Cricket201909

(Lars) #1

were going to try to tow the ship to safety.
Binns and 37 crewmen headed back to the
Republic. Then the Baltic and the Florida
began to steam to New York City.
Meanwhile, on board the Republic, Binns
quickly headed below to test his wireless. By
now, it was too weak to reach shore, but it
could still reach nearby ships.
Binns guided the tugs Gresham and
Furnessia safely to the Republic’s side. Slowly,
the ships towed the Republic east, trying
to bring her to a soft resting place on the
shoals off New York. But by midafternoon
on Sunday, the Republic had taken so much
water that Sealby had no choice.
“Abandon ship!” he ordered Binns and the
rest of the crew.


This time the crew transferred to the
Gresham. Sealby and his second officer,
Lieutenant R. J. Williams, refused to leave the
ship. The tugs kept tugging, but several hours
later, the Republic had only moved a few miles.
She began to settle deeper in the water. Then
Sealby heard a loud rumble and a crack. By now
the ship’s gunwales were almost underwater.
“Burn the blue lights,” Sealby ordered.
That was the signal that the Republic was
doomed. Lifeboat crews from the Gresham
tumbled overboard and pulled through the
choppy sea to the Republic.
Sealby ran for the rail. Just as he reached
it, a huge wave hit the ship, and he was swept
overboard. A short while later, a lifeboat
plucked him and Williams from the ocean.

Lifeboats taking
crew from Republic
to Baltic

SHOALS ARE SANDBANKS. GUNWALES ARE THEOF A BOAT. SAYIT: GUN-ULS.UPPERSIDES
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