Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-02-09
Invention Demonstrates It's Useful
ness by Bringing Aid to Grip
pied Ocean Liner.
MANY LIVES SAVED FROM SEA.
Aerial Messages Flashed Broadcast
Caught Up on Ship and Shore
Marvel of the Age.


fog off Nantucket was rammed amid
ships by the steamer Florida. from
Naples for New York, with about LOO
persons on board. The Republics en-
gine-room was flooded through the
great hole cut in her side by the Flor
ida's bow, and she lay helpless and
slowly sinking The Florida was in
better case, though her bow had been
smashed and her forward compartment
flooded, and within a few hours had
taken aboard ali the Republics passen-
gers, and stood ready to take off her
crew should Captain Sealby decide
that he could not save his vessel.
Had it not been for the wireless tel
egraph knowledge of the disaster and
ability to help would probably have
been confined to the two vessels imme-
diately concerned. In all probability
the first known of it would have been
the spectacle of the Florida limping
into the nearest port. Thanks to the
wireless telegraph, help was coming
from half a dozen different directions
within a few hours and possible
bility of the Florida to keep afioat,
was averted.
The Republic had a wireless tele-
graph outfit and began sending out calls
for help Immediately. And they were
heard, at sea and shore Within a few
hours eight or ten vessels were hurry
ing to the scene. Four or five already
at sea we're driving under full steam
that way Others were putting out
from ports along the coast.
Not only that, but thanks to the
wireless outfit on the baltic, which
was the first to reach the scene, the
anxious friends and relatives of the
imperiled people and the general public
were informed constantly ABOUT what
was doing for their safety.
They learned how, in an abundance
of precaution, and lest in her damaged
condition the Florida might be in dam
ger, her passengers as well a. the Re-
public's were transferred to tie Baltic
during the night, and how vessel after
vessel reached the scene and remained
there to give any further assistance
that might be needed.
Two passengers of the Republic were
killed in their berths by the collision,
and also folr immigrants who were
sleeping well up. in the bows of the
Florida Otherwise there was no loss
Of life, though the Republic had to be
abandoned and sank while the rev
enue cutter Gresham and others were
trying to tow her to shore.
The story of the sinking of the Re
public has stirred the whole people
1t has had in 1t an inspiration as
noble. an emotional appeal as profound.
It has been beyond words dramatic.
There was not a single break i'll the
chain, even at its weakest point In
the terrifying darkness of the cabins
after the crash the order, go at once
to the upper deck aud put on life pre-
servers caused no panic, although the
very vagueness of the danger which it
LOiu lnduc Lie lCllOI NOI VII tAS
deck perfect silence came with the up
raised hand of Captain Sealby when he
said: The passengers will be trans
ferred to the steamship Florida" 1t
was almost sentence of death, yet
there was not a whimper. ITO the
boats, women first." fell upon ears
that had heard it before only as ro-
mantle chivairy, yet it was obeyed 10
the letter. These three commands
tell the simple story of herolsm.
The pathethic courage of womanhood
came out even more finely in the scene
on the Republics deck during the dread
full moments of waiting for the cap
tain's verdict Hiding their fear they
chatted and jol1ed and helped one
another" as Professor Coulter sc I'M
derstandingly tells It, INSTANTLY a wo-
man began to show evidences of giving
away to her terror. two or three others
would slip up to her and begin joking
with her as they fastened the clasps OF
the life preseryer about her."
OF a piece with tins heroism. but Of
masculine grain, was Jack Binns'
sticking ON the job" in his shattered
coming tower till the wireless brought
its marvellous message of help. To it
must be added, too. the 3-year-old boy
who refused to enter the boats with
the children and stood back to wait
his turn with the men; the old col
Iege president who went down into the
dark staterooms TO bring clothes for
the freezing women: the wounded wo-
man who cheered and directed the
sailors who lifted her down the COM
panion way and into the small boats.
and the disciplined crew that brought
the passengers to safety and then re-
fused to a man to leave their captar.
and their ship.
The whistles sang and the ban2s
played when the Baltic and It's load
of survivors came up the harbor at
New York
What great safeguard against the
perils OF the seas the wireless tele-
graph is was never more siearly shown
While it seems probable that the Flor
ida would have been able to get safe
" to port with the Republics people
and hef own. the messages cast into
space from the Marconi instruments
not only brought abundant help and
averted any chance of disaster, but
also relieved the anxiety of the friends
and relatives on shore
Certain eaterpillars swallow three
and four times their own weight daily
Bamboo trees do not blossom until