Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-24
REPUBLICS PASSENGERS SAVED:
OCEAN STEAMER STILL AFLOAT

ed a repetition of the Bourgogne disaster
OF ten years ago, and kept the Re e3ublic
af1oat for more than nftoen hours. The
watert.ght compartment installation also
kept the Florida. not only above the
water, but enabled her to return to tha
assist ance of the Republic alter the fear
ful recoil of the collision.
The two ships colIided at $50 am,
about twenty-six miles southwest of Nan
,ucket lightship. The n 5xt three hours
were occupied in summoning aid and
transferring the AGO passenge4 s, 80 in tn.
cabin and 211 in the steerage. from tie
Republic ito the Florida.
Capt. Sealby and mis- officers and crew
refused 10 leave while there was the
slightest hope OF saving the YES zel.
Friends of the passengers who had been
early startled by the first reports mat Il
Republic Was sinking. were rca,sSured ~
a dispatch from Capt. SeaIpy thai all On
board were III no danger aad thal tlIeI c
had been no loss OF life. Later stli mcs-
sageS We're received on shore tel ing that
a! OF the passengers OF the Republic had
been transferred in safety to the FLO. !da
Developments Are Recorded.
During the rest or tie day frequent
messages stated that the chances OF saw
ing the Republic were hourly dinlin. ST.
ing; that the Baltic, La Lorraine and
Lucania were nearing the scene, and at
7 O'Clock at night came word from tie
Ba. tic that she was alongs dc the stricken
vessel and ready to render every assist
ance.
1t had been ascertained that the F.oriGa
was capable of taking care Of the entire
onlp'S company OF the Republic. notwitl-
standing she had on board, in addition 10
her own crew of 10. nearly $40 Italians
bound for New York.
No effort, therefore, was made 10 re-
transfer me t,epuplic's passengers TO
the Baltic. That vessel was requested
to remain alongside and convoy the
Florida into New York, which port IT
was expected she would reach some
time tomorrow evening.
Throughout the long day the broad
ea-pdnse of the north Atlantic. which
for weeks had been swept by the
tiercest storms, was as calm and peace
full as in summer time. The fog, it IS
true, held dense Tor a greater portion
OF these fatefuI hours, during which
the passengers were transferred dnd
the crew waited for the last plunge of
the ship
The transfer of the passengers. who
had rushed to the decks as the gonSs
changed out the signal to close the
compartment doors, only to be reas-
sured by the officers, was made under
unusually favorable conditions.
Encouragement From Sister Ships
In the meantime the operator on The
Republic stood by his post and flashed
wireless rays asking for aid. He heard
his fellow operators on board the L.,
Lorraine, Baltic and Lucania speaking
words Of encouragement and telling
him of the Fastening assistance and OF
the revenue cutters Gresham and
Seneca.
Blu; the dense fog hampered consider
ably the oncoming vessels. Although
the Baltic reached the vicinity of the
Republic about pm, 1t took her four
hours to definitely locate the sinking ship.
In the meantime the wireless storage
batteries had become exhausted. Signals
wers sent out by means of submarine
bells.
The Baltic hove to half a mile from
the Republic shortly after dark tonight.
Then, drawing up trife closer. she got
within megaphone distance of both the
Republic and the Florida.
The Lucania was not far off. La Lor-
raine was in easy calling distance.
The other Marconi operators allowed
the Baltic full sweep for its messages.
The White Star line Office in New York
was constantly informed Of the situa-
ton.
During the day shore stations of the
Marconi at Siasconset was flooded with
kilograms from the Republics passen-