Norwich bulletin., 1909-01-25

gers.
Shortly before midnight the re-
transference Of the passengers from
the Florida to the Baltic began. For
tunately the sea was smooth and placid
and the ships boats under the filmy
| flare Of night lights made their way
back and forth between the steamships
in the fog. Meanwhile the Republic
drifted away in the murk and was lost
TO the sight of those on board the Bal
tic and Florida. Captain Sealby and
boats crew kept alongside the Repub-
lie in gig and were keeping watch
over the disabled liner when at 10
o'clock last night she was lost to the
view Of the Baltic.
The transfer Of passengers to the
Baltic took until morning. There was
little fear among them.
The Republic Picked Up When Fog
Lifted.
When all, including the Florida's
passengers, had been placed on the
Baltic. Captain Ransom sent a wire
less message to New York that he was
going in search Of the Republic As
the morning advanced the fog lifted
and the disabled steamship was picked
uD. The gashed liner seemed to be
floating more easily and Captain Seal
by and his boat crew, who had remain
ed beside her all night, boarded her.
| The wireless operator, who had stuck
to his ship until ordered off by the
captain, obtained some new stopAge
tanks and also boarded her.
Fleet of Salvage Tugs at Scene.
Meanwhile a fleet Of salvage tugs
| had arrived at the scene and the
American liner New York had taken 4
position near the Florida, while the
Anchor liner F'urnessia, which had
come UP during the night, stood by
ready to render any assistance needed
The Baltic Headed for New York.
Shortly before 10 o'clock Captain
Ransom received q wireless order from
his company's officials to bring the
Baltic and the rescued passengers to
this port without regard to the Re
public. Within a few minutes Of the
order the Baltic headed for this port,
where she is expected about midnight.
The French liner La Lorraine, the
first of the many ships which partici-
pated in this remarkable marine acct
dent, reached port today. She was 120
miles from the scene OF the collision
when her officers were informed of the
Republics plight by the Marconi oper-)
ator at Siasconset, Mass early Satur-
day.
French Liner Picks Up Wireless Dis
tress Letters &C. @. d.
&C. @. D." the ominous letters of the
international sea code, indicating dis
tress. had aroused the sleepy operator
in his room on the French steamer,
and a few minutes later came the
words Republic wrecked; wants as
sistance," followed by the latitude and
longitude of the ship in distress.
Rushed 20 Knots an Hour to the
Rescue.
ffT'elT 4barY7 7 m Coming" vezpOnded
Capt. Edouard Tournier when inform
ed Of the call for help, and for the
next six hours he sent his big ship
dashing through the fog at the danger
Gus speed Of twenty knots an hour,
which brought her to the scene short
ly after noon. Then and until night
fall La Lorraine steamed slowly about
in the mist searching for the water
logged Republic, whose bell could be
plainly heard, so near was the French
steamer to the object of her quest. All
this time La Lorraine was in wireless
communication with the Baltic, which
had also fastened to the aid Of her sis
ter ship. Finally, as night was falling
the Baltic flashed a message to the
Frenchman that the endangered pas
sengers of the stricken ship were safe
aboard the italian liner Florida. This
coupled with request from the Baltic
to follow the Florida into New York,
sent La Lorraine on her belated home
ward way.
Captain of La Lorraine Tells Story of
the Search.
Capatin Tournier, who plainly show
ed signs of the strain of his long vigil
told the story Of the search in simple
language aboard his ship today. BY
his side stood Bour, the wireless man,
who, no less than his captain, had been
under a great strain.
Il had been on the bridge nearly ali
Friday night" said the captain, be
cause of the heavy fog. At seven in
the morning, or a little before, 1 was
handed the first wireless message tell
ing of the Republics disaster. Tell
them 1 am coming 1 said to the oper-
ator, and then 1 took my position as
well as the fog would let me. 1 found
that I was 120 miles from where the
Republic had been rammed and at
once started full speed for the scene.
Fog Shut Out All View.
Towards one in the afternoon we
reached the vicinity Of the wreck as
known to us by the bearings-latitude
40.17. longitude 10 west-given us by
the operator at Siasconset, but the fog
MRs so dense that nothing could be
seen. We steamed in all directions
north, south, east and west. Mean
while we had come very close to the
Baltic. which we never actually saw, so
thick was the fog. All this time
was constantly exchanging messages
with her and / could hear not only her
bell, but also a bell which l took to
be the Republics. l stayed in the vi
cinity for six hours and then the Bal
tic sent me word that all the passen-
gers were safe aboard the Florida
bound for New York, and asked me to
follow her, as she was in need of
convoy
Guided by the FIorida's ShrlII Blasts.
This l tried to do as well as l
could, having only the Fiorida's whls-
tie blasts to guide me. At about $50
heard four blasts. which was the
Florlda's signal. l was going at slow
speed and 1 steered in the direction
from which the whistle came. 1 could
not. however, locate the Florida in the
fog, and never heard from her again.
1 then stood in for New York.
The Florida may have been any