Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-01-25
TOday's Telegraphic News
Sinking of the Republic.

the sunkeu liner Repubic and the dam
aged Florida, reached New York bay
esriy today, but is held up in Ambrose
channel on account of the heavy fog.
She will dock during the morning.
The Floridl, in convoy Of the Amsri'
can liner New York, is DOW nearing
Sandy Hook. Owing to the fog snd the
partially disabled cOnd tiou of the Flor
ida, the progress of the two ships from
the scene OF Saturdays collision of Nan
tucket ligt tsbip, 900 miles from the hsr-
Dor entrance, was slow.
OF the coast of No Mans Land, a
small islet south of MATTHIAS Vineyard,
lies all that remains of the once mighty
Republic. She sank last night in forty
FIVE fathoms Of water.
A dispatch from Vineyard Haven,
Mass, states that the Gresham has ar
rived there.
The two passengers killed on the Re-
public at The time Of the collision we're
w. J. Mooney, banker, Of LangdoD,
N. D., and Mrs. Eugene Lynch, Of
Boston.
Four steerage passengers Of the Flori-
da also persisted.
Aboard the Baltic, anchored in Am
brOse channel, Captain Ransom, worn
down by his terrible labors Of the last
4S hours, ga d:
"The crash came without warning,
the Florida slipping out of the fog and
striking the Republic before anyone
knew Of her presence. The shock was
terrific.
rs aterooms 81 and % were stove in
by the bow of the Florida. The Florida
Immediately backed away and dissp-
pe'rsd in the fog aft. One of the Flor
ida's anchors vas left on the wreckage
Of the demolished state rooms.
"The thing occurred so quickly that
the identity Of the Iamming steamer was
not learned for some time.
"The wireless room of the Republic
vas smashed, bot the mechanism was
unchanged. Operator BnDs, surrounded
by the ruins, stuck to his job, sending
messages that brought aid. The water
poured in the great rent 10 the Repub-
lies side, but the fremen stuck to their
posts and prevented an explosion OF the
boilers. They did not leave until the
1a!er was up TO their waists.
$50 half al hour the Florida summoned
By the distress signals of the Republic
csme picking her way through the fcg
captain Ssslby Of the disabled steamer
had his beats lowered and 10 the sea,
ard with those OF the Florida, all of the
passengers were moved to the latter yes
sci.
"The transfer OF the passengers from
both boats to the Baltic began at 8
o'clock Saturday night and ended at 3
O'Clock Sunday morning, while the
sesrcLlight Of the ship illuminated the
rough sea
"N.arly all of the passengers, incIud-
ing those In the steerage kept their
heads"
Ga the Florida It ia said there was
more freight than on the Baltic. The
| allan immigrants, fresh from the
earthquake hsrrJrs in Italy, knelt on
toe decks Of their ship, barefooted aud
with only a few clothes on, praying
oud.
S asconstt, Mass, Jan. 25.--The
rescue OF Cap ain Sealby and his mate,
when the Republic finally went down,
was drastic TIE captain had declared
that he would not desert the ship, till
the last minute aud his assistance nearly
resulted ia his death. The revenue cut
tiers Gresham and Sepecs, which were
towing the disabled steamer, had both
been slowed up by the thrush of water
into the hold Of the Republic. She was
abou. to take her last plunge. The re-
maiUder Of toe crew vas speedily taken
off in life boa and distributed on the
cutters. S6alby was told that his ship
was sinking. Sill he aud bis mate
stuck to her. Standing on the bridge,
the water rose to their ankles. The Re-
public suddenly csreened and went
down. The life beats which had been
lowering near, we're nearly drawn down
by the suction. Two figures were seen
in the water, desperately cliDging to a
crate. They were S abby ana the mate.
Shortly afterWsri they were dragged on
board the Gresham.
The bow of the Florida struck the
Republic Of. Of the midship and kept on
grinding toward The stern. When she
at last cleared, FIVE s'aterooms on the
ssloon deck cf The Republic and two on
the deck below had been ripped open,
The rooms on the lover deck which we're
against the ships side, were torn out by
The Aukes of the Florida's anchor,
which finally was wrenched eff and
found lster in one Of the staterooms.
Toe florida, with her bow smashed fiat
to the forward bulkhead looked worse
lhsn the Republic.
Boston Jan. % Dispatches from
Nesport, R. l., say fifty of the crew Of
the Republic are on the derelict destroy
er Seneos, presumably bound for New
York.
New York, jan. 25.-Oarrying 1861
passengers of the wrecked White S.ar
liner Republic and the damaged Italian
Line steamer Fl-rids, which lammed
the Republic Saturday, the Baltic steam
ed up TO her pier at 1910 o'clock this
afternoon. She also had on board 800
Of the crew Of the Republic which
brought the toal number Of survivors up
10 1861.
The Florida, with her bow smashed in
and deserted By all save her officers and
crew reached Ambrose channel lightship
at noon, proceeding 10 New York under
hpr 0Wn etaam.