The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-01-25

tNf itffNf FSpADit1 ana the ttals -
q ian steamer Florida. the Battle \
and Florida locked today =
shortly before o'clock. They y
were landed IN lees than 30 =
4 minutes.
OF the survivors, 1851 were y
. passengers and 800 were mem. =
bera Of the Republics crew u \
develops that four steeraqe y
passengers aboard the Florida =
also pefishsd as the result Of y
. the collision.
-
49, %+4+4 4+44&
NEW YORK. Jan. 25.-By U. p.
The first authentic account Of
what really happened when the
steamer FLORIDA crashed into tho
liner Republic, Of the white Star
line. OH Nantucket. Mass. early
Saturday morning, causing the
death o. six and eventually sinking
the Republic, was given today BY
Capt Ransom. OF the liner Baltic.
which arrived Ia Ambrose channel
today with a large number Of pas
sengers Of the Inflated steamer.
The crash came without
warning" said the captain.
The Florida suddenly appeared
from the fog before any Of tho
crew Of the Republic knew Il
was near and ran into the big
White Star liner. ststerooms
% and "a were stove In BY the
blow, and the boat began 70
fili with water. The Florida
quickly backed away and disap-
pearec IN the fog, but left one
Of her anchors In the wreck
age Of the staterooms.
Operator Flashes Disaster.
IL was some time before the
identity Of the ship was known. The
mechanism In the wireless operat-
ing room Of the Republic Was badly
crippled by the impact but Oper-
aior Biuns, surrounded by wreck
age. remained at his post and
flashed messages calling for aid.
In the meantime all the passen.
gers had been aroused and consid-
cradle excitement prevailed, but
there was not what you might call
a panic among them.
Water Pours into Hold.
Water poured through the side
of the ship az rapid rate The
brave firemen remained below,
working ike Trojans TO prevent an
explosion Of the boilers. They
would not leave until the water.
now np to their necks. threatened
to take their lives
Thirty minutes after the first
wireless flash appealed for help the
Florida plowed her way through the
fog 20 the side OF the Republic and
took aboard several passengers.
Two Of the Republics passengers
fell into the sea. but we're promptly
rescued.
Spokane Man Saved.
II. J Hoover. Of Spokane. Wash,
who was sailing on the Republic at
the time OF the collision. declared
today that the impact was terrific.
1t II remarkable how cool all on
board remained, he said. Several
Of as were thrown from our berths,
Halt OF the passengers ran to the
decks In their night clothes. Capt.
Sealby assured us in a speech that
there was no danger That made
US feel better. II was a strange
sight 10 see the Italian immigrants
kneeling on the decks IN prayer.
They were all barcfoOted'
Hoover and his wife we're on their
way TO make a l05 .00Omile tour of
Europe. Asia and Africa. He de-
clared today that the accident will
not alter their plans.
Rousing Welcome for Baltic.
A rousing welcoming demonstra-
ton greeted the Baltic as she plowN
ed slowly through the North river
with the Furnessia acting as her
convoy All the boats In the river
saluted the big liner with their
whistles. and all along the docks on
either side thousands Of citizeng
cheered long and loud.
The women passengers who
were taken from the Republic
presented an odd sight as they
left the stcame-. Every one
Of them. with hardly an exeep-
ton, were Falncoats or were
wrapped In blankets, with tow
els covering their heads. Most
OF them were stil weak from
exhaustion, due to their thrill
Ing experience.
Women Tainted by Scores.
James II. Connolly. author and
magazine writer, who was pas
senger on the Republic, said;
After the Florida struck the Re-
public II was discovered that five
staterooms on the saloon deck of
the Republic and two below had
been ripped open.
Fifty women collapsed or tainted
during the re-shlpment of the Re
public's passengers TO the Baltic.
one woman fell into the sea be-
tween the ship and lifeboat, los
ing a bag Of Jewels, but she was
rescued. ~
Captain stood by Ship.
sIAsCONsET. Mass, Jan. 25.---
BY 4, P.-The rescue OF Capt.
Sealsby and his mate, OF the Re-
public. was the most dramatic in
cidont Of the sinking OF the big
liner
STANDING side bv side on the