New-York tribune., 1909-01-26
LAST OF THE REPUBLIC
CAPTAIN STUCK TO POST.
He and Second Officer Picked Ont Of
Whrlpool by Rescue Party.

! Woods Hole. Mass, Jan 25-The thrilling scenes
which marked the closing hours Of the White star
| Line steamer Republic. after her passengers and
most of the on their way to New York.
/ the grim determination Of Captain SeaIby to- 60
down with his beloved ship the loyalty Of Second
| Orfcer Williams in refusing 10 les~S the side Of
his commander the death throes Of the ocean liner
and the miraculous rescue OF the officers were
told to-day in ogsp. vivid language by the officers
Of the United States revenue cutter Gresham,
which was towing the Republic when she sank
The officers and Of the Republic were trans
ferred TO the dereict destroyer Seneca and taken
TO New York, while the Gresham came here After
the Gresham up with the sinking Republic
yesterday forenoon preparations made 10 tow
the steamer to the nearest land for besching,
Captain SeaIby thought she could be saved But
the steamers bulkheads were unable 70 stand the
pressure, and o'clock Sunday night Captain
Sealby ordered every of the ship He himself
refused to leave. and the second officer remained
by his commanders side.
An hour later. while the sesrchlights OF the tug
Mary F. Sculy were playing the scene. two
shots were heard from the bridge Of the Republic.
two blue lights were burned. and then the bow OF
the doomed steamer shot up in the air the
great liner sank, first Just before she went
down Captain Sealby climbed the mast. while his
second officer jumped from the rail- They
rescued by Of the Gresham's Iifebosts, in com
mand of Gunner Johnson
On the after deck Of the Republic as she went
down rested two coffns. containing the bodies Of
Mrs. Eugene Lynch, of Boston. and W. J. Mooney
Of Langdon, n. D. who killed IN the col
lison between the Republic and -he Italian steamer
Florida
The Republic rests Oh the bottom of the At
lantic with thirty-eight fathoms OF water over
her. a spot fifteen miles vest-southwest Of Nan
tucket South ShoaI Ltghtship and there she will
probably remain forever
The following is the story OF the sinking OF the
Republic, told BY Lieutenant Philip II Scott,
executive officer of the revenue cutter Gresham;
The Gresham found the Republic at 10 a. Sun
day. The passengers and all but officers and
the deck crew had been transferred to the Baltic.
Captain Sealby the second officer OF the Republic
by their chief, in boats We're lying alongside the
s down somePaf af bv te Stern The RepubIic
st this time was about nine miles southeast OF
A British PASSENGER steamer was standing BY.
put there was no other ooat IN SIghs 9oFsS mo 5 Te
officer. followed BY the crew OF the Republic,
line on board the Republic Which was taken in
over the bow: The captain OF the Gresham Of
up the crew if anything happened At the same
sboard over the starboerd quarter to assist in
steering the Republic The little fleet started up
and could be steered. as the northeast wind
continually swung her around ro-+,,-
northwest. but only did little better than west
arrived and took line ahead Of the Gresham
At this time very little progress was being made
was making water fast. especially by the stern.
Z
The scene whose identity could not BE- learned She
proved very useful in turning her searchlights on
At : O'Clock last night the entire crew Of the Re
public were ordered oy Captain SeaPy 10 aosnaGn 9
The men said that they could not persuade Cap
tain seaIby TO leave vessel and the second off,
Ger Of the Republic refused 10 leave the side OF
/ At o'clock last night the bow Of the Republic.
seer Using fast Five minutes later two pistol
shots were heard and TWO blue lights were burned,
| the air and she sank in thirty-eight fsthoms Of
Nantucket South Shoals Lightship,,
| A Iifeboat was dropped from the side OF The
/ Carl Johnson. started OF. The boat returned in
and the second officer board. They had been
/ picked up cIingng 10 some wreckage Neither
When the Republic BEGAN to sink Captain Sealby
climbed the foremast and reac4sd the msst4eaa ..
jumped from the rail to the sea and said that he
striking the surface Of the water Captain sesIby
The Republic was struck on the port side little
more than tV-o-thirds Of the way aft a large
hole was torn IN her sds "HGn IN sc was s Pad
a big list starboard.
When the Republics crew. the command OF
Captain SeaIby. left the steamer he said that he
would SIGNAL before the final plunge of his ship
in order that the towing hawser might b. cut and
the possibility Of the Gresham being drawn under
avoided Those the Gresham were watching for
the signal and when at length I; flashed out, ac-
conpanied by two pistol shots, the connecting nav
ser was severed with an At the same instant
the C;resharn's ufeboat vas lowered. and Gunner
Johanson with four Of the Cireshams men and four
from the Republic pulled swiftly toward the whiri-
pool made by the sinking liner Once, as Gunner
Iohanson was peering into. the darkness. small
spar-possbIy fagstaf-shot UP and struck him
in the face. causing bad bruise- The boat came
h, accident upon Second Officer Williams as he was
Swimming Although he was hampered by his
heavy cvercoat he had managed to keep ahoat
A few moments later. steering toward a faint
crv which came out of the darkness, the boat ran
up to a floating grating 10 which Captain Sealby,
almost exhausted. was Clinging-
The boats then were guided back 10 the
Gresham by signals. AS they drew up alongside
and those on board the cutter learned that the two
officers of the Republic safe. both American
and British sailors tried Outdo each other in
cheering but many of the Republics men vept
as they helped their captain to the deck
After being furnished with warm and dry cloth
ing Captain SeaIby and Second Officer Williams
rapidly recovered from their experiences