Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-18
A DISASTER RECALLED
How Passengers Of the Republic
Were Rescued by the Baltic.
Shipload Of Passengers Transferred:
Twice within - Hours, Once IN
q Dense Fog, On January
Day IN 1909.
(Frcm the New York Evening y'ost)

three ships sent to the MD Of the Titanic
figured In a similar disaster when, II
January. 1900. she rescued tho paaseneeri
Of the sinking Republic. The Republic hat
been ranrned by the italian liner F1oridt
early n the morning Of the 28d. In q
thick fog CAST of Nantucket II WAC i'm.
mediately seen that the Republic wa1
doomed. and her passengers and crew
were transferred to the Floride
The Baltic, summoned by the wire,oss
messages Of the Republic. reached the
sinking vessel on the same evening and
took on board the passengers of tho
Floride and the rescued crew and pas
sengers of the doomed White Star ship
numbering in all Loo. with these she
steamed to New York. where she arrived
on the morning Of Monday the 18th.
ENGINE ROOM FLOODED.
Once on the Republics main deck after
the collision her passengers were not
permitted to go below; the engine-room
was flooded; the ship was In darkness.
The law Of the sen, women and chill
dren first" prevailed Of course. while the
passengers from the Republic We're being
transferred first to the Florde and after
wards to the Baltic.
A man to whom his wife chung was
thrust back as they thus sought to
descend to boat
Never Will I leave him. she shrek.
cd. Never have left himl He is blind!"
The operation of the unwritten law was
suspended.
Children were equal to the emergency.
yy1V. r.. -,
Of Chicago. with her arm around her son,
was taking him in the line descending to
the tossing, wailing boats
It'll stick to pop" cried the boy. four
teen years old "Ill stick to pop and go
with the men, And he wrenched himself
from his mothers anguished grasp.
The Battles passengers having given
away most of their clothes. dug into the
pockets they had left and contributed ST.
060 for the crews Of the three steamers.
The money was to have been given in
cash. The more thoughtful of the ships
officers suggested that 1t pay for medals
for the sailors. and this will be done.
For there were heroes who do not shine
who were hidden In the ships depths.
The fourth engineer Of the Republic,
II
the ships rent side in the engine-room.
prevented certain explosion of the boilers
by opening their main feed checks. The
Republics stokers rushed to the water
light bulkheads and closed them in an
instant after the collision. else the steam
ship would have sunk almost i'm.
mediately.
A RECORD RESCUE.
The transfer of a shipload of passen-
gers twice within twenty-four hours was
something that steamship men say never
mad been done before. In the first place.
between 400 and 500 were taken from the
Republic to the Floride, and to do this
the boats of the Republic were used. At
the time this was done 1t was daylight,
but there was a thick fog. The sea was
smooth. but even under the most favor
able conditions such task is a tickllsh
one, and there is always grave danger
OF an accident.
The Republic had long gangway
which was really three flights of stairs
having small platforms between but
these stairs were none too steady In the
best of weather. and with a vessel roll.
would be an easy matter to slip into the
sea. Moreover, 10 per cent. of the passen.
gers were women. and they had TO be
helped down the gangway by sailors who
were stationed at intervals. On the Floride
things were not 30 comfortable. and rope
ladders were used to board that vessel
from the boats
The Floride was disabled, too and IL
must have seemed to many Of the passen-
gers that they had not bettered their con-
dillon. When the Baltic found the Re.
public carly in the evening. tho actions
CT Captain RAMON and the presence Of a
lAR steamship, uninj,red, greatly rca.s-
sured the passengers.
At first II was planned that tho v'ior,co
should proceed 10 New YORK, con- ey ~ by
the Bottle Although. TIE F1o-,de %os
badly hurt ana hac her fct.reaY and
40. ! hold full OF water, II was decided
by the captains cf the three veesc,s tn,
baltic. che Republic, and the Fl3ride,
that Il Wres better 20 loava the passengers
ON that vessel for tho night and proceed
tsward thie port. ard then. az daylight,
e Captain hanson of the Baltic thought
4 advisable. transfer the passengers 20
the Baltic.
Soon the fog lifted and II grew clear,
but wind began to blow from the east,
c.I on east wind always makes a sea.
tho sea got .ouyseT. Gnf according to
Captain Panson there were indications
OF q storm. Captain Rans"n grew wor-
.'.sc. II the wind Increased II would be
impossible for the passengers to be trans
cc:red.
Thts message cesne through to the
n h!to Star Offices In Bowling Green
Republic sunk. AL lives saved. Maxi
ing Gay Heed OF GT&shaIn."
,cha: Wa the first oNsc,al information
:hC White Star officials had Of the sink
ms OF their vessel They had been get
ting their ar bulletins IN Marcon!grams.
Ths United States revenue vesso.s are
equipped with the De Forest ani 1t was
soma time after the facta got here that
tbs White Star people received definite
confirmation.
Until tie word camo from Captain Seal
by Of the Republic himself. the steam-
snip people believed that tho Republic
could be brought horo In tow or beached.
Bulletins which they reoeivcd yesterday
afternoon and last night raid that the
Republics engine-rooms were flooded,
that ono hold wns full Of water and an
Oth:r filling but that she could keep
Afoat Sealby's messages to his Office
indicated that he believed his ship could
stay On top Of the water.
THE G. q. D. CALL.
The collision between tho Republic and
the Torids occurred at $50 In the morn
:ng. Nhsn many Of the Republics passen-
6oSs were snll In their berths. Captain