The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-26
Story of the Sinking.

Woods Hole, Mass, January 25.-Ac- cording to the log of the revenue cutter Gresham. the Republic sank. at s;1o P m Sunday night, 1b miles west southwest of Nantucket south shoals lightship in 38 fathoms of water.
 The following is the story of the sink ing of the Republic, as told by Lieuten-i ant Scott, executive officer of the reye-' nue cutter Gresham.
 The Gresham found the Republic at 10 a. m. Sunday. The passengers and all but two officers and the deck crew had been transferred to the Baltic. Captain Sealby, the second officer of the Republic and 35 men, who had volunteered to stay by their chief in boats were lying along side the Republic which had big list to starboard and was down somewhat be- yond the stern. The Republic at this time was about nine miles southwest of Nan tucket lghtship.
 "A British passenger steamer was standing by, but there was other boat in sight. Shortly before noon on Sun day, Captain Sealby and his second of ficer. followed by the crew of the Re- public, climbed back on board, and the Gresham sent a line on board the Repub- lie. At the same time the British pas senger steamer sent two lines aboard over the starboard quarter to assist in steer ing the Republic. The fleet started up at 12:3, but the Republic proved very un- manageable and could not be steered as the northeast wind continually swung her around. At D. m. the derelict destroyer Seneca arrived and took a line ahead of the Gresham.
 Sinking Fast.
 At this time very little progress was being made and it was reported from the republic that she was making water fast.
 . @f- 9.,, -f.+ I. {..- of the Republic were ordered by Captain Sealby to abandon the ship and gettnig into their lifeboats easily overlook the Gresham.
 "The men said that they could not persuade Captain Sealby to leave his ves- sel and the second officer of the Republic refused to leave the side of his com mander.
 At. 8 o'clock last night the bow of the Republic. illuminated by the rays of the searchlights, was seen rising fast. Five minutes later two pistol shots were heard and two blue lights were burned.
 "At S;10 the Republics bow shot up high in the air and she sank in 3S fathoms of water in position 15 miles Shores lightship.
 "A lifeboat was dropped from the side of the Gresham and returned in three quarters of an hour with both the cap tain and the second officer on board. They had been picked up clinging to some wreckage. Neither had on life preservers
 Officers Saved.
 When the Republic began to sink Cap tain Sealby climbed the foremast and reached the masthead light as his boat went down. The second officer jumped from the rail to the sea and said that he fell some distance and sustained slight hrtt ioaC iyac cfr h t-fa ,F ter. Captain Sealby was unhurt
 Captain Sealby stated that on the deck of the Republic when she went down rested to caskets containing the bodies of those passengers who had been killed in the collision
 According to the officers of the Gres- ham, Captain Sealby and the men of the Republic praised the conduct of the Re- public's passengers during the hours inn mediately following the accident when 1t was known that the vessel might go down at any time. While preparations were being made to abandon the Repub- lie, one woman beguiled the time of wait ing for the boats by sitting down on the deck of the Republic to play solitaire Another passenger, man. came up to the first officer and, apologizing for speaking to him on such an occasion when he knew he was very busy. said that his wife had been injured, and asked that she be taken in one of the first boats. The man was also injured. but made no mention of the fact. Captain Sealby said the room was made for both the peo- pie in the first boat that left the ship
 Praise of Womanhood.
 New York, January 25.-Among those aboard the Baltic, the steamer with whose looming hulk afar in the dim fogginess had aroused the cheers and