Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-25


deck to ascertain what the trouble
was. There we found the crew of the
Republic taking the tarpaulins from
the lifeboats and standing by ready 20
swing out the davits. There was no
sign of any other ship anywhere The
foghorn of the Republic was letting out
shrill blasts, but there was no an
'swering whistle. I don't know how
long we were left to wonder what had
happened. Finally the second officer
informed us there was no danger OF
the vessel going under. A majority
became composed at hearing this, but
some women were still beside them
selves and refused to return to the
state rooms to dress. and their clothes
had to be brought to them from their
cabins. In less than a half hour, how
ever most everyone had managed to
get clothing on.
Florida Finally Appears.
After little we heard an answer
ing whistle and the Florida came up,
board quarter There was an exchange
OF questions and answers between the
two captains, and the injury to the
Republic having been discovered more
serious than was at first supposed. we
were told we were to be transferred
to the Florida.
This announcement caused more
terror than had the shock of the colll-
sion even, but after a while compara-
tive calm obtained and the rans-ship-
ment was begun. 1t was sort OF con-
test between the crews OF the two
ships as to which would take over the
greatest number of people in the least
time.
Crow Stays by Ship.
when it came to the turn of Cap
tain Sealby and the officers and men of
the Republic to abandon the ship, they
refused.
I'VE stayed aboard the Florida all
day Saturday. packed like sardines Al
z o'clock word came that the Baltic
would take us off. Once more we had
to go thru the experience Of going
from the ship to life boats. 1t was
the same thing as in the darkness of
the early morning, except the sea was
running high instead Of being quite
still. For more than eight hours the
little boats hurried from one ship to
the other until 1000 people had been
taken over to the Baltic.
"The crew of the Florida, following
the example set by the crew of the
Republic, remained on board, as did
one Of our passengers, Eugene Lynch
whose wife had been killed. in the
crash between the two ships, and who
himself was too badly injured to be
removed"
Italian Passengers Almost Riot.
Stories told by the Republics pas
sengers show the transfer Of passen-
gers from the Florida to the Baltic In
the dark of Saturday night came per-
ilously near resulting in riot Of 900
Italian steerage passengers on the
Florida, who believed their vessel In
Imminent danger of sinking. Only the
efforts of the officers, aided by sever al
of the Republics passengers, quieted
the frightened men, who sought to be
the first to board the lifeboats.
Dead Sink With Vessel.
Officers of the Baltic report the
deaths of Mrs. Eugene Lynch, of Bos-
ton and W. j. Mooney, of Langdon, N
D.. together with four negro sailors
whose names are not known. The bod
les of Mrs Lynch and Mooney were
placed in Theoretically sealed caskets,
which sank with the steamer Republic.
Florida Officer to Blame.
1t developed late this afternoon that
Seafino Remolo. quartermaster on the
Florida, was ordered by the commander
of the Florida, when a collision threat
ened, it is said, to put the wheels to
%S,< yI1a anJ
to port, and the Florida rammed the
Republic. According to thei same az
count the captain Of the Florida picked
up an iron spike, and dealt Remolo
blow over the head, at the moment of
impact The quartermaster was badly
hurt, and is said to maintain that he
was asleep in his bunk at the time Of
the accident.