Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-25
ccmmodations and supplies for 81
many DaSSenyerS

ccmmodations and supplies for SO
many passengers.
Shortly before midnight the trans
ference of the passengers of the Flor
ida to the Baltic began. Fortunately
the sea was smooth and placid and
the ships boats under the filmy flare
of night lights, made their way back
and forth between the steamships IN
the fog Meanwhile the Republic drift
ed away in the murk and was lost to
the sight of those en- board the Baltic
and Florida. Capt. Sealby and boats
crew kept along side the Republic IN
a gig and we're keeping watch over the
disabled liner when. at 10 o'clock last
night, she was lost to the view of the
Baltic.
The transfer of passengers to the
Baltic took until morning. There was
little fear among them.
When all including the Florida s
passengers, had been placed on the
Baltic, Capt. Ransom sent wireless
message to New York that he was go
ing IN search of the Republic. AS the
morning advanced the fog lifted and
the disa bled steamship was picked up.
the liner seemed to be riding more
easily and Capt Sealby and his boat
crew, who had remained beside her all
night, boarded her. The wireless opera
tor. who had stuck to his ship until
ordered off by the captain, obtained
some new storage batteries and also
boarded her. Meanwhile feet of sal
wage tugs had arrived at the scene
and The American liner New York had
takec a position near the Florida,
while the Anchor liner Furnessia
which had come during the night
stood by ready to render any assist
ance needed.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock Capt. Ran
som received IA wireless order from
his cOmpany's officials to bring the
Baltic and the rescued passengers to
this port without regard to the Repub-
lic Within a few minutes of the order
the Baltic headed for this port.
The French liner La Lorraine. the
first of the many ships which partici-
pated in this remarkable marine acct
dent. reached port today. She was 100
miles from the scene of the collision
when her officers We're informed of the
Republics plight by the Marconi OPP
eIltor at Siasconsett, Mass, early
SATURDAY..
&C. q. D." the omincus letters of the
international sea code. indicating dis
tress, had reused the sleepy operator
i'm his room on the French steamer and
"A few minutes later came the words:
"Rcpubic wrecked: wants assistance"
followed by the latitude and longitude
Nh
am coming" responded Capt. Edouard
Tournier. when informed of the call
for help ana for the next six hours he
sent fis big ship dashing through the
fog at the dangerous speed of 20
knots an hour. which brought her t"
the scene shortly after noon. Then and
until night. La Lorraine steamed slow
lv about in the llist. searching for the
water-logged Republic, whose bell
could be plainly heard.
All this time La Lorraine was in
wireless communication with the Bal
tic. which had also FASTENED to the aid
Of her sister ship. Finally. as night
was falling. the Baltic flashed Il ines
sage to the Frenchman that the endan
gercd passengers of the stricken ship
were safe aboard the Italian line Flor
ida. This, coupled with n request from
the Baltic, to follow the Florida into
New York sent La Lorraine on her be-
lated nomeWard way.
Capt. Tourn.er, who plainly showed
signs of the strain and his long vigil.
told the story of the search in simple
language aboard his ship today BY
his side stood Bour, the wireless man.
who. no less than his captain. lad
been under great strain.
Il had been on the bridge nearly all
Friday night" said that captain, be
cause Of the heavy fog. At : o'clock in
the morning. or a little before, | was
handed the first wireless message. tell
ing of the Republics distress. Tell
them l am coming | said to the oper-
ator. and then I took my position as
well as the fog would let me. | found
that was 10 miles from where the
Republic had been rammed and at once
started full speed for the scene.