Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-24
rBY Associated Press.l

nj EW YORK, Jan. 23.-Grave anxi-
ETY. prevailed here today and to-
night as the result Of the thrill
ing marine drama being enacted off
Nantucket, following the ramming
early today Of the big White Star liner
Republic with 761 souls aboard by the
steamer Florida of the Lloyd-Italiano
line.
The wireless telegraph played an i'm
portant part in the grave incidents oc-
curing at sea far from the shore, and
proved its utility as it had never done
before.
Bit by bit it told the tale, first an
nouncing the news of the collision and
the plight of the liner.
The news came direct from the in
jured ship itself. Then the wireless
told of the rescue of the Republics
passengers, the condition from time to
time of the sinking ship, and finally
SUMMONED from the adjacent seas the
White Sar liner Baltic, the French
steamer La Lorraine, the Cunarder Lu-
cania and the revenue, cutters Acushnet
and Gresham.
At o'clock tonight the wireless
brought reassuring news from Captain
Ransom of the Baltic. He said the Re-
public was still af1oat, that the Florida
with her own people and most Of those
of the Republic aboard, close to 1000 in
all, was near by, and that the Baltic
was near the scene, standing by ready
to render aid.
Steamers Near to Aid
The steamers La Lorraine and Lu-
cania, Captain Ransom said, were also
in the vicinity, and the Republic,
through her wireless outfit, was direct
ing the movements of the ships of
rescue.
1t is presumed here that the load of
human freight aboard the Florida will
be transferred during the night, wealth
er permitting, to the three staunch lin
ers, and that all the ships will stand
together until revenue cutters and
Wrecking vessels, which have been dis
patched, can reach the scene.
The FloridaS bows are crushed in.
wireless dispatches stated tonight.
which would indicate that she was the
vessel that crashed into the Republic.
The fog is still heavy tonight all
along the coast, but the weather is
mild, and there is comparatively little
wind or sea, blessing in the face of
the serious situation.
The offices of the White Star line re-
mained open tonight, as all through
the day, to await news of the progress
Of events off Nantucket and reassure
the streams of anxious callers for in
formation.
Persons with friends aboard the Re-
public stood about in groups awaiting.
with the reporters, the latest news.
Many Anxious inquiries
Vice President P. A. S. Franklin Of
the White Star company was in charge
assisted by half dozen other officials
and clerks in answering queries and
directing as far as is possible the work
of rescue.
harbor steamer, the General Put
nam, has been chartered and is ready
to steam to sea to meet the Florida or
any other vessel that may bring the
rescued passengers to port
The steamer Republic. a tourist
steamer, left New York Friday for
Mediterranean ports. There were on
board $50 first-class passengers, 211 in
the Steerage and crew of 300.
Stops were scheduled at the Azores
Madeira, Gibraltar, Genoa, Naples and
Alexandria. Capt. 1. Sealby, a veteran
seaman, was in command. Other Of
ficers aboard included ]. S. Stanyer,
chief steward, and r. l.. Barker, purser
Some of the Passengers
The proposed cruise of the ship had
attracted many notable travellers
among them Gen. Brayton Ives, a New
York financier; Archbishop Birchez of
4HOlllICdly OdIllSS ID. the Writ
er of sea tales; Mrs. H. ]. Griggs wife
of the president of the Bank of New
York; Alice Morse Earle, the author;
Mrs. H. B. Armstead, mother of a well
known mining engineer; Mr.. and Mrs.
Hoover of Seattle, who were on a tour
around the world in an automobile;
Prof. John A. Coulter, Mr.. and Mrs.
David S. Cowles, Count Responni. Al
bert S. Bell, Rev. J. Ward, Mrs. John
r. Davis of Washington, her son and
daughter; DR.. A. F. Wagers. Capt. E.
A. Ehrensund, Victor Narayas Of Gooch
Behar, India, who was on the last half
Of a journey around the world; John
F. Goucher, President Emeritus of the
Womans college of Baltimore. and S
Earl Taylor, secretary of the young
peoples department, board of foreign
missions Of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
First news of the disaster came in
the form of wireless message re-
ceived here and in Boston. The mes
sage came from Capt. Sealby 1t read:
The First Message
"When twenty-siX miles south of
Nantucket lightship this morning was
run into by an unknown vessel. En-
CONTINUED on Page Three)