The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-26
OF
 TWO VESSELS Participant1,in Accident Rs Port. REPUBLIC soEs TO BOTTOM The .da Limps Into Her ~ Dock some of the 1.ese Passe.xers Tell Stories of Thrilling Experiences
 When I've Great Vessel.
 Game Together

off the Nantucket Sh oals, which event. ually sent the one to the bottom and reduced the other to a state of stag,
 gering helplessness, the survivors of
 this thrilling deep sea tragedy have found haven at last.
 At nightfall 1850 passengers from the two vessels were safe in this port, brought here by the Baltic, ~1hile near ing 1t were the rescued officers and crew of the Republic. safe on board the derelict destroyer Seneca. to which they were transferred from the revenue cutter Gresham after staying up to the last moment, by their sinking ves- sel.
 At her dock in Brooklyn was the battered Florida, aboard of which her crew remained throughout the heart- rending experiences.
 Only the ill-fated Republic, was wanting to complete the list. She lies beneath thirty-eight fathoms of water fifteen miles south Of Nantucket South Shoals lightship.
 Frenzied cheers from the thousahds at the pier when she docked greeted the arrival of the Baltic, tears of thankfulness were shed, affectionate greetings were exchanged and only here and there did a note Of sadnes in- trude itself upon the scene.
 Following the Baltic up the harbor was the liner Florida, battered almost to the sinking point herself by the force of the blow she dealt the Re- public and bearing the bodies of her own three dead and the injured mem bers of her crew.
 The Republics passengers told graphic details of the crash, of the ex- citement on board. of the bravery of the officers, the good behavior of the crew and the efiicient work Of the res- cue.
 Two eversions ToIa,
 There are two versions of what ham pened on the bridge of the Florida when the Republic loomed up fin front of her through the morning fog.
 From some of those who had been on board of the Florida and were brought to port by the Baltic. 1t waa learned that something went wrong wath the Fiorida's steering wheel winch the collision was irnminent one story had 1t that a quartermaster bss the wheel when the commander yelled Tor It to be-Jammed to starboard. HA put it to port instead. and the liners crashed into each other.
 Ahobher version of the story ia final the man dropped his wheel in A panic when danger inpended. Both versions agree In saying that the commander teiieo the quartermaster with an iron spike following what he must have con- sioered the seamen's recreancy An l ihJured quartermaster from the FlorIla wah brought to port on the Baltic to-day. He stoutly asserted that he was not at the wheel when the acci- | dent occurred.
 Probably not until both commanders have made their formal statements will the actual facts concerning the accident be known.
 Captain sealby of the Republic, true 10 the best traditions of the sea. kept his ship beneath him as long as there | was enough to keep afioat And prac- tica}ly all accounts agree that both | ships forces and passengers kept their heads well in the midst of most trying conditions.
 When the Florida, in from her fate ful experience, passed up the harbor late to-day she looked every bit the | part of the ocean battering ram she had played. Flying the signal mot under control" she was guided up the | bay by two tugs. Her bows were crumpled up from the impact with the Republic, the plates and beams being buckled and twisted for a distance of fully thirty feet.
 Three, Sailors Killed.
 When the Florida reached her Jock It was learned that 1t was three and not four of her crew who had been killed when steamers collided These were Parcratle Lavalio, Caterogo Martu- scelli and Salvatore D'Amico. Three others were severely injured.
 Eugene Lynch. one of the Republics passengers who was severely injured was on the Florida when she came In. When he was taken later to the Long Island College Hospital 1t was found that both his legs were broken. his right thigh fractured and that 1e was internally injured. It is feared ne will die.
 That there has been any trouble 1t the steering whel of the Florida was decided tonight by the FIorIdas ourser, Marbila Gina. When asked1 IS to the reports of the helmsman'si he said that the quarter master had been thrown from his wheel 1y the shock of the collision. remain ng at his post until the crash came. The purser likewise denied that the wheel had been thrown the wrong way IS the vessels were approaching each other, or that the commander had struck down the steersman.
 Captain Rospini stated he had heard he Republics whistle at intervals for some time on the morning of the dis lster, but they seemed quite far away. the big liner loomed up out ,f the fog and the vessels came to- yether with a crash.
 Experience of Paasengers
 New York, Jan. 25.-The White Star Liner Baltic, bearing 1850 passengers, from the steamships Republic and Florida. which were in collision on Sat lrday, was anchored off the Ambrose ,hannel lightship at the entrance to New York harbor early today, waiting or the fog to lift to make her way in O port With the captain and crew # the steamship Republic. who remain d with the stricken vessel until she ank last night, safe on the revenue utter Gresham, anchored off Vineyard Haven Mass. the last chapter Of the ea drama of Saturday. which cost six ives. was thus drawing to close.
 There was heavy fog down the bay his morning and all vessels groped heir way with caution. For this req on. 1t seems probable that the Baltic would be late in coming up to her pier. whether the crew of the Republic would be transferred to the derelict de- troyer Seneca or whether they would and near Vineyard Haven was not