Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-01-28
GRAPHIC TALES OF CRASH
Bravery and Good Behavior of Crews
Praised Something Wrong on
Florida's Bridge.

New York, JAN 27.--Less than sew
enty-two hours after the crash be-
tween the ocean liners Republic and
Florida off the Nantucket shoals,
which eventually sent the former to
the bottom and reduced the latter to
state of staggering helplessness, the
survivors of this thrilling deep-sea
tragedy have found a haven at last.
At nightfall last night 1850 pas
sengers from the two vessels were
safe in this port, brought here by the
Baltic, while nearing it were the res
cued officers and crew of the Repub-
lie, safe On board the derelict destroy
er Seneca, to which they were trans
ferred from the revenue cutter Gresh-
am, after staying up to the last mo-
ment by their sinking vessel.
At her dock in Brooklyn was tho
battered Florida, aboard which her
crew had remained throughout her
trying experience.
Graphic Tales of Crash.
With the important work of rescue
thus practically finished, attention be-
gan to be turned to endeavors to learn
definitely if possible how the two big
ocean travellers had come to crash
into each other and whether their
Hateful meeting was as unavoidable as
at first appeared. On the Republics
side little was to be learned. Her
passengers told graphic tales of the
crash, of the excitement on board, Of
behavior Of the crew and Of the eff
cient work Of rescue. That all had
not gone so we'll with the Florida and
sought contributing cause for the
disaster was indicated by late de-
velopment of the day.
WheeIsman FeIed by Captain.
There are two versions Of what hap
pened on the bridge of the Florida
when the Republic doomed up in front
Of her through the morning fog. Lit
tie could be learned from Capt. Ros-
PM when he was seen On board his
vessel On her arrival in the harbor.
According to others who had been
on board the Florida and were
brought into port by the Baltic, how
ever, something went wrong with the
Florida's steering wheel when the col
lision was imminent. One story had
1t that quartermaster had the wheel
when the commander yelled for it to
be damned to starboard. He put it to
port instead and the liners crashed
into each other.
Marine Court May Settle 1t.
Another version of the story is that
the man dropped his wheel in a panic
when danger impended Both versions
agree in saying that the commander
felled the quartermaster with an iron
spike following what he must have
considered the seaman's recreancy.
Probably not until both commanders
have made their formal statements
will the actual facts be known. Pos
sibly the verdict Of a marine court
will be needed to determine them.
Standing out prominently, on the
other hand, is the conduct Of Capt.
Sealby of the Republic, who, true to
the best traditions Of the sea, kept his
ship beneath him as long as there
was enough of her afioat to afford him
a foothold.
Worked Like Heroes.
Survivors had warm words Of com.
mendation for the officers and men of
the Florida, who worked like heroes,
with their own ship in a sad way, to
get the passengers from the worse
damaged Republic to comparative
safety on board the Italian vessel.
When the Florida reached her dock
1t was learned that it was three and
not four Of her crew who had been
killed when the steamers collided.
Eugene Lynch, one Of the Repub-
lies passengers, who was severely in
jured, was On the Florida when she
came in. When he was taken later to
the Long Island hospital it was found
that both his legs were broken, his
right thigh fractured and that he was
internally injured. 1t is feared he will
die.