The sun., 1909-01-26
CAPT. SBALBY LAST MAN Tn
HE ARRIVES ON,THE SENECA,
BLAMING NO ONE.
Thought the Republic Doomed when she
Was sstruck-PraIse for Crew and Pas
sensers-The Republics Last Hours
Jack Binns Work cd IN the DARK.

Capt. Reynolds OF the derelict de-
stroyer Seneca. who saw the White Star
liner Republic vanish in rolling sea
crowned with mist in a glow OF blue fire
on Sunday night, arrived OF Tompkins-
vile. Staten Island, at s:i5 o'clock last
night with the commander OF, the Repub-
lie. Capt. Sealby. the larger part OF bis
officers, the actual seamen OF the crew.
one steward and the gallant Marooni
operator, Jack Binns.
Capt. Sealby and all the rest OF the
rescued had turned in and left word
that they were not TO be disturbed, a.
they were half exhausted. II was not
difficult, however. to get the story Of the
Republics skipper. as he had been quits
communicative with the officers Of the
Seneca.
He said he did not wish to make any
comment as to the responsibility of the
Italian captain for the collision. When
he was struck the fog was not dense, and
he was blowing his fog whistle at the
prescribed intervals. The Italian emerged
with such suddenness from the mist that
it was impossible to steer clear Of him.
/ Capt Sealby at first thought that thu
bow of the Florida had gone almost
through the Republic. and he was tremu-
lous for her fate. believing that she would
90 to the bottom on the instant that the
Italian backed out from the great rent.
What inspired him with this impression
was in reality the crumpling up OF the
Florida's bow all the way aft to her col
l!sion bulkhead All the officers on the
bridge believed for an instant that the
great ship was doomed
That is the reason why Capt. Sealby
sent his first wild cry for help saying that
he was sinking
That il what he believed for a few
swift moments. and that also was the
impression Of the wireless operator whoss
little den had been half wrecked-con-
verted into mere shell by the impact OF
the Italians bow. That is also the reason
why the lifeboats were swung swiftly over
the davils and made ready to launch.
The captain said there was no symp-
tom Of cowardice or unwillingness on
the part Of any member Of the crew
and he warmly praised the conduct OF
the passengers, particularly the women
he said who behaved with great COOL
ness, as women always do The rest
OF Capt. Sealby's experience has been told
already
Marconi Operator Binns revealed Tn
his fellow craftsman, Operator Matthew
Tierney Of the Seneca, that he had worked
in complete darkness in his wrecked little
cabin, with his instruments unable to
carry far and running very weakly, for
many hours without anything to eat.
Finally he swan down into a submerged
cabin and got some almonds and biscuits
that were floating there Then he thought
he would come up and solace himself with
cigarette, 500 Of which he had had in q
case near his door. He found that they
had been knocked overheard in the COL
lision Operator Tierney says that when
Binns came aboard the Seneca there were
great black rings under his eyes, and he
looked as il he had had no sleep for q
week
Capt. Reynolds of the Seneca. describ-
ing the sinking of the Republic, said IL
was the weirdest and most spectacular
that ever was seen of the stage. The
three searchlights of the Seneca, the
revenue cutter Gresham and the ocean
tug Scully illumined the ship from stem
10 stern, revealing her masts and rigging
with cameo like distinctness. 1t was more
like q stereopticon view than a real ship
wreck.
Before the arrival of the Seneca the
Gresham had made arrangements with
Capt. Sealby and his second of1cer, r.
Williams, by which they were TO remain on
he ship until it was evident that shs
,ould not stay ahoat longer and that they
hould then abandon her and be picked
lp by lifeboat Of the Gresham which
lad been swung out on the davits ready
or launching. At that time the Gresham
vas towing the Republic with a $50
athom hawser, and a hawser of similar
ength was made fast to the bow bits OF
he Gresham and the stern bits Of the
'eneca. As Capt. Reynolds expressed il,
hey were towing tandem, the Seneca
eading
Capt. Sealby had two blue lights on
he bridge and according TO Capt. Rsy-
II to show that the ship was sinking and
e would leave her with Second Ofioer
Williams. The other blue light was tn
o of automatically when the water
cached 1t. Capt. Sealby wore his great
cat and appeared to be perfectly placid.
he lights played upon him and his
aicer at times. and all on the attendant
luadron could see distinctly the express
on Of the skipper's face. He was
allid but apparently perfectly salt
and only anxious about the
afety Of his ship.
The stern, which had been down several
yet for many hours after the collision,
egan to settle further, when the ca plain
nd Second 0ficer Williams decided to
Ike charge Of the crewless ship They
'ok their position on the bridge, the
nesomest pair Of navigators ever ssen
n liner. The captain had dim hope
at the two revenue vessels with the
lrnessia acting as ruddeS for the stricken
lip might drag her to water shoal enough
entually to permit her salving
He saw the futility OF the hope when
e taffrail Of the Republic, with the blue
sign Of the Royal Naval Reserve, in
nich he is a Lieutenant. floating over
g stern, began 10 get awash. After
while the Flagstaff was submerged b
Q very edge Of the flag. The workers
tho aaarchliU Uhta had noncantr.s.a