The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-25

York would be slow, and there were
insufficient accommodations and sup
plies for SO many passengers.
Passengers Little Alarmed.
All night long the transfer 10 tho
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 Floridas steerage passengers.
Was completed, and Capt Ransom. of
the Baltic. sent a wireless message to
New York that he was going IA
search OF the Republic, AS the morn.
ing advanced the Jog lifted and the
disabled steamship was picked up;
The gored liner 6eemed TO be foating 4
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 of by
the captain. obtained some new stor.
age tanks and also returned 10 the
disabled liner.
Meanwhile q fleet OF salvage tugs
had arrived at the scene and the
American liner New York had taken
a position near the Florida, while the
Anchor liner Furnessia, which had
come up during the night, stood ready
10 render assistance.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock Capt. Ran
som received wireless from bis com
ppny'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
when her officers were informed Of
the Republics plight by the Marconl
operator at Siasconsett. Mass. early
Saturday.
&C O. d." the ominous letters OF
the international sea code. indicating
distress. had aroused the sleepy oper.
ator In his room on the French steam
er. anu few minutes later came the
words. "Depublic 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 the
next six hours he sent his ship tear
Ing through the fog at the dangerous
speed OF 20 knots. which brought her
TO the scene shortly after the hour OF
noon.
Baltic Flashes News.
Then and until midnight. La Lor.
raine steamed slowly about In the
mist searching for the water-logged
Republic. whose ship bell could be
heard. SO near was the French steam.
Ell 70 the object OF her quest. All this
less touch with the White Star liner
Baltic, which had also fastened 10 the
aid OF her sister ship. Finally, as
night was falling, the Baltic flashed
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 u request from the Bal
tic TO follow the Florida into New
York, sent La Lorraine on her belated
homeward 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
than 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
morning. or a little before. was
handed the first wireless message tell
Ing Of the Republics distress | took
my position as well as the fog would
let me. | found that | wasN120 miles
from where the Republic had been
rammed and started at once full speed
for the scene.
Gropes vainly in Fog.
Towards In the afternoon, we
reached the vicinity OF the wreck, as
known to us by the bearings--latitude
40.17, longitude 20 west-given 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 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 another
bell which took 10 be the Repub
hes. stayed in the vicinity for six
hours and then the Baltic sent me
word that all the passengers were
safe aboard the Florida, bound for
New York, and asked me To follow
hnr IA che Was In need of a convoy -