Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-25
REPUBLICS PASSENGERS !.
TELL STORY Of RESCUE

everyone Wdo III Dcu ~ SiCdt many
passengers were thrown from their
hunks by the crash, and many rusned
wildly on deck in their bare feet.
With the return of the Florida the
transfer began. Carrying out the rig
| i'd rule of the sea, the women were
placed in boats first. In two hours
all were safely ON board the Florida.
That ship was terribly crowded. how
ever, and at conferences between the
captains of the Florida and the Baltic
| it was decided another transfer of
passengers was necessary.
Waters Grow Rough.
Accordingly this second hazardous
undertaking was begun. The waters
were now rough and the operation was
necessarily more dangerous and of
longer duration than the former trans
fer, but all were safely placed aboard
the Baltic.
story of Sinking by Witness.
Woods Hole, Mass, Jan. 25.-Fol-
/ lowing is the story of the sinking of
T, the Republic as told by Lieutenant
cutter Gresham:
"rhe Gresham found the Republic
at 10 a. m. Sunday The passengers,
all but two officers and the deck crew
had been transferred to the Baltic.
Captain Sealby second officer of the
Republic, and 35 men in the boats
were lying alongside the Republic,
which had big list to starboard and
was down somewhat by the stern.
Climb Back on Board.
| Shortly before noon the captain
and crew of the Republic climbed back
on board the Gresham and sent line
on board the Republic. At the same
time the British passenger steamer
standing by sent two lines aboard to
assist in steering the Republic. The
| little feet started up, but the Repub-
lie proved very unmanageable and
could not be steered, as the northeast
wind continually swung it around. At
Is p. m. the derelict destroyer Seneca
arrived and took a line ahead of the
Gresham. At this time very little
progress was being made, and it was
reported from the Republic it was
making water fast.
Captain Remains Aboard.
"At last night the entire crew of
the Republic was ordered by Captain
Sealby to abandon ship, and getting
into their lifeboats, easily overlook
the Gresham.
"The men said that they could not
persuade Captain Sealby to leave his
vessel, and the second officer refused
Ito leave the side of his commander.
"At s the bow of the Republic. il
Illuminated by rays of the search.
lights, was seen to rise fast. Five
minutes later two pistol shots were
| heard and two blue lights were burn
ed. At $40 the Republics bow shot
high in the air, and it sank in 38 faith
Ioms of water in a position Is miles
South Shoals lightship.
Found ON wreckage.
"a lifeboat was dropped from the
side of the Gresham, and the crew
under the command OF Gunner Car
> Johanson, started for the boat, anG
lreturned in three-quarters of an houl
with both the captain and second Off
: Ger on board. They had been picked
I up clinging to some wreckage. Meth
/ er had on life preservers.
et "The Republic was struck on the
port side a little more than two-third.
u of the way aft. A large hole was tor
in it's side which was clearly visible
Bodies Go Down.
!; Captain Sealby stated on the decl
! of the Republic when it went dow
rested two caskets containing the bod
les of those passengers who had beer
killed in the collision"
Republic Finally Sinks.
q New York, Jan. 25.-The liner Re
2, public, rammed by the Italian steame
e Florida in fog off Nantucket SatuI
n day, now lies under As fathoms of Sc
r loft No Mans Land. near Martha
n Vineyard island, of the Massachusett
D. coast.
q The Republics captain and crew
taken off at the last minute befor
II the great ship went down at 8 o'cloc
q. last night, were safe on the reyenu
lr cutter Gresham.
sr Thus the greatest sea drama of moe
q ern times is closed with the loss {
N only six lives. Two passengers of th
1t Republic and four members of tn
t. Florida's crew were killed in the co
lision of the two vessels. Two othe
e. passengers of the Republic were il
IN ijured.
II The Dead.
MRS. E. LYNCH, Boston, Mass; @