The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-26
ROYAL RECEPTION
FOR SEALBY
AND B|NNS
Captain and Operator Of Re.
public Almost Overwhelmed
ANOTHER PASSENGER DIES
Eugene Lynch Passes Away at Lsn9
island Hospltal-Esltsrs etsrv
Of Disaster

New York, Jan. 26.-Capt Sealby
of the Republic and the wireless oper-
ator Jack Binns who took such a
heroic part in the drama OF the sea.
arrived here today and were almost
overwhelmed by the ovation they re-
ceived.
Eugene Lynch, one of the passen-
gers who was brought in on the Flor.
ida, died at the Long Island hospital.
Both legs were broken in the collision
and he received internal injuries
which resulted fatally.
New York, Jan. 26.-One OF the
most vivid accounts OF the collision
between the steamship Republic and
the Florida is toll by c. b. Winship,
editor OF the Grand Forks North Da-
kota Herald, who was passenger
on the Inflated Republic.
The ramming OF the steamship
Republic by the Lloyd Italian liner
| Florida occurred at $3.50 O'Clock Sat
urday morning before daybreak and
during the dense fog. The Republic
was struck almost amldships, and
the PROV OF the Florida penetrated
the saloon deck, tearing everything
into splinters and ribbons. To many
Of the passengers the impression was
given that there had been an explos-
ion on board, as the blow OF the Ital-
| ian steamer was followed by dull
roaring sound, and subsequently q
noise like the tearing and rendinE Of
timber.
There was a violent tremor OF the
great ship, 1t ran from end to end,
and then the engines stopped, and
almost Immediately the lighting cir
cult was cut off and the lights went
out.
All the passengers were asleep in
their staterooms at the time OF the
accident. and they arose and donned
what clothing their fear would allow
them time to put on. My wife and
occupied Stateroom LOG, which wai
on the starboard side and away from
the place where the steel cutwater Of
the Florida cut into the vessels side
was awakened by the shock, and a.
first it seemed to me that It was al
though we had hit derelict
Just awakened, / did not realize
that a serious accident had hap
pened, and | took my watch out from
under my pillow to see the time.
leaned out and turned the electric
, light switch. but could not make tn
light glow. The power was OF
Outside on the deck / was attracte,
by the striking and burning o
J matches and / got up. Then cam
the full realization that we had me
2 with an accident and the engine
were stopped.
r Dressing. my wife and | went GU
e side where we found the passenger
T. cropping their way to the upper dec
3 by the light OF matches. The shi
= employees calming their fears. az
I vised all to put on life preseryers /
case they might be needed.
= by o'clock the full extent OF tn
damage to the Republic was ascel
tanned by the officers. Capt Sealb
o. addressed the passengers from tn
bridge, telling them that it would b
q necessary to transfer them to tn
! Florida. He advised them that ther
q was no immediate danger and in
a plored them quietly and coolly to d,
:, scend the side to the lifeboats. Hi
!. calm statement of the situation r.
+ stored confidence to the passenger
, and 1t is doubtful whether there wa
! ever an assemblage of 500 or NOR
\ persons so cool and collected in tn
!. face OF danger.
|. within an hour the passenger
a were being transferred to the Flor
n da. They covered every deck OF tn
!. smaller steamship so thickly tina
: there was no room to move abou
q Here the passengers huddled togetl
: er for fifteen hours. suffering froI
:. cold, hunger and thirst. The Flor