Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-01-28
White Star Liner Republic and
and Lloyd Liner Florida
MEET OFF NANTUCKET ISLAND
Republic Goes to Bottom After IN
loading Her 781 Passengers and
Crew-Greatest Feat in History Of
Wireless T~elegraphy - Four Are
Killed

~ l oPCSA&As S
Prevailed 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 L~loyd-1talian line. The wireless
telegraph played an important part
in the grave incidents happending at
sea, far from the shore, and proved
its utility as It has never done before.
Bit by bit it told the tale, first ans,
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
of the Republics passengers, the
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 s o'clock p. N. the wireless
brought r%eassuring news from Cap
tain Ransom, of The steamer Baltic.
He said that the Republic was still
aloat; that the Florida, with her
own people and most of t~hose~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 passen-
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 OF steerage passengers.
It is apparent that the Florida
must have been between 30 or 40
miles off her course in being any
there nea the Republic, as the east
hs,,,,d and westbound steamer lanes
rbora ~ that distance apart.
Tho sion, being amidship, al
most immedid,s.1v flooded the engine
room of the Repnp>>'c and OF course
rendered her a~bsolr~sly helpless;
Fortunately, her wireless equipment
was we'll 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 weathe,
for this season Of the year in thf
North Atlantic enabled the transfer
to be made without accident. By
noon the Baltic and LaLcrraine wer;
close to the scene Of collision, bu
owing to the dense fog, were unable
to locate the Republic, although tn
submarine bells could be heard FIRE
quently.
The prompt closing Of the Repub
lies water-tight compartments whic
kept her afoat and undoubtedl
saved the lives Of many Of those O
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 wer
under a fearful strain and likely t.
give way at any moment.
A dispatch at $50 Sunday nigh
said: "Republic gone down. No on
aboard. All crew safe on revenu
cutter Gresham"
An hour later another wirele.
message was received stating that tn
revenue cutter Gresham, with II
Republic crew on board was pr
ceeding to Gayhead.
The Republics passengers foul
500 returning Italians, many Of the
survivors Of the earthquake. on boa,
the Florida, which left Naples {,
January 9th.
Encoln's Native County Votes D1
Hedgonville, KY, Special.-In