The San Francisco call., 1909-01-26
Survivors of Republic and Flor
ida Collision in MidOCean
Reach New York
Three Bodies Taken From Tam
gIed Bow of Ship That
Rammed Its Sister
Marine Court of Inquiry May Be
Necessary to Settle RespOn-
sibiIity for Wreck

NEW YORK Jan .R5-Less than "a
hours after the crash between the ocean
liners Republic and Florida off the
Nantucket shoals, which eventually
sent the one TO the bottom and reduced
The other TO a state OF staggering help
lessness, the survivors OF this deep sea
tragedy have found a haven at last
AT nightfall tonight 1850 passen-
gers from the two vessels We're safe in
This port. brought here by the Baltic,
while nearing il We're the rescued Off
GERS and crew OF the Republic, safe
on the derelict destroyer Seneca, to
which they had been transferred from
the revenue cutter Gresham after stay
Ing 10 the last moment by their sinking
vessel At her dock IN Brooklyn was
the battered Florida. aboard which her
crew had remained throughout her try
ing experiences.
Only the Ill fated Republic was
wanting to complete the list. And she.
too, was in port-her last port Of call,
what doubtless viii prove her final
resting place beneath SO fathoms OF
water, Is miles south OF the Nantucket
south shoals Iightship.
p OLDEST WRECK IN HISTORY
II begins TO be apparent that the last
three days have witnessed what is be
yond question the most remarkable
series Of happenings in the history of
modern navigation.
Sixteen hundred and fifty passengers
from the Republic and Florida, whose
lives We're in jeopardy for hours while
the call Of the wireless was gradually
bringing aid nearer and nearer, reached
New York today on the steamer Baltic
no Argosy Of the olden days bringing
golden treasure home was ever more
heartily welcomed. Frenzied cheers
from thousands at the pier greeted her
arrival.
Following the Baltic up the harbor
was the liner Florida. battered almost
To the sinking point herself by the force
of the blow she had dealt the Republic
and bearing the bodies OF her own three
dead and the injured members of her
crew. The Republics passengers told
graphic tales Of the crash, of the ex-
citement on board, of the bravery Of the
officers, the good behavior Of the crew
and Of the efficient work of rescue.
There are two versions of what hap
pened on the bridge Of the Florida when
the Republic lOOmed up in front Of her
through the morning fog. Little could
be learned from Captain Rospini. Ac-
oording 70 others who had been on
board the Florida, however. something
went wrong with the Florida's steering
wheel when the collision was imminent
One story had it that quartermaster
had the wheel when the commander
yelled for il 10 be jammed TO starboard
fr NJ n fr7s md Il
crashed into each other.
STRUCK DOWN AT WHEEL
Another version is that the man
dropped his wheel in a panic when dan
ger impended- Both versions agree that
the commander felled the Quartermas-
ter with iron spike following what
he must have considered the seaman's
recreancy. An injured quartermaster
from the Florida was brought 10 port
on the Baltic today. He stoutIy as
serted that he was not at the wheel
when the accident occurred.
Probably not until both commanders
have made their formal statements will
the actual facts be known. Possibly
the verdict Of a marine court will be
needed to determine them.
Standing out prominently is the con-
duct OF Captain Seaiby Of the Repub-
lie. who, true to the best traditions Of
the sea, kept his ship beneath him as
long as there was enough Of her ahoat
10 anord him a foothold. And prac-
tically all accounts agree that aside
from the starting Of an incipient panic
among the steerage passengers on the
Florida, the crews and passengers of
both ships kept their heads well in the
midst Of most trying conditions.
Survivors had warm words Of com
mendation for the officers and men of
the Florida, who worked like heroes
with their own ship in a sad state 10
set the passengers from the worst dam
aged Republic TO comparative safety on
board the Italian vessel
When the Florida passed up the har-
Dor late today she looked every Bit
the part of the ocean batterinz ram
she had played. Flying the signal Not
under control, she was guided up the
nay by Two tugs. Her bows were crum-
pied I'D from the impact with the Re-
public, the plates and beams being
buckled and twisted for a distance of
fully 30 feet. Her forepeak was fun of
water and her burdened bow dinned
law. while the stern showed high above
the surface
When the Florida reached its dock
] was learned 1t was three. and not
Iouh of its crew who had been killed
when the vessels collided.
BoDIEs TAKEN OUT
hey were sleeping In their fore
castle quarters and met instant daatb
Two 81 them being badly manned and
80 tangled in the wreckage that ii was
not until after the steamer got fnfo
its berth tonight that their bodies
could be eNtricated. The men lyiIIed
We're.
PASQUALE LANALLO
cATAGERO MARTUSCETLI
SALVATORE d AMIGO
Three others We're severely injured
Eugene Lynch was one OF the Rsl-
tics passengers who was severely in.
5ured. When he was taken later
10 the Long Island college hosni-
tai il was found that both his lees
were broken. his right thigh fractured
end that he was internally ini,,rad
i is feared he viii die. Tie last rites
had been administered to him at his
request while he was yet on the Re-
public by Father Norris. another pas
sPnger.
That there had been any trouble at
the steering wheel Of the Florida was
denied tonight by the Floridas purser
Aarbilla Gina. When asked as to the