New-York tribune., 1909-01-26


deck.
it came time to leave the Republic for the Flor
ida he found himself clad in patamas. a fur
overcoat one tan shoe and one black one He
was wearing the same costume when the Baltic
reached her pier.
1t cannot be said that there panic at
the time of the retrausfer." said DR.. WaIdstein;
but conditions very different from those
that had prevailed when left the Republic.
The Italians were far less able to cope with the
situation than the men Of the Republic had
been, and it became necessary. in sending the
pass myers from the Florida, for the of the
Republic TO take active part in directing
matters.
This time there was no lowering Of boats
from the davits. We walked down ladder TO
the boats. 1t was a fairly sturdy ladder, but
it was evident that there were too many people
anxious to be on it at the same time, should
such be necessary in getting of with speed
The jam fearful It was hard to get ones
breath in the mass of humanity The Florida
was black with people, and there probably were
not very many who cared to wait long before
getting off.
Barker stood on one side at the head Of the
ladder that led down the small boats and
Spencer stood at the other One Italian drew
however. to let that interfere with his sense of
duty. and, grasping the hand that held the knife
with his left hand. he gave the fellow sting
ing blow with his rfght-a manoeuvre that
brought ezcamations of admiration from sew
eraI Of us. though, to tell you the truth. were
so crushed that II wasn't easy job to get
pressions Of any kind"
H A Hover. Of Spokane. Wash. said:
Mrs Hover and I, like most Of the Republics
Messengers were awakened by being violently
thrown against the side OF our hunks. The
shock was terrific. Outside, in the passageway,
I could hear the sound Of running feet From
above on deck came shouts and the yelling Of
orders
BY the time we got to the music room the
place was full of men and women, some with
nothing over them but the clothes in which they
had been asleep. others wrapped in ships
blankets and steamer rugs all more or less
frantic with fear and shivering with the cold.
The women huddled together, some weeping
few hysterical-
Most OF the men rushed out on deck to ascer-
tain what the trouble There we found the
crew of the Republic taking the tarpaulins from
the lifeboats and standing by ready to swing out
tho dsvits There was no sign of any other ship
anvwhere The foghorn of the Republic was
letting out shrill blasts. but there was no an
swering whistle
..Fcx,er,- minute brought more Of the passengers
on deck and TO the music room, and the excite
n,ent was growing instead of Iessening. A great
number had put on life belts. and this sight had
ANYTHING but reassuring effect. Finally the
second officer informed that there
danger Of the vessel going under. The majority
became composed at hearing this, but some Of
the women were still beside themselves. In less
than half an hour, however, mostly every one
had managed to get clothed, after fashion and
all were in the music room and dining saloon
awaiting developments.
The announcement that we We're TO be trans
ferred to the Florida caused more terror than
had the shock Of the collision. but after while
comparative calm was obtained and the trans
shipment was begun I shall never forget the
scene. The Florida could barely be made out
standing by. less than cable length away
The sight of the first boats pulling off from
the Republic was watched with a lump in the
throat of every one. The boats would stand out
under the searchlight. and then fade away into
the mist. lost TO view. The Florida's boats had
also been put the side. and Il was sort of
contest between the crews of the two ships as to
which would behave better and take over the
greater number of passengers in the least time
When it came 70 the turn Of Captain Sealby and
the officers and men CT the Republic TO abandon
the ship, they refused. II was the thing TO do,
OF course. out nevertheless to see il done gave
us all the creeps
David S. Cowles. president of ". H Parsons
& Co. paper manufacturers. at No Ill Broad
way. was the Republic with his wife and
daughter. The first thing he said was to COM
pliment the officers and crew of the Republic ess
ell of all the ships
My stateroom. No. D." he said was only
few doors away from where the greatest dam
age done. There not so bad a shock
you might imagine. When we scrambled to
deck we were unable TO see the Florida, but We
could hear her whistles not far away.
THE captain Informed US through his mega
phone that he was IN communication with the
Baltic and with Nantucket. by wireless and
promised that help would soon arrive. That was
reassurins. II didn't take US long 10 see that the
Florida was as badly damaged the Republic