florida
to the Baltic began. Fortunately the
sea was as placid as lake and the
ships boats working In the flare Of
night lights made their way back and
forth between the steamships in the
fog.
All night the transfer of passengers |
to the Baltic was in progress. There |
was little alarm among the passengers
as they we're taken in boats to the |
Baltic. EARLY Sunday the transfer, in
GLIDING the Florida's steerage passen-
gers, was completed.
The French liner La Lorraine, the
first of the many ships that partici-
pated in this stirring sea incident, ar
rived in port Sunday. She was 12O
miles from the scene when her officers
were informed Of the Republics plight
by the Marconi operator at Siasconset,
Mass, early Saturday. &C. @. d." the
ominous letters of the International
Sea code, indicating distress, had
reused the sleepy operator in his
room on the French steamer and few
minutes later came the words:
Republic wrecked; wants assist
ance," followed by the latitude and
longitude Of the ship in distress
Tell them am coming" responded
Capt. Lournier when he was informed
II the call; and for the next six hours
he sent his ship tearing through the
log at the dangerous speed Of 20 knots,
which brought her to the scene short
y after the hour Of noon. Then and
Until nlghtfall La Lorraine steamed
ylowly about In the mist searching for
he water-logged Republic, whose ship
,ell could be heard, so near was the
French steamer to the object Of her
quest. All this time La Lorraine was I
n close wireless touch with the White
star liner Baltic, which had also !
fastened to the aid of her sister ship.
Finally as night was falling, the Baltic 4
dashed message which told those on
q Lorraine that the endangered pas !
IengeTs Of the stricken ship were safe
board the italian liner Florida. This /
COUPLED with request from the Bal
&c to follow the Florida into New j
fork, sent La Lorraine on her belated
lomeward way.
Iowa to Fight Snakes.
Des Moines, Ia, Jan. Ex-senator
Robert ouIgley Wednesday introduced J
/ bin placing a bounty Of so cents on
he head Of each rattlesnake killed ia /
iowa. The BILL Is a result Of the 90
rious illness Of ex-senator BryOn New
berry, whose poisoning By the bite o.
. ratfIeanake iaat summer made n