Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-26
TWO CAPTAINS ACCOUNTS.
Ransom and Ruspini Tell Of Work OF
Rescue and Fatal Crash.

NEW YORK, January 26.-Capt j. s.
Ransom of the Baltic described the work
of his ship as follows:
I'VE got notice at 6 o'clock Saturday
morning that the Republic had been In
collision and assistance was wanted. and
we turned and went back and began to
search. The search began at IL o'clock
and continued till 8 pm.
She was found finally by the Marconi.
The first thing we did was TO take off the
Republics crew. as she seemed to be In
a sinking condition. Then we went along
side the Florida and began to transfer
passengers.
First we transferred the Republics
Floridas using the crews Of all three
ships We used only the Republics boats.
We have seven or eight of the Republic
boats on board the Baltic now. The trans
fer was made from pm. to 8 am.
"All this time we were transferring pas
sengers. The weather was threatening
and very misty, but there were no acct
dents. For the number you will >have to
see the purser, but the total was about
1850 We left the captain Of the Repub-
lie it's chief officer, the boatswain. the
chief steward and boat crew on board
the Republic.
One Woman in Water.
a Inc pdSScHSSEo uCHoNCu SPtShoiOAy'
Only one person fell into the water, and
she was an Italian woman She fell like
a bag of potatoes. Life buoys dropped all
around and on her.
After we had finished with the passen-
gers we returned and went back to the
Republic. finding her all right at that
time. The officers and the steward all
went back on the Republic.
I'VE could not find the Republic for
many hours. but there was an American
whaleback steamer named the City OF Ev-
erett and her conduct was grand. She
stayed by the Republic all night, and she
blew for us until we found her. After
we had sent back the officers and crew
to the Republic the Furnessia came up.
This is how the Republic finally got to
her. She used our whistle and steered us
by the Marconi. AS fast as our Marconi
operator got a message he rushed with 1t
to me. l have all the copies. For in
stance, some of them read: You are now
on our port bow. Can you see us? Re-
public Another message reads: You are
now very close. Can you see our rockets
Republic Another: You are too close to
us for safety. Republic.
Republics Danger Told.
THE first message Of all that we re-
ceived Saturday morning told us that the
Republic was in a dangerous position In
latitude 40, longitude 20.
I'VE went there and she was not there.
Then we had to grope, and we went to
4O:o7 and $3.50. We secuted: we were in
terfered with by the wireless of other
ships, which complicated the situation.
Saturday evening the fog lightened
somewhat. fortunately. Then 1t became
intermittent. 1t became thick again Sum
day morning and made it very difficult
for us.
steering directions. and In between We
caught flashes of other messages. There
was one / received that made me very
anxious 1t read: 'Siasconset says hear
from Republic, says to Baltic to hurry.
Sinking fast
II think 1 received this about pm.
Saturday, just before we found her. Then
l got alongside of the Republic. asked
| Capt Sealby to come aboard OF my ship,
him to come. but he stayed by until the
| last
Capt. Ruspini's Story.
Capt. Ruspini of the Florida told of
| the crash as follows
"Abcut quarter of 6 o'clock on Satur-
! day morning" he said. 1.-The Florida was
proceeding at reduced speed in dense
| fog off Nantucket. Suddenly a ship
doomed up out OF the mist dlrectly aneao
| Of US. We hit her almost as soon as
we sighted her.
THE bow of the Florida struck the
other vessel whose name did not know
at the time. amidships and plowed
through to the engine room. Before the
collision we had been blowing the. fog
| horn at frequent intervals. I was oh the
| bridge myself at the time, and We had
heard the other boats horn only once and
were unable to locate her.
the Florida StOnnP6
| backed her away and the other ship
| slipped away into the fog and disappeared.
For two hours we cruised around looking
for the vessel We had hit. finally Ne