Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-01-28

port. The idea is to have a steamer
meet the rescue vessels in the lower
bay, take off the shipwrecked passeng-
ers and bring them to this city, where
they will receive every care.
The steamer, Republic, a tourist
ship, left New York Friday for Medi-
terranean ports. There were on board
$50 first class passengers, 211 in the
ateerage, and a crew of 300. Stops
were scheduled at the Azores, Ma
deiro, Gibraltar, Genoa, Naples and
Alexandria. Captain |. Sealby, a
veteran seaman, was in command.
The proposed cruise of the ship had
attracted many notable travellers,
among them General Brayton Ives, a
noted New York fnancier; Archbishop
Birchese of Montreal; James B. Con-
molly, writer of sea tale; Alice Morse
Earle, author; Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover
of Seattle, who were on tour around
the world in an automobile; Victor
Narayas, Gooch Behar, India, who was
on the last half of his journey around
the world, and S. Earl Taylor, secre-
tary of the Young Peoples depart
ment, board of foreign missions of the
Methodist Epi copal church.
The first news Of the disaster came
in from of a wireless message re-
ceived both here and in Boston. The
message received here came from
Captain Sealby. 1t read:
n lvOF
lightship this morning, was run into
by an unknown vessel. Engine room
is full of water. Can remain afiOat.
No danger and no lives lost"
In the middle of the forenoon the
transfer of the passengers to the
Florida was made. By noon the
Baltic and La Lorraine were close to
the scene of the collision, but owing
to a dense fog we're unable to locate
the Republic, although submarine
bells could be heard frequently. The
prompt closing of the Republics wa
ter tight compartments which kept
her aflOat, undoubtedly saved the lives
of many of tho on board. Late in
the afternoon it was learned from the
Baltic that these compartments were
still holding the vessel above water,
but that the bulkheads and cOmpart-
ment doors were under a fearful strain
and were likely to give way any mo-
ment.
The collision was the second in
which the Republic had figured within
little les than two years. February
Is, 1907, she colIided in the Bay of
Naples, while entering port, with the
Italian steamer Centre America. At
that time the Republic had on board
343 passengers, and although many
of the passengers were badly fright
ened, none were injured.
It caused the greatest anxiety and
throughput the day the greatest ten
sion prevailed in the White Star offices
as the story of this latest sea tragedy
unfolded itself News that all hands
we're safe was greeted with great sat
fisfaction and hope was expressed that
even the Republic might be saved.
THIS hope, however, was dtssipated
late last night when news came that
the steamer had been finally aban-
doned.
Wireless Proves Its Value.
Bos,On Jan. 24-W reless tele5-
raphy played an important part in the
accident to the steamer Republic, for
it summoned about her in few hours
a feet Of three large ocean liners, the
La Lorraine of the French line, Baltic
Of the White Star and Cunarder Lu-
cania.
1t is apparent that the Florida must
have been at 80 or 40 miles off her
course in being anywhere near the Re-
public, as the east bound and west
bound steamer lines here are his dis
lance apart.
AS soon IS the Republic had been
struck and the extent o. the damage
had become known, wireless calls for
assistance were sent broadcast over
The Atlantic. All vessels within range
were asked to hasten to The scene.
The call for help which the Republic
had been sending into space was first
recorded on land at the Charlestown
navy yard at eight in the morning. Il
was addressed to the Gresham and
gave the Republics location and staf-
ed she was in distress.
The Gresham was not at the navy
yard but intercepted the appeal in
Provtrcetown harbor She started
Immediately for Nantucket. Other
wireless apparatus also caught the fly
ing message. and in a short time the
cutter Acushnet was on her way out
from Woods Hole, Mohawk, another
revenue cutter, had started from New
Bedford, and the Seneca had been or
dered out from New London, Connect
cut
The Mohawk soon ran aground.
while the Acushnet did not get outside
Vineyard sound, and later come back
to assist another vessel in distress.
Meantime the Baltic and La Lor-
raine. both Of which had passed the
Republic a few hours earlier and were