New-York tribune., 1909-01-26

American girl who spoke French Tell me-
child, what that man said"
The young woman pulled herself tosether'
and, with forced smile, said: he is happy'
and says that the Baltic will be here In half an
hour" The acunen Of the young woman saved
a panic in the saloon of the Florids-
THE BALTIC LOOMS UP.
At about o'clock in the afternoon, nearly
twelve hours after the transfer had been nnaoe'A
the Baltic loomed up out Of the fos that lor tue
moment had thinned out in that particular io
cality The arrival of that big steel maven OIL
safety, with her searchlight playing from deck
that seemed to be in the heavens. brought tears
of ioy to every soul on the Florida While that
light played about the damaged Florida, the sea-
worthiness of which one on board was sure
of, the fears that may have fingered among the
passengers We're dispelled, Threats that were
choked with emotion and chilled by the cold
cheered as best they could when Captain RAN
son shouted from the bridge of the Baltic ne
was there to for every one aboard.
Ewes filed with tears peered through the mist
| ar the Baltic and trembling human forms that
| should have kept within doors were rfveted to
| the deck.
After a conversation by megaphones from the
| bridges of the three ships 1t was decided that
/ the Florida should get under way and proceed
| TO Sandy Hook, with the Baltic as convoy The
| Florida moved slowly with her overcrowded
cargo of nervous human freight, but she had
| hardly gone four ship lengths when Captain
Ransom decided that he would not leave
| the passengers the disabled Florida The
wind had suddenly shifted to the east and
| that was the forerunner of heavy sea.
| Captain Ransom believed it unsafe for the
| Florida to encounter a choppy which might
| pound into her shattered stem and probably
make her helpless as the Republic
| The task of transferring 1850 passengers In
| small boats no simple one, but Captain
Ransom decided on this plan at Word was
| sent to the Republic OF the proposed transfer,
| and the Republics boats, splendidly manned,
| went over to the Florida, where they were
| joined by boats from the Baltic.
BOATS USED AS ELEVATORS
| Captain Ruspini and his showed excel
| lent discipline in getting the passengers over
| the side many of them being lowered in the
| F1orida's boats. which. being hoisted TO and
| from the davits acted improvised elevators.
The Baltic's searchlights played upon the side
| of the Florida the strenuous work was being
| accomplished. Captain Ransom and Captain
! Ruspinl both announced that the women and
| children should go forward and be taken OFF
| first. Women hung TO their husbands and
! begged that they he taken off together. but the
| men seemed to realize that the orders of the
| two captains paramount. and they per-
| suaded the weeping women to do as they
| directed.
The bronzed Italian sailors, although they
| were helping many who did not speak their own
tongue, exceedingly considerate under the
| circumstances and accomplished much during
the eight hours of transfer. The steerage pas
| sengers on the Florida. who objected to the
transfer of the Republics passengers TO their
overcrowded and disabled steamer, became rec
| onciled after the first few boatloads came on
board. and glad to give up such articles
of clothing as they could spare to their weaither
but less fortunate brothers and sisters.
The east wind that prompted Captain Ransom
to make the second transfer did exactly what
he had expected, and a heavy sea pounded the
lifeboats despite the experience of the trained
men at the
The roughness of the sea forced cautiousness
to take the place of fear. and according to one
of the survivors, the absence Of smooth sea
a Godsend The survivor said that the
pounding Of the boats against the sides OF the
vessels and the pitching while under way gave
the passengers something to think of. Those
who had been brooding forced to hang
on for their lives, and the anticipation Of their
ultimate fate left them for the moment and the
wstchword Hang on"
The fact that they were being taken aboard
the big Baltic made even the tmid coura geous.
and, according TO dozens of the survivors. the
steady glare of light from the Baltic was as
surance in itself.
Captain Ransom held his big vessel just where
he wanted it. He stayed on the bridge navigat
ing his steamer throughout the entire twelve
hours of transfer, and found time to direct the
movement of the lifeboats and the hauling up
of the survivors to the Baltic's deck.
CHEER AS TRANSFER ENDS.
By o'clock Sunday morning the entire $50
passengers safe and sound on Ranson's
vessel and were heading for Sandy Hook AS
the last person hauled aboard there 4
wild shout from hundreds of throats the
Baltic, which was answered by the crew Of the
Italian liner. All had left the Florida except
one man. In a stateroom the upper deck
Eugene Lynch who the day before had seen
his wife crushed to death, riding up to
New York the vessel whose battered stem
had taken from him his life partner. He heard
the sounds attending the transfer to the Baltic |
and when informed by the Italian surgeon that !
he could not be removed. he replied heroically !
that he was in the surgeons hands and would
abide Icy his decision.
The Baltic hauled up her boats and got under !
way. The Florida's boats again swung from
their davits, and the heroes from the Republic |
went back TO their doomed vessel.
Captain Sealby said when the last came |
aboard. Men of the Republic. 1 proud of |
you. I look upon coward"
The revenue cutters Seneca and Gresham |
were still standing by the Republic when the |
men returned. and the commander of the sink
ing vessel said: Il don't know how long we |
keep ahoat. but any here has my per- |
mission to leave this ship and save himself" !