The Detroit times., 1909-01-25


Baltic. did they have a feeling OF Sc
curity.
After the transfer OF the passengers
from the Republic 10 the Florida.
which had not accommodations for
the 400 and more additions to her al
ready heavy list. Capt. Voltolin. of the
Italian ship. gave orders TO stand by
until further help arrived. An exam
ination II the Florida showed that
her cut-water and bow had crumpled
as if she had crashed into a stone
wall. and her two forward compart-
ments were filled with water. She.
however. showed no signs OF sinking.
though she was slightly down by the
head.
II was deemed best, therefore, at a
late hour, TO transfer not only the Re-
public's passengers. but all those on
board the Florida as well. Capt. Vol
tolin believed his progress 10 New
York would be slow, and there were
insufficient accommodations and sup
plies for so many passengers.
Shirtly before midnight. Saturday.
the retransfer OF the passengers from
the Florida 10 the Baltic began. For
tunately. the sea was as placid as a
lake and the ships boats working In
the flare OF night lights made their
way back and forth between the
steamships I'm the fog. Meanwhile the
Republic drifted away in the murk and
was lost 10 the sight of those on
board the Baltic and Florida
Capt. Sealby and boats crew
LIT 4 al Al
and were keeping watch over the dis
abled liner, whekSshe became envel-
oped in fog q o'clock Saturday
night and wassT0st to the view Of the
Baltic.
Passengers Little Alarmed.
All night long the transfer 10 the
Baltic was in progress. There was
little alarm among the passengers as
they were taken in boats 10 the Baltic
Early Sunday the transfer, including
the Florida's steerage passengers
was completed. and Capt. Ransom, Of
the Baltic, sent wireless message to
New York that he was going in
search OF the Republic. AS the morn.
ing advanced the fog lifted and the
disabled steamship was picked up.
The gored liner seemed to be floating
easier and Capt Sealby and his boat
crew, who had remained alongide all
night, went aboard
The wireless operator, who had
stuck TO his post until ordered off by
the captain, obtained some new stor.
age tanks and also returned to the
liner.
hila naa. ,,,.,.,
had arrived at the scene and the
American liner New York had taken
a position near the Florida, while the
liner Furnessia, which had
come up during the night, stood ready
to render assistance.
Shortly before 10 o'clock Capt. Ran
som received a wireless from his COM
pany's officials to bring the Baltic and
the rescued passengers to this port
without regard TO the Republic With
In few minutes OF the order the Bal
tic was headed away to the westward.
The French liner La Lorraine, the
first OF the many ships that partici-
pated in the stirring sea incident, ar
rived in port Sunday. She was 100
miles from the scene OF the accident
the Republics plight by the Marconi
operator at Siasconsett, Mass, early
&c. q! d." the ominous letters or
the international sea code, indicating
distress. had aroused the sleepy oper
ator in his room on the French steam
er. and few minutes later came the
words. Republic wrecked; wants as
sistance," followed by the latitude and
longitude OF the ship in distress.
Tell them | am coming" respond
ed Capt Edouard Tournier, when he
was informed of the call and for tho
next six hours he sent his ship tear
Ing through the fog at the dangerous
speed OF 20 knots. which brought her
10 the scene shortly after the hour OF
noon.
Baltic Flashes News.
Then and until midnight. La Lor-
ralne steamed slowly about In the
mist searching for the water-logged
Republic, whose ship bell could be
heard, so near was the French steam
FL to the object OF her quest All this
line La Lorraine was in close wire
ess touch with the White Star liner
Baltic, which had also fastened to the
aid OF her sister ship. Finally. as
night was falling, the Baltic flashed
4 message which told those on La.
Lorraine that the endangered passen-
gers OF the stricken ship were safe
aboard the Italian liner Florida. This.
coupled with request from the Bal
lie 10 follow the Florida into New
York. sent La Lorraine on her belated
lomeward way.
Capt. Tournier. who plainly showed
signs OF the strain and his long
vigil, In simple language. told the
story of the search. BY his side stood
Bour. the wireless man who. no less
han his captain, had been under a
terrific strain.
Il had been on the bride nearly all
Friday night" said the captain. be
cause OF the heavy fog. AT in the
or little before, was
handed the first wireless message tell
Ing Of the Republics distress. took
let me. | found that I was 120 miles
from where the Republic had been
and started at once full speed
Tor the scene.
Gropes valnly in Fog.
Towards l In the afternoon, we
reached the vicinity OF the wreck. as
known 10 us by the bearings-latitude
i017, longitude 20 westAgiven us By
The operator at Siasconset. but the
fog was so dense that nothing could
be seen. We steamed in all directions
north, south. east and west. Mean
while, we had come very close 10