The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1909-02-05
A WIRELESS TRIUMPH
How News Of the Republics Col
IiSion Was TeIegraphed.
NO SLIP IN THE MESSAGES.

Each Was Clear and coherent-ToId
What Happened When White Star
Liner Was Rammed by q Steamer
of Observation-Disclosures Between
Old and New Systems.
Wireless messages shot here and
there along the Atlantic seaboard from
vessel and from coast station spread
information broadcast that the White
Star liner Republic, which recently
collided with the steamship Florida OF
Nantucket, needed aid, and needed 1t
quickly. Various ships were set In
motion, each an independent relief ex-
petition. The revenue cutter Acush-
net left Woods Hole, Mass, and the
steamship Baltic went on her way to
extend what assistance she could. La
Lorraine had crowded on all steam In
order to get over the 260 or more
miles separating her from the Repub-
lie, and her wireless instruments were
taking messages from the injured YES
sci. The revenue cutter Gresham was
making all speed toward the same
focal point from a point OF Cape Cod.
All vessels within the wireless zone
were picked up one after another and
sent toward the scene Of distress. II
was the fRst big sea disaster since
wireless telegraphy became CONNER
cially practicable, and the new system
Of communication had scored a tri-
umph.
There wasn't a slip in the messages.
Each was clear and coherent. They
told just what was happening of there
In the fog, which lay like a shroud
along the jagged outlines Of the Mas
sachuetts coast. The first message
received in New York. the one TO the
Maritime Exchange, told an entire
story In itself. Furthermore. II was
direct from the Republic. ''In distress
and sinking OF Nantucket" 1t ran.
Another followed hot upon the heels
OF the first. This contained informa-
ton in detail. The Republic had been
rammed by an unknown vessel, It was
Just able to keep afloat. but the rev.
enue cutter Acushnet and the Baltic of
the same line were within range of the
wireless waves and were speeding to-
ward her. After that La Lorraine was
heard from with the additionaU infOr-
nation that she expected to reach the
Republic in about four hours. The
White Star line also got early word
to the effect that there was no danger
to life and that the Republic was talk
ing with Nantucket.
The difference between the system Of
order Of things had been strikingly
shown. How marked the difference
was Is made plain when one hanks
back little less than eleven years to
the occasion Of the last great sea dis
aster-the loss Of La Bourgogne Of the
Campagnie Generate Transatlantique
On the morning Of July 6 a messen-
ger boy from the offices OF the Allan
Steamship company in New York ran
breathlessly into the building occupied
by the Campagnie Generate Transat-
lantique carrying a crumpled telegram
in his hand. He did not pause until
he stood before Paul Faguet. the
agent Of the company. Then he STAN
mered:
1.-The BOurgogne is lOst!'
NJ. Faguet threw up his arms. Mon
Dieu"' he cried.
The boy exhibited the telegram. 1t
was from the Western Union offices at
Halifax.
There were no great poles at Nan
tucket then. from the top of which
word was flashed through the air with
out the aid of wires. nor was there
any such station at Newport or any
whore along the coast. which is now
dotted with them. NJ. Faguct refused
TO believe the boy ut first. Even when
the yOungSter extended his hand and
produced the crumpled telegram the
French agent was incredulOus. Ii told
In the concise phraseOlOgy of the tele-
graph company how the steamship
Grecian was on her way To Halifax
with the British tramp Cromartyshire.
On board of which were those saved
from the French liner. The message
said that the Cromartyshire reported
having been In collision with La BOur-
gogne of Sable island. where the
graveyard Of many good vessels is To-
Gated. The news was confirmed from
Halifax.
There had been one of the greatest
calamities in the history Of the sea.
1t had occurred on July 4, but not
until two days later was the truth
known in Halifax as 1t fell from the
lips Of La Bourgogne's survivors. Out
Of a shipload Of 63S only 1S4 were
left to tell the story. The rest. 454
souls, were drowned.
Owing 10 the poor facilities for OBJ
tanning information In those days as
compared with the methods Of 1909.