Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-23

/ BOSTON. January 23.-Tlle White Star
steamer Republic, bound from New York
for the Mediterranean. with a passenger
list and crew numbering about 761. was
in collision with an unknown vessel twen-
ty-siX miles south of Nantucket shoals
lightship in a dense fog early today and
so badly damaged that she was reported
| to be sinking. The passengers and crew
were believed to be all saved.
Wireless messages promptly started an
nouncing the accident. picked up by other
vessels at sea and by land stations,
brought quick response. Soon craft of
various descriptions were speeding to the
relief of the disabled steamship.
The White Star Steamship Company
was at first advised of the collision by
Capt. Sealby of the Republic in wire
less dispatch, which said that no lives
have been lost. and that his ship was able
to keep afloat although her boiler room
was full of water.
Florida Rescues Passengers.
Subsequent messages. however indcat-
ed that the Republic was in danger of
sinking and that another vessel believed
to be the steamer Florida. bound from
Italian ports for New York. had come up
with her and was taking off her passen-
gers and crew.
Meanwhile, the French line steamer La
Lorraine. which had been reached by
wireless, was searching for the Republic
in a fog The steamer Baltic was forty
miles away but hastened to the Repub
lies assistance.
So far as could be learned, the ship
which struck the Republic faded away al
most Immediately in the fog. There was
no chance to learn her identity or fate.
A report from Vineyard Haven, received
here early this afternoon said that at
12:3O pm. the Republic announced by
wireless that she could remain af1Odt
but two hours longer. At that time all
the passengers and three-quarters OF the
crew had been transferred 10 the Florida
and the balance were preparing TO aban-
don the ship.
Wireless Calls for Help.
Immediately after the accident the wire
less apparatus on the steamer flasned the
news of her plight in all directions. With
in short time several vessels. including
the French line steamer Lorraine, west
ward bound: the White Star liner Baltic
and the revenue cutter Gresham. were on
their way to offer every assistance to the
disabled steamer.
The first messages asked that assistance
be sent Immediately. One message. flash
ed to the navy yard here. said the steam
er was sinking.
Later, however, the captain of the Re-
public sent a wireless message. saying the
engine room was full of water, but that
the steamer could keep afioat and was in
no danger.
The nearest land was Nantucket Island,
about seventy miles due north. With his
engine room full of water the only thing
left for the captain to do was to shed
wireless waves broadcast over the Allan
tic, asking for assistance.
Gresham Hurries Away.
The first came to the United States
government revenue and naval stations
at Nantucket lightship, Newport and
Highland light The revenue cutter
Gresham, at Provincetown, left within
few minutes for the scene.
The last ocean accident of this nature
in which an ocean liner was run down
by another vessel off the American coast
was some eleven years ago. The steamer
Bourgogne was sunk by the ship Cromaty-
shire off Nova Scotia and went down
within a comparatively few minutes with
some 800 of those on board.