The Washington herald., 1909-01-24

New York, Jan. 23.-The steam
ship Republic, Of the White Star
Line, cut down IN the fog by the
Italian steamer Florida early this
morning, sixty-fve miles southeast
OF the Nantucket lightship. flashed
out call for help while she was
sinking that brought to her all OF
the transatlantic racers within 80
miles.
The call sped up and down the
seaboard and over the world, and
probably saved the lives of the Re-
.public's 742 passengers.
Helpless and alone in the black
fog. except for the crippled Italian
ship, with seas rushing into her
crushed side, the Republic managed
to tell her story so briskly that
within a few hours after the COL
lision the world knew that all was
well with her people and that sew
eraI big greyhounds OF the sea were
guarding both her and the Florida,
ready to assist either at a minutes
warning.
By nightfall the wireless. fling
ing out message after message. had
told in Illuminating dots and dashes
the tale Of what happened in the
Jog and capped the most interesting
story that has come from the sea in
many years with the news that the
people OF the Republic would be
brought TO New York Tomorrow
aboard the vessel which cut her
down, the Florida, with the Lor-
raine standing by to help in case Of
need.
At midnight the news was t.
oeived definitely at the White Star
Offices in Bowling Green that the
Republic, while low in the sea and
with a great hole in her starboard
side, was in no danger OF sinking.
Capt Sealby and her crew are still
aboard OF her.
Calls for Help Across sea.
,, is possible that the Baltic or the
Lorraine viii remove the Republics pas-
sengers from the Florida after daylight
As hey can be made much more com
Portable on either big liner than on the
already crowded Italian ship.
Minute after minute the calls Of the
Republic for help were sent out over the
sea. reaching the big Baltic. the Lor-
raine. the Lucauia, and half dozen other
steamers bound for this port. It was the
first time the wireless had demonstrated
its reliability and usefulness in the case
Of disasters at sea In the absence ~
accurate details. it is impossible 10 tel
just how much the Republic and her
passengers owe to the miracle Of cleo
tricity.
Her passe gers were taken of by the
very steamship which rammed her-the
Fiorids-t-It it is certain that the wire
less Brought TO the Republic the vessels
&c ipped with the Msrconi apparatus.
rscI e toward her from a half-circls of
tn SEA 100 miles in its diameter. bring
ing them in time To- insure the safety
not only Of the Republics people. but OF
the passengers and crew Of the Florida
which was crippled and in danger from
the terrific impact OF the collision.
1t was the wireless. flashing the news
here at o'clock in the morning that the
passengers had been saved. although the
ship was settling, that relieved the dread !
Of thousands Of persons. the relatives and
friends Of the people aboard the Rspub-
lie. The crowd which had besieged the
White Star Offices this morning melted
away under the influence Of the good
news In short. four hours. perhaps.
after the Republic was smitten. awav
out in the Atlantic. the world knew that
no lives were lost
There has been nothing like it in marine
history, this drama Of the wireless. tbA
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