The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-27
GREAT STEAMERS COLLIDE.
DAMAGED STEAMSHIP REPJTRUIC
GOES DOWN.
drama OF the Sea Drawing to a Close
Marine Collision on Nantucket.
saturday, Results i'm Loss of One
Snip and Six LvesICaptain and
Crew Stayed With it to the Last.

ocean steamship Republic of the
White Star Line, which was in colli-
sion with the Italian liner Florida
early Saturday morning of Nantuck-
ct, Mass, went down at $3.50 O'Clock
tonight. No one was lost. Her pas
sengers are on the steamship Baltic,
which was of Sandy Hook at late
hour, making for this port. ~
The Republic was in tow of the
revenue cutter Gresham and the der
elict destroyer Seneca, proceeding to
New York. On board was Capt. Seal
by, with volunteer crew of fifty. The
crew was taken of by the Gresham,
which stood by until she sank beneath
the waves.
The Gresham and the Seneca will
land Capt. Sealby and his brave crew
at Gayhead, Mass, or Newport, r. I.
The Florida is slowly steaming to-
wards New York, conveyed by the
American liner New York. Her pas
sengers also are on the Baltic.
The Baltic is nearing the harbor of
New York late tonight. This in brief
Is the situation late tonight in the
stirring story of the sea, following the
first wireless flash on the collision of
the two big ships in the early dawn
OF Saturday morning off Nantucket,
Mass.
That there was loss Of life attend
ing the collision was not known until
an early hour Sunday morning. Then
the wireless, which has had its first
great trial and proved it's utility,
brought the news that Mrs. Eugene
Lynch. Of Boston and w. ]. Mooney,
OF Langdon, N. D., had been killed,
and Mrs. M. M. Murphy, Of Grand
Forks. N. D.. and Eugene Lynch, Of
Boston, injured. 1t was reported
further that four members of the
Florida's crew had met death.
The bodies of the dead and the in
jured persons were transferred to the
Baltic.
Mr. Mooney and his wife were
bound. with Mr.. and Mrs. Murphy, on
pleasure trip from the West to the
Mediterranean, and occupied state
rooms on the top deck aft on the port
side. Mr.. and Mrs. Lynch occupied
an adjoining state room. The COM
pany cannot understand how the pas
sengers were killed or injured in that
part Of the Republic, which it is un-
derstood was struck ar1idships.
Other than the brief wireless mes
sages from Capt. Ransom, of the Bal
tic, no news was received. The feel
ing of elation among the steamship
officials early today when Capt. Ran
som wired that there was an excel
lent chance to save the Republic,
gave way to regret when the news
came that there had been loss of life.
Details Of the collision at sea in the
dense fog came by wireless today
from many receiving stations along
the New England coast line. The story
told in brief, but potent messages,
how the passengers of the Republic
and the Florida spent many anxious
and uncomfortable hours following
the wreck. Not until all were safe
and sound on the Baltic did they have
feeling Of security.
After the transfer Of the passengers
from the Republic to the Florida,
which had no accommodations for the
400 and more additions to her already
heavy list, Capt. Voltolin, of the Ital-
ian ship, gave orders to stand by until
further help arrived. An examination
of the Florida showed that her cut
water and bow had been crumpled as
If she had crashed into a stone wall,
and her two forward compartments
were filled with water However. she
showed no signs Of sinking. But it
"eS NSOAhOo OCSt, dl IL late nOuT, 10
transfer not only the Republics pas
sengers, but all those on board the
Florida as we'll to the Baltic, as Capt
Voltolin believed his passage to New
York would be slow and there were
insufficient accommodations and sup
plies for so many passengers.
Shortly before midnight the re-
transfer of the passengers began. For
tunately the sea was placid as a lake.
The ships boats, working in the flare
OF night lights, made their way back
and forth between the steamships in
the fog. Meanwhile the Republic
drifted away in the murk and was
lost to sight.