Cricket201909

Sealbytriedtoscanforships,butit was

nouse:thefogwassothickthathecould

barelyseehisownboots.Soheclosedhiseyes

andlistened.

A whistleechoedinthedistance.Thatwas

nosurprise.Thisdangerousstretchofseawas

sobusythatsailorscalledit theTimesSquare

oftheAtlantic.Usuallyshipstravelingeast

andweststayedonoppositesidesofNantucket

Lightship,a safedistanceofabout 30 miles

CAPTAIN INMAN SEALBY stepped
ontothebridgeoftheRepublicandpeered
intothegraygloom.It was5:30a.m., January
23,1909,andthe585-footluxurylinerwas
steaming 50 milesoffNantucketIsland,
headedforthesunnyMediterranean.Butfirst
Sealbyhadtosteerhisshipsafelyoutofthe
foggyAtlantic.

apart.Buton this murky morning, Sealby

wasn’ttaking any chances. He kept listening.

Thewhistle sounded again. It seemed

tobegetting closer. Then it blared a dozen

times,each time louder than before. Now

therewasno doubt.

“Stop! Full speed astern! Hard aport!”

Sealbyordered, hoping to avoid the oncom-

ingship.

ThenSealby sounded three sharp blasts

onhisown whistle, signaling the unknown

shipthatit should turn away. But it was

toolate.

Seconds later, the sharp prow of a ship

plowedthrough the double-thick iron

platesthat protected the Republic’s engine

room.The giant liner lurched to starboard.

Passengers, equipment, and cargo careened

u

by Tracey E. Fern

Illustrated by Laurie Harden

A LIGHTSHIP IS A SHIP

THAT STAYS IN ONE

PLACE AND FLASHES A

BRIGHT LIGHT TO HELP

GUIDE OTHER SHIPS.

ASTERN MEANS

BACKWARD.

APORTIS TO

THELEFT.THE

PROW IS THE

FRONT OF THE

SHIP.

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