The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-01-26
STEAMER REPUBLIC SUNK
BY COLLISION AT SEA
Other Vessels Called by Wire
less TeIegraphy.
2 PASSENGERS, 4 SAILORS LOST
Two Ocean Liners Crash in Fog Off
Nantucket Florida Disabled,
the Other Goes to Bottom
Thrilling Story of Rescue.

the other Goes to Bottom
Thrilling Story of Rescue.
New York City.-With 1850 survi-
yors of the collision between the
White Star liner Republic and the
Italian Lloyd steamship Florida on
board, the White Star liner Baltic
was reported by wireless telegraph at
i a. m. off Sandy Hook. On board
the vessel also are the bodies of six
persons, who lost their lives in the
collision off Nantucket, R. 1.
There was no one on board when
the Republic went down. She had
been headed toward this city in tow
of the revenue cutter Gresham, and
when it became evident she could not
keep af1oat her captain and crew were
taken on board the cutter.
1t was difficult work getting the
men on the Republic into the small
boats sent from the Gresham. There
was danger of the lifeboats being
smashed against the side of the liner,
and the Gresham's men had to man
euvre carefully to keep out of dan
ger. The captain of the ship and his
first mate, who were the last to leave
the steamer, were compelled to jump
into the water, the captain sending
the mate ahead. They were picked
up by the men in lifeboat.
Twice, in the thick fog that hung
over the sea, the passengers on
board the Republic were transferred
10 ~ Tirct thnu
taken on board the Florida, which
also was suffering from the collision.
1t became apparent, however, that
the captain decided he must send
away not only the human load that
had been taken from the Republic,
but his own passengers as we'll.
In the second transfer the wireless
messages that had flashed the danger
of the Republic for hundreds of miles
played an important part. The mist
that shrouded the ships made 1t i'm
possible to distinguish the outlines of
objects fifty yards away. The click
ing of the instruments in the rooms
of the wireless operators told of the
position of the vessels, however, and
the second transfer was made safely.
The men, women and children who
had been carried through the fog
from the Republic to the Florida
again were taken off in the small
boats of the Baltic. When all of
them had been transferred safely, the
Floridas passengers were taken off.
There was no panic, not even dis
order. though it took all night to
make the second transfer
Altogether the Baltic carries 1850
passengers she took from the Florida.
Those who were on the Florida when
the collision occurred will receive
their baggage, for that ship is coming
into port under her own steam. But
the belongings of the men and women
on the Republic probably are lost,
for 1t Is not regarded as probable that
the vessel will be raised.
In the exciting incidents that fol-
lowed the collision, seven ocean liners
took an active part. They were the
Baltic, New York, Furnessia, La Lor-
Taine, Lucania, Republic and Florida.
Wireless messages flashed between
thetships, keeping officers and passen-
gers in high state of excitement.
While the telegraph instruments
clicked their messages, four of the
ocean liners vainly were searching
for the injured steamer. La Lorraine
was so close to the Republic that the
disabled vessels bell was heard, yet
her outline could not be SEEN When
La Lorraine arrived in port her cap
tain said 1t was entirely possible that
ne passed within hundred yards OF
the sinking vessel
The victims of the accident were
Mrs. F. Lynch. of Boston; w. j.
Mooney, of Langdon, N. D., and four
seamen. 1t is believed they were
crushed to death when the prov OF
the Florida cut far into the Repub-
lies side. Mrs. Lynch's husband and
M. J. Murphy, also passengers on the
Republic, were injured.
Officials of the White Star line sent
word to the relatives of those who
had been killed or injured, and re.
plies were received that members oil
the families would start for this city
Mooney and his wife and the Lynches
were on pleasure trip to the Medi-
terranean, and they occupied state.
rooms on the top deck, on the port
side aft. In the absence of definite
information, the White Star officials
cannot figure how the MONEYS anc
Mrs Lynch met death, as the Repub
lie was struck amidships.
\ thrilling story of the search fol-
the endangered vessel was told by
Captain Edward Tournier, of La Lor.
raine. The heavy fog had caused
him to remain on the bridge through
out the night. Early on Saturday the
operator received the ominous signal
GOD" which means Come quick
Danger!" All his sleepiness fed an6
he waited anxiously for the more def
mite information he knew would fol
low.
Republic wrecked; wants assist
ance," the instrument clicked, an6
the operator carried the message tt
the captain.
ASK them where they are and tel
them I'm coming" Captain Tourniel
replied.
Latitude 4O.17, longitude TO-
the message came from the Republic
A reply was sent saying La Lor
YOUNG GIRL MURDERED in Shell