The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
White Star Liner Republic Is Rammed and Sunk In
 Heavy Fog
SHIPS GET MESSAGES
 AND RUSH ID RESCUE
Over 800 People, Including Crew and Passengers, Are Saved By Being Transferred to Other Ships
 On Passage.

New York January 2s-(special. l.)-After more than IA hours of great suspense. from the time the wireless telegraph aboard the White Star liner Republic re- ported early in the morning that the ship had been rammed and was sinking, the last word from the scene of disaster was flashed by wireless late tonight that the Republic had been abandoned and had gone down.
 The Republic was eastbound from New York to Mediterranean ports and was groping her way at half speed through the fog when without warning the Faori- da of the Lloyd Italian line. westbound. from Naples to New York, loomed up In her path.
 A moment later the Florida struck tho Republic a crushing blow almost amid ships ard the sea poured into the hold of the Republic. Promptly the water tight compartments were closed and the science of modern shipbuilding held true. for the Republic was kept ahoat for many hours and not life was lost as the result of the collision.
 On both ships the officers and crews had a difficult task in calming the pas sengers, thrown into a wild panic by the crash of the vessels. while most of them were asleep in their berths. In all there were 1900 souls aboard the two yes sells.
 Vessel Helpless. The Florida almost Immediately dis appeared in the fog. The Republic. wi;l Ter boiler as1 ensine rooms flooded, was l helpless and those aboard dgd not cseA know the identity of the ship *ilirh had dealt tbeir vessel a death blow in the darkness. sole dependence for aid rested upon the wireless telegraph and tue oper- ator sent broadcast his appeals for aid.
 There were responses from many sides and 1t was only matter of few hours before the vessels who had heard the call reached the side of the Republic.
 But the black fog hindered and har- rassed them and even with the guidance of the wireless and the further aid of the submarine fog bells. they groped help lessly and at great peril to themselves for hours in a vain effort to locate the sinking ship.
 In this hour of peril succor came from an unlocked for quarter. The fate of the vessel which had rammed them was be- lieved to have been worse than their own by those aboard the Republic, but out of the fog with her bow twisted and broken, crawled the Florida.
 Passengers Transferred. Quickly all the passengers were trans ferred from the Republic to the Florida, but Capt William l. Sealby and his crew refused to quit the ship. The Florida would not proceed without them and stood by for almost 12 hours after she had found the Republic until the climbing water forced the crew to the boats.
 All went aboard the Florida except Captain Sealby and the crew of his gig. They waited until the Republic sank out of sight to be buried forever be- heath the sea and then accepted the aid of the captain of the Florida.
 The Florida, crowded to the decks with her own passengers, and those from tho sunken vessel, was guarded by the Baltic La Larraine and the Luaania. She Is badly damaged but her captain believes that he can make New York safely and started on the 200-mile journey before midnight
 On the trip the Florida will be attended by the Baltic, ready at the first sign of distress to take over the passengers of the Republic and the Florida. It is expected that the Florida will reach New York about o'clock tomorrow night.
 When Collision Occurred.
 The Republic was about 9 miles off Nantucket Lightship when the collision occurred. She had not rounded the light ship, but had borne out of the ordinary path of westwardbound ships in order to make the great swing taken by liners bound for Mediterranean ports. Her pas sengers were asleep.
 A heavy fog had prevailed for two days and the sea was calm The vessel was proceeding at half speed when as though she had struck full upon an uncharted rock, the great ship came Into collision with a steamer. striking bows-on and both vessels careened, while the shouts of officers, the sounding of bells and whistles and the cries of terrified pas sengers told of a grave tragedy of the sea.
 A moment later the two vessels drifted apart and then the water poured into the hold of the Republic from ragged hole in her side and drowned the fires in the boiler room and soon flooded the engine room The stokers had to flee for their lives.
 Operators Cry for Help.
 The wireless operator, sitting in his little coop kept his hand upon the key. He felt the vessel settling beneath him and saw the crew busy at the boats. Then with this picture in his mind his hand began to move and the wireless mast sent forth the first message for aid. It was an alarming message and the wireless operators along the coast read from their tape that the Republic had been rammed and was sinking with all on board There was a long and distressing pause before the wireless of the Republic spoke again. But that frag- mentary message from the ship had brought to life every station along the coast and back out to sea. over the very hull of the disabled vessel so that her instruments trembled with the vibrations, came messages that were charging the fog-laden air
 Quickly came a response from the Bal tic, almost 100 miles away from her sister