New-York tribune., 1909-01-26
WITH REPUBLIC TO END
FURNESSIA rs RUDDER.
Summoned by WueLess, Anch0r
Liner Searched 81 Hours an Fog.

The Anchor Line steamship Furnessia, Cap
tain James Lumsdane commanding. five days
overdue from Glasgow, which turned to and
aided in the effort to get the Republic either into
shallow water into port docked shortly after
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The Furnessia had an exciting time trying to
help the Republic, and for hours rode astern of
the doomed vessel, carrying two Of the RepuD-
lies twelve Inch hawsers and acting, in so far
as she might. in place of the useless steering
gear OF the White Star boat, This was while the
revenue cutter Gresham. and later the Gresham
and the derelict destroyer Seneca. were at
tempting to tow the Republic TO shallow water
where she might be beached.
The FI1rnessia first got word Of the collision
late on Saturday night. when r, Colven' the
Marconi operator caught a message so faint
and weak at first that it with the greatest
difficulty he gathered its meaning Then a
little later clearer and stronger came the report
that the Republic had been rammed by the
Florida and needed assistance
c,o,v.n licked back a response and found that
he vas in communication with the Baltic lie
cot word quickly to Captain Lumsdane. and the
news set the 270 passengers agog with excite
ment What happened was told yesterday by
Chief officer William Mitchell Of the Furnessia'
, who nut out with boats crew in heavy
| from her stern the hawsers. which were attacheo
| 70 the PROV of the FtIrnessta-
The wireless first began to pick UP the Balt1c
on Saturday night said Mr.. Mitchell we
established the general position Of the Baltic oy
means Of the wireless and at once started III her
direction II was a mighty tiCklish task. and
we had TO proceed slowly Hardly one or the
officers or crew Of the Furnessia had wink or
sleep on Saturday night We knew that tne
New York and Campania were cruising IN the
neighborhood and we took every precaution- we
spent Saturday night watching. and finally the
.e.-cL came TO an end when came on the
RaItic in lift of the fog
-It was about I:15 o'clock on Sunday morning
when We first caught sight of the Baltic Cap
tain Iumsdane at once ordered a boat over the
side with myself In charge. to 90 10 the baIuc-
We started and were followed In few minutes
b, tn, third officer. william Buchanan. with
another boats crew. The last of the Repuohc
Messengers had Just been transferred from the
Florida to the Baltic We hailed the Baltic
through a megaphone and asked IL any assist
ono, was wanted Captain Lumsdane had sent
o,t the second boat thinking that in the high
saas nerhaps further aid might be needed IN
getting the passengers from the Florida to the
Baltic.
I'VE were asked to find the Republic and 10
stand by her. while the Baltic proceeded slowly
to New York. 1t was about lO-0o o CloCk'
think when we first came up with the big liner.
then well down in the water. l started for the
Republic with a boats We went to see
of what assistance we could be. During this
time the Gresham came up to within hailing
distance
My boat brought back lines from the Re
public's stern to the Furnessia. and two 12-inch
hawsers. sixty fathoms long. were stretched be
tween the two ships. When the Gresham made
fast her towing gear attempt was made TO
start but the revenue cutter was not heavy
enough for her task. and she could hardly stir
the big Republic. I don't think were making
above knot. perhaps not much We kept
in wireless touch with the Gresham. and after
we had gone little way the Seneca came up
She put lines the Gresham and tried aid
her in towing Even then the speed little
better and the Republic seemed TO be slowly
sinking We went along slowly through the
afternoon. drifting all Of the time, nearly
much. maybe. as the headvay
THE Republic settled slowly. and as night
fell she lay low in the heavy sea. About $50
o'clock our lines to the Republics stern parted
about midway. and in the darkness and fog 1t
was impossible TO do anything. Sometimes.
though we less than four hundred feet
from the Republic. We could hardly see her.
Then again, when the fog would lift tempo
rarIy we would her. Each time that
sighted her clearly she seemed to be lower in
the water.
AT nightfaI we had word by the wireless
that the Gresham had taken off the officers and
crew of the Republic. all her captain and
chief officer. They stayed by the ship We
could not see them; but now and again. through
the heavy mist. could get glimpse OF her
bridge lights, cleaning family. and the only
ones showing.
with our lines gone kept a little further
away but were still in constant communication
by wireless with the Gresham Along about
O'Clock breeze sprang up and half an hour
later we missed the Republic The wireless
brought us word that she had gone down about
$50 o'clock.
I'VE still stood by, and two other steamers
came and played their searchlights on the spot
where the Republic went down. At o'clock
the Gresham wired that by the aid OF the
ssarchHghts the captain and chief officer OF the