OCEAN LINER LOST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14431, 26 January 1909, Page 5

OCEAN LINER LOST

COLLISION IN A FOG. THE REPUBLIC FOUNDERS. SIX LIVES LOST. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, January 21. The liner Republic collided with an unknown vessel in a dense fug off Nantucket.

All aboard were saved, but the steamer sank. There were 250 lirsl class awl 211 steerage passengers and 300 of a clew aboard the Republic, which was starting for a winter excursion to the Mediterranean. The cargo included 500 tons of supplies for the American Heel, to hake Ihe place of those, which Ihe lied- had sent to the sufferers at Messina. January 25. (Received Jan. 25, at 10 p.m.) Tlie steamer Florida, with BCO Italian emigrants on board, was completing her voyage when she crashed into the Republic's side abreast of the engine room. Two of the, Republic's and four of the Florida's passengers were killed. In response to an clhci,e.rani sent by tho Republic, numerous liners, including the. White Star liner RaJtic, arrived on the 'venn. The. Republic's passengers, who wei'B already aboard the Florida, were, tran.sfc.iTcd to the tialtic, together with the emigrants, and the Florida, which was badly damaged, proceeded to port under hw own steam. Captain Ramsom, of the Baltic, then went in search of the Republic, and found her apparently in good towing condition. Tho captain of tho Republic (Captain Selby) and her crew had slocd by tho vimfol in open boats, determined not to abandon her as long as she was afloat.

Captain Sclby ami 50 men boarded tlie Republic after the Baltic's arrival, and mada iu-oiuiratioiis for luwin;,', but «he foundered. There was> nokdy aboard when she went down.

(Received Jan. 25, at 11.45 p.m.) Captain Selby's courage and coolness throughout are highly praised. Ho person-a-lly directed tire etiiergrains equally ivith the work of transferring the passengers and caving for the ship's crow.

Tho Republic wa* built in 1903 by Messrs llariand and Woolf, at I'Hfast. She was owned by the Oceanic Srcam Navigation Company, and her tonnage was 15.373. She was a siecl twin-screw steamer with four masts.