The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-10

raine was Fastening to the aid Of the
injured vessel. At twenty knots an
hour, dangerous speed in the fog. the
French liner made for the place
where the Republic said she was. 1t
was noon when La Lorraine drew
near the sinking vessel. Messages
were flashed between them. and Cap
tain T%ournier could hear the bell OF
the Republic. He steamed slowly in
the mist searching for her, but was
unable to find her.
All that time La Lorraine was in
wireless touch with the Baltic, which
also had received the message Of dis
tress and had fastened to the rescue.
! Other liners, in the telegraph rooms
Of which the ominous "CQD" had
licked, also CROPPED about in the fog,
but were unable to make out the Re-
public.
The next night the Baltic by wire
less informed Captain Tournier that
the passengers Of the Republic had
been transferred to the Florida. At
the same time the request came that
La Lorraine follow the Florida into
New York.
Inc ldSC HeSSdSo LII hOildlAS SSAI
to the Republic ran:
"Tell your captain we can hear his
bell and are steering straight toward
you. Also request him to make as
much noise as, possible to direct our
steering, because the fog is so thick"
A reply came from the Baltic,
which told of the transfer of the pas
sengers to the Florida.
In telling of his search for the Re-
public. Captain Tournier said:
IT had been on the bridge nearly
all night because of the heavy fog.
At Z in the morning, or a little be-
fore, the first wireless message telling
Of the Republics distress was handed
to me. Tell them I am coming I
said to the operator. Then I took
my position as well as the fog would
let me. I found that I was 120 miles
from where the Republic had been
rammed, and at once started full
speed for the spot.
Toward noon We reached the Vi
cinity Of the wreck, as known to US
by the bearings, latitude 40.17, longi-
tude 70 west, given by the operator
at Siasconsett, but the fog was SO
dense that nothing could be seen. We
steamed in all directions-north,
south, east and west. Meanwhile we
had come close to the Baltic, which
we never actually saw, so thick was
the fog. All this time I was constant
ly exchanging messages with her and
I could hear not only her bell, but
also another bell, but also another
bell which I took to be the Republics.
I 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 her, as she was
in need of a convoy. '..
"This I tried to do as we'll as I
could, having only the Florida's whis-
tie blasts to guide me. At about
$50 I heard four blasts, the Florida's
signal. I was going at slow speed
and I steered in the direction from
which the whistle came. I could not,
however, locate the Florida in the
fog, and 1 never heard from her
again. I then stood in for New York.
'"The Florida may have been any,
where from n to eleven miles away
when I heard her whistle. I had nc
means of knowing, as she carried nc
wireless outfit"
The anxiety that accompanied this
first transfer after the collision was
not relieved when the passengers
of the Republic found themselves on
board the Florida. That vessel also
was in bad shape, and it was feared
she would sink. Her captain, realiz.
ing he was almost helpless, signalled
to the Baltic to take every one on
board.
Fortunately the sea was smooth, or
the transfer would have been ex-
tremely difficult. The Baltic was un-
able to see the outline of the crippled
Florida in the darkness and fog, and
only when the small boats got within
a few yards Of the Italian liner did
the rowers see her. The passengers
were lined against the rail, and as
fast as the small boats were able to
receive them, the men, women and
children were lifted into them and
transferred to the Baltic.
All night the work Of transfer went
on. 1t was done so m~ethodically that
the alarm Of the passengers was al
layed. officers and sailors went about
their work in business-like fashion.
After the last Of the passengers was
taken from the Florida the Baltic
started on her way to this city.