The Washington herald., 1909-01-25

ew York. Jan. 24.-The Re
public, rammed BY the Italian
Florida in the fog of Nantucket
Lightship Saturday morning, sank
at $50 O'Clock tonight while the
revenue cutters Gresham and Sen
.eca were towing her coward Nan
tucket beach.
Capt William l. SeaIby and her
crew were rescued by the Gresham,
which first flung out the wireless
message. They had remained
aboard the White Star Liner all dav
Saturday and to-day, believing that
there were enough Of her water
tight compartments uninjured to
buoy her up.
The Republic went down in 30
fathoms OF sea, Just east OF Nan
tucket. The little Gresham took
of Sealby and his men al the last
moment, It was gathered from the
brief word that came out OF the fog.
Then the Gresham sent aerograms
in every direction, reaching for i
wireless receiver IN tune with her.
The City OF Memphis. a coast
wise packet on her way up to Bos-
ton from Savannah, picked the
news out of the air and flashed It
to the Massie wireless station Of the
United Company. Massie gave 1t 70
New York and points along the
coast. The United Wireless Com
pany's Office in this city heard Of It
at 1905.
Message from Capt. SeaTby.
At exactly 1871 o'clock the news was
received by Capt. SeeIby himself. He
got this message through TO the White
Star Offices In Bowling Green.
Republic sunk All lives saved. Max
ing Gay Head on Gresham
That was the -drst official information
the White Star officials had Of the sink
ing Of their vessel
Until the word came from Capt SeaIby
himself. the steamship people believed
that the Republic could be brought hers
in tow or beached-
Baltic NearS New York.
When the Republic gave I'D the fight
and dropped out of sight. her sister ship.
the Baltic. was not many miles away
from New York. with I.soo people taken
of the Florida this morning al the first
peep Of day. By > O'Clock Monday morn
ing the Baltic viii arrive of the bar and
anchor. Il the fog. which was very
thick down the bay tonight. permits.
she will be up 10 Quarantine early to-
morrow.
About Il O'Clock tonight the United
Wireless heard from the revenue cutter
Seneca that the Seneca and Gresham had
left the spot where the Republic went
down and had proceeded to Gay Head. on
Marthas Vineyard. with Capt. Seal5y
snd the rescued crew. The White star Of
IA. - sent out word later. though. that
the cutters would land the crew at New
Bedford, in all likelihood as there was no
landing place FOR cutters at Gay Head.
which is lighthouse station at the west
end of Marthas Vineyard.
At the same time, the White star on
cials gave out later bit Of news as TO
the sinking Of the Republic. They had
heard that she dropped in thirty fathoms.
pretty deep TO attempt salvage but an
attempt would be made Immediately to
raise her.
Passengers Transferred Twice.
The transfer Of q ship load Of passen-
gers twice within twenty-four hours is
that steamship men say vas
never done before
In the first place, between 100 and 80
persons were taken from the Republic TO
the Florida. and TO do this the boats Of
the Republic were used. At the tine this
was done It was daylight. but there was
a thick fog The sea was smooth. but
even under the most favorable cordi-
tons such a task IS a ticklish one. and
there is always grave danger Of an acci-
dent
The Republic has a long gangway.
which is really three fights OF stairs.
having small Platforms between, but these
stairs are none 800 steady in the best OF
weather, and with a vessel rolling in t!s
usual swell Of the ocean it would be an
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