Norwich bulletin., 1909-01-27

| from the scene of Saturdays disaster off Administration they were brought to the White Star pier today by a revenue cutter. The last few minutes of the Re- public the fight of Sealby and Will Hams, who stayed by her to the last; their parting at the sinking ships rail, their swim in tumbling, icy water, their dramatic meeting in the boat of the cutter Gresham. and the sentiment that passed between the two: Game to the last"-this was the tale told in simple language by the captain and his mate.
 Talked It Over on the Bridge.
 The captain said:
 "When it was close to the time for us to leave the Republic the vessel began to rumble and crack aft and the stern began to go down rapidly.\ Will Hams and I were on the bridge.
 well, what do you think about it" I said to Williams.
 "I don't think it will be a long race; let's make a sprint of it. he said. When you are ready, let her go.'
 Burn the blue lights I said, and then l fired five shots from my revOl- yer. That was the signal to. the Gres- ham to cut away the hawser. Let's make for the highest point; take to the fore rigging I shouted.
 "We ran from the bridge to the sa- loon deck, burning blue lights as we went, and carrying lanterns. When we got to the deck the water was coming over the after end of it. As we ran forward the stern of the ship was sink ing rapidly ahd the incline of the deck was so steep that we began slipping back.
 Last Shot, from Aloft.
 "The last l saw of Williams was when he had caught the port rail and was hanging on. 1 took to the fore rigging and went up as far as the masthead light-about 100 feet-and rested there while l took out blue light from my pocket. It was wet and would not go off. Then I fired the last shot from my revolver.
 "Then the water caught me and 1 fioated It got under my great coat. The air inside supported me. wHle the weight of my revolver binoculars and cartridges acted as ballast and made a sort of life preserver.
 By this time there was a roaring. seething mass of water around me. l was churned down into it. but came to the surface and tried to pull off my coat. I did not succeed. There was considerable debris around and finally I succeeded in reaching a hatch. On this I lay. sprsad-eaSle fashion.
 "The searchlights of the revenue cut ters Gresham and Seneca had played on the Republic as she sank and after a considerable time these lights and the lights of the tug Scully were con- centrated on the spot where the ship had gone down.
 Lay Flat on Hatch and Saved His
 Strength.
 "It seemed an interminable time and they did not see me. but l managed to load my revolver again and fired to at- tract their attention. The cartridges fortunately had been greased and did not get wet. It was very rough and cold and l was getting benumbed; so I just lay on the hatch and saved my strength, shouting at intervals.
 Picked Up Nearly Finished.
 When the lights were playing up- on me, l waved a towel that 1 had found floating near by, and shortly afterward l saw a boat which picked me up and took me aboard the Gresh- am. l was nearly finished then. The boat was in charge of Gunner John son. and he handled her in an able and seamanlike manner. Four of the eight men in the boat were members of the Republics crew."
 Experience of Williams.
 Lieutenant Williams, a boyish-look- ing sailor, who saved his pipe, but not his overcoat, described the parting with his skipper and their reunion.
 When l lost the captain" he said. T was hanging to the rail by my el- bows. The ship was going down and felt her strike bottom. I could tell she was resting on bottom by her sol idity. She stayed there abont ten seconds, and then I felt her part, break in two. l let go, and fell into the water about forty feet.
 Then l threw off my aovercoat and started to swim backWasd I cannot describe the roar of the water as it rose above the ship. It was like Ni- agara, like thunder, like anything in fernal. Above me was the keel of the ship, standing high in the air. I think l must have been about twenty feet from 1t. There seemed to be very lit tie back-wash, and when she went down with all flags flying. there was mot much suction, else l wouldn't be here.
 While was swimming" continued Williams, "a hatch struck me. and I tried several times to get on it. but it was jumping about in the heavy sea, and l didn't succeed. A few minutes later another hatch came along and I got that on the other side of me and floated between the two, with my el- bows Outstretched.
 "Game to the Last!"
 T could see the three vessels. but they seemed a great way off, and I heard Captain Sealby fire three shots. 1 l had been in the water about twenty minutes. I judged, when the Gresh- am's boat picked me up. I was pretty cold, but think 1 could have lasted an hour
 Having heard the shots, was able to help the boats crew in their search for the captain. At last they found him, and he was shivering when pulled aboard. He didn't know I was there, and I reached over and touched his elbow. He knew who it was, and he threw his arms around my neck.
 Williams he said, game to the last!"
 The second officer said that he and the captain spent a pleasant evening, on the deck of the Republic, from SIX to eight.
 We had dinner" he added, "but we did not dress for 1t. I went down and rummaged in the pantry for grub getting some biscuits, marmalade and 1 plum cake. I also got some blankets, l