1/23/2012:
On this date in 1909, the White Star liner Republic was sailing along in the early hours through thick fog when it was rammed. The other ship, which quickly vanished in the night, was the Florida, from the Lloyd Italian Line.
The Republic was on its first winter cruise to the Mediterranean, and as water filled the ship, 281 first class passengers and 211 in steerage, plus a crew of about three hundred, were at risk of drowning. The ship sent out news of its impending doom on a relatively new technology—the wireless telegraph. Many ships received the message, and came to empty the ship of its inhabitants, as newspapers across the country conjured up images of the shipwreck.
North Dakotans too had a connection to this wreck—some of the passengers were from the area. Specifically, George Winship, the editor of the Grand Forks Herald, and his wife. Winship detailed the experience in an article published in the New York Times. He wrote:
“All the passengers were asleep in their staterooms at the time of the accident. My wife and I occupied Stateroom 103, which was on the starboard side and away from the place where the steel cutwater of the Florida cut into the vessel’s side. I was awakened by the shock, and at first it seemed to me that it was as though we had hit a derelict.
“Just awakened, I did not realize that a serious accident had happened, and I took my watch out from under my pillow to see the time. I leaned out and turned the electric light switch, but could not make the light glow. The power was off. Outside on the deck I was attracted by the striking and burning of matches, and I got up. Then came the full realization that we had met with an accident and the engines were stopped.”
The Minot Optic later reported that watertight compartments were quickly closed, “and the science of modern ship building held true, for the ship was kept afloat for many hours.” However, in the end, it did sink. Stay tuned …. more on the Republic and its untimely end on our Datebook for the 25th!
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker
Sources:
January 25, 1909, Minot Daily Optic, page 1
The New York Times, January 26, 1909
Racine Daily Journal (Wisconsin), January 23, 1909 – pm
The New York Times, January 24, 1909