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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1909-02-05, Page 2IRELESS AND THE REP U •'LIC. How the Marconi Invention Saved Passengers' Lives. $il!ans Tells the Story of His Thirty Hours at the Key. An Ovation to Binns and Capt. Sealby on Arrival at New York. • New York, Fob nerves flhattered and plainly allowing the ef- beets of the harassing experience he had gone through in the last few days, fohn R. Binns, the Marconi operator who' stood at his post on the Republic and flashed forth the message that brought aid to the sinking liner, has 'raritten the story of his experiences from the moment be was hurled from his berth -when the Florida rammed the Republic last Saturday until his arrival in port on Monday night. 'rI had just turned in for a few hours," be said, "after the previous day's work, when the shock of the impact shook me out of my bunk. A crunch- ing, ripping noise followed as the Florida s bows crumpled upon our side; the panels and side of our cabin fell in, one panel being smashed to splinters, but fortunately the wireless apparatus was unhurt and remained standing. I had a fear, however, that the -aerial wires between the masts might have been shaken down, so I hastily tested them, and most for- tunately they were still intact. "Five minutes later Siasconsett in- formed me that he had sent for the revenue cutter Asushnet, then lying at Wood's Hole, and that it was to proceed to assist us. Word had also been sent to the steamships Baltic, La Lorraine and City of Everett. "I was now working under ex- treme difficulties, as it was very dark. I had unfortunately broken the lever of by 'ending key just after the lights wont nut, but eventually managed all right by holding the broken lever with one hand and sending with the other. "Capt. Sealby was on the bridge all this time, but soon after 1 di,ehov- ered the mangled bodies of two pas- sengers lying near lie. Dr. Marsh came along, and after examining the bodies announced that both had been kille3 .outright. Blankets were tretched • over the two still forms, and a .little Iater they were laid in coffins. It was not until a roll call, heel—been made that blas identity of the dead was established. I 'Just as the Florida returned to us the Baltic begau to piek up my 'atignalr, and from then on T was kept busy notifying that ship of our posi- tion, and from that time forward it was L steady interchange of mes- sages between 1'aitera:al and Balfour, the Baltic's. operators, and myself. "About '.t. o'c'loek 1 realized for the first time that I was hungry, tend Douglas, by steward, who had been running to and from the bridge all enorniug with me -sages .for and from the captain. was able to get a bite of food anti a eup of coffoe for me, which I deeot-.red while rending and receiving t,:er-ages. BALTIC EXPLODING BOMBS, "Early in the afternoon the Tat - mine was able to read us, and we began t., give her steering directions, hut it was very difficult for her nett - gator to find ns nu account of the blanket of fog that enveloped the sea. The hours of the afternoon draggled slowly, and they were filled with anxiety for the captain and all on board. Darkness 'et in early, super- induced, of course, by the thick weather. The most anxious hour of the clay was at about 6 o'clock in the evening, when Captain Sealby heard, nnly faintly, the explosion of a bomb -in the far dlr-tanee. He at once com- municated with lie, and I made in- quiries, learning tlre.t the Baltic had been exploding bombs in an effort to apprise uyr of her *whereabouts. We, -too, had been exploding bombs, but had exhausted our supply,. and from now on had nothing but our almost exhausted and fast -weakening wire- less apparatus to whieh we could pin our hopes of rescue. "The Baltic then informed •rite that she had but asolitary bomb left, and arranged with us that this would be exploded at a certain moment. This was done and as we heard the faint i mtmble there was no further doubt in our minds that the Baltic would soon find us as we tossed about mar- ooned, . as it were, in the fog, and not knowing how long we could remain afloat. THE BALTIC'S .ARRIVAL, "Captain Sealby at times changed the steering direction in accordance with the change of sound direction and a little later we heard the Bal- tic's foghorn bibtving faintly, and this increased in volume as she lessened the distance between as. Oceasion- ally we fired rockets, but they could not be seen through the fog, although a little leiter the Baltie's siren was heard sro 1*leinly that we knew the Alp we.s close by. Realizing this, Captain Sealby isened orders that the Baltic be. told to proceed as ea•refully asr possibiP. as she was now too close on our port side to be safe. "I had just commitjiiceted the mos - siege when f heard n cheer, and i at one realized than these sounds of rejoicing t•',atid not came from our men. as fells Cuci't.nhi Sealby, the of. ficors. .inyer f, erd. sew .were aboard our ship, and they were all busily engaged in standing by the boats, Looking aft through my splintfor'ed cabin, 1 made out the Baltic quite near the stern of emir ship, the fog having again lifted somewhat. She was tt blare of light, and as 1. set there In my little cabin the thought occurred to me. that the most beautiful n l sight it the world is a ship at' sea, especially when that ship is needed to supply a link between life and death. "Title and again it occurred to inc ne 1 worked away in feverish haste, a mere machine voicing the words of our gallant captain, who so heroleally watehed over the safety of those who had entrusted their lives to him, that the end was near, that it was only a question of how long the ship could withstand the wound that had pierced her very i'itals, and I had practically resigned myself to the fete that every seafaring man has be- fore hint at smile title in his eareer. I never expected to see New York again. and as I sit here Avriting this earr•atite it all comes back to me like a terrible nightmare." OVATION TO BTNNS AND SEAL13V. New York, Feb. l. -•--Features of the Clay in the aftermath of the Nantucket collision .were the Honors extended to Captain J. Scally and wireless operator Tack Binns, of the Republic, and it 1iate- ment by the Florida's people as to how the collision occurred. The White attar' people promise their ver:io1 of the vans-- es ans=es. of the collision tn'tnarrorv. The day began with the landing ;it the 'White .`tar pier of Captain Sealby and Operator Binns. .A big croavd nv.ait4ng therm (Levered the inen heart-: vvnile a score of enth eia.stie :Ade'. mirer.s tossed the men to their shoul- ders and carried thein to the ,team- si1ip offices.. Dere the captain and Rime held a reception, receiving the congratulations of scores of callers, and here Captain Seethe- modestly told the story of how he stood by his ship until site sank beneath him. Later C'lapi.niu ,Fealby and Operator Minn, accompanied by Captain Ran - Fern, of the Baltic, went, to the White' ,Star offices in Lower Broadway, where another great crowd met them and the ovation was repeated.. On the Brooklyn •trnt«'rfront. the Florida. which rammed the Republic, was the Beene of much netivitee Her. seamen were clearing away the de•hris and making her shipshape so that she might go into drvdo'k for re ire irs. Captain ltuspini declined tit make any statement as to the cause at the collision, but Reeler(' & CCmpeny4' agents of the Florida, issued a stat. nment regarding the eireunmatanees of cnllision, its feature wa.s tI1 ilii charge that the Republic was -ram at high rate of speed throww'h t)he. It also refuted reports that the. r master of the 'Florida. -vas 3•o. that the captain struck t$te, • ''ass LiONIZ D CAPTAIN, New York Goes Crazy Over Re- public's Heroes. went dottrn into the ocean wit/, his Ship. He bad a rough black fedora hat on his, head that he had picked up from the' ditty box of some sailor on. the &p een.. .ileneath the drooping brim of j,4.0, ,hat Ilia eyes looked heavy, and the marks of three nights of sleep- lessrness ere about the cornersof his mouth 73111114, .the wvircless operator, •a chun, ,,fd shed I!.lish boy, garbedkyrnlorihiefir tin?coatng,a.nd a servieestill earl of the ?hlte Star, followed, with Cliref Engineer Irl;eClowan, Fourth Of flterr Morrow`'Second Officer Williams, and the rest of the officers that bad been;. sent , off; to the Gresham by their coreinender el fore.,the Republic took the plunge: Some of the emergency crew that: followed brought with them the only 'surrvare of the ship's stock of pets woos cauteries and a fussy parrot. The crowd swooped down on Capt. Sealby, and his . companions before they .hardly set foot on the dock-. The capt tin had to force his way thh•ouglr the cheering folk. Capt. Raeson, of the Baltic, came down the egangwny then with an open hand:for Capt. Sealby. They went into the captains quarters on the big ship. An -tour later Sealby came clown the gang plank with a, spot of color on either eheek, n ;fres cap to replace the black fedlma, and an overcoat. Witpt ttieallrr and leis officers then went do'',r 'to the White Star offices in Gabs. A. jam ,vas waiting for them. Capt. Seelbeh face was red when the ;e.,o'6ds t. . ar up his mune and bandied it ' i cut with scattering ehmerg. Iter hewed his head and ducked for the revolving doors. Tnsdde thealines, eves a crowd of the Republic's passengers. A house wurm- ing start{•ed',riglrt there. Two dozen of the mete silts women who had bean on the Repubiie and who were down at 111er steamship .offiee looking for other boats outlaw/0S `the mortified captain to a table,".liaisted him to the blotter in the middle c,f c rosewood, and then yelled for a -i Seat allkap yo. make a .speech," Capt. n, with confusion written pins, countenance. "I don't to say; I am glad to see 'hat's about all, You tenet 'tally." . P.r:urgeele. with her baby it' only baby on the erne, en'.rammed on iatun•ciay s standing mar the table twin had been placed. She tutester high above her head t to >Smlby: "Here's one tors who wished to thank When the Rclhrlblic's 'appeared the crowd in offices seized upou Ilinnn', atn. 1e was a sad moment blushed, crossed one foot 'dela/limed his -lands in .IEIn ralar coat. His round with a wide grin New Yerk, Ft bl..-•:rrubabl.` to ischii who )la„ felt a ship as big ns a skyscrap- er meat' like a molt and sink under leis feet into deep water, and who had. to fight for his life in the whirl of her going down. knows the meaning of dan- ger. Tet when that same nem is heisted to a pedestal for the frothy hero wor- ship of New 'Shirk he is in greater dan- ger still, and he ie a great man if he known it. Captain 1W-..1. S'albv, of the w-reekerl Republic. had to fare this great- er danger to -day, with the marks of the first still upon hie fmu'e. and. he knew that he was tinder test. VVith hill in the ordeal of idolizing that began at Pier 4:1, .ii the fnnt of West 1lth street, carried to the -White `tar offices at Bei line' green, and there canonised until till rapinin sought refuge hi a Turkish hath up- town, were ,fndc. Minn:. the wirrle e operator aboard the. 1:tepnhlie, R. J. \Williams, srr'nnd Officer of the gored, liner, and various others of the lit - tee group of ntueer., and 41 Members of the emergency ('mew that had re- nrained nit the Republic instil neer the end, whom. everybody delighted to honor. .Iaek Binns found himself caught in the fame of n special men- tion in lite halls of Congress, record Officer Winkle -is hell remained with his cern/Dander until the writers eleept, over the Republic, Indeed, all the dements of a sericite/ day eonspired to bring mor- tification to these plain lfugli It sailor - men. The 'revenue putter Manhattan had dropped alongside the Seneca, off Tompkinsville, early this morning, atid the commander of the Republic and his' men, who had been getting a much-need- ed sleep, securely lacked from the intru- sion of enquirer.( during the night, •trans- shipped to the Manhattan and were brought up the bay. 'l'h'e ovation eotn- menced right there. Smutty -nosed. tugs caught the sense of something stirring, and yelped acclaims to the .Republic's erten, even the erews of some of the dirty tramps lying off time Staten Island shore lined Lite rails to yell at the Manhattan as elle passed. The cutter drew alongside of the long pier, on • the opposite side o3 which the Big Baltic was lying. Most of the Reptublie's crew that had. been brought in on the 13altic, a bevy' of stewardesses, and Superietendent lIen- i1e11 hurried down to the gang plank of the :Vfanhatt•tn to give the Repub- lie's commander and his nffieers the proper reception. From West street a big crowd of ..etokprs, 'longshore- men, and marine idlers, had invaded the White Star sheds amid filled the spaces between heap.( of freight about the ga neve y. DOW CITE Cf11'1'AIN LOOKED. Capt, ,Sealby- mints ttp the gang plank wearing (he Lame blue great- coat with the frettseed front that he Lacs nbnnt itis '11811cih."rs when he he protested "('a11 131111: m i, r, 9;41ke refuge upstairs. rriiNdown it was through n eke duot i ;itslipped out to report td.Mr'.iley, the manager of the he.h rk- fins + 'an Company, and soon 1st had . i$ l�ficnmlt time saving himself Erin be handicapped by enterprising theatrical Y°tanaAgent and other intereatcd penione. Mfr. Botoxnley said tide afternoon that he tlltiught Ilinmis would hide him- self for a. few days to rent up: then he would go batik to England to take a job on it ship tlia.t the. Menotti people have !Arcady .elated for bila. Itis :salary of one shilling a month from the White Star people stopped the moment that the Republic sank. The White Star salary i only t• ltonminrl one, Minns hying paid by the'viiless company. After Sealby had had a eanfel•en10 with .34?. ranklin and the other offt- c•ere 111 time - International Mercantile I:trine Company, the nature of nliic}h oats not. given out, he slipped into a c<ib esxrl•;itrade for a 'Turkish bath. S()R'bt1W FOR IIETi NEW GOWNS, New `fork; Feb, 1, -•--The Tribune prints the following today: As an example of the embarraesed positions regarding elothing in which most of time rotese?n ,era of the Republie found th0122eelves when they landed in New York yesterday, from the Battle. the can of Mr. end Mrs, .John Smellman, of London, t.5anatlat, is illustrative. 'I'hey hold intended to make an eXtensive tour of. the Mediterranean eerie and then go on to Egypt. :fle•eatttsc of this they had taken with them rather extensive ward- robes. ATrs. Snittilrnan, who fare,] better titan most of the women on' the Republic, saved one entire costume and two fur eoa,ts. She also saved her money and jewels. -be lost, however, a wardrobe whieh she paid she had been accumulat- ing for three years. "Look at that baggage, John," the young amid pretty wife remot•ked sor- rowfully, as she gazed' as the luggage of the .Esl.tte's passengers, piled on the lower cloak, ready to be token ashore. ".Just think where all my new gowns have goner' and the woman who had not , faltered when danger and death stared 11er .in the Targe, dropped a tear for the finery that was resting on the Ma sec mta'os ices tlririy fathoms down of No' Islnnd.. , 'Cheer nip, Mandl" was Mr. Small- 'wood's breezy remark, and his wife gathered up the corners of the pillow ease in te'ideli. elm carried the few be- longings elle had saved and walked bravely clown, the gangplank. It is the intention of time ,Smalltnans to continue on their trip as soots as they can gather together a new outfit, Indeed, it was surprising hove many of the Republic's pasaengenn were undaunted by the wreck. and were inquiring on what' steamer they would be forwarded. A +ly-sptptie l0 rc snarl rvho fe'e1an a profound hatred for the people whb lase enjoying ihemeelee1. A NEW CITY. Melville in Saskatchewan May be a Metropolis. Winnipeg, Mane, Feb. 1. — Unless all signs are misleading, another metro- polis is springing up on the prairies of Western Canada.. A. year ago there was a repot on the line of construction of the Grand Think. Pacific. Railroad -without a name of any spedal significance. But on that spot has sprung up Melville, the operating centre for nearly 1,000 ladles of the Grand Trunk Parifie system, and already its population numbers over 1,200 people, with fatly rnodeln houses, stores and hotels. In six months its population will have doubled and by. the end of the present year it is confidently expected 4,000 people will be living in the future distributing point of Western Canada. Its future as a great city is assured, for it is the centre of time rich- est farming country of $askatehewan. By a branch line to be constructed this spring, it will be connected with Regina, the capital of the Province, while anoth- er branch will stretch northward to Hudson's Bay. for the (!rand Trunk Pa- cific have selected Melville as the junc- tion city for its Hudson's Bay line. the operating centre for nearly 1,000 miles of matin line and some 1.000 miles of bra 8014 lines. Eastern manufacturers are already beginning to recognize the importance of Melville as a distributing centre. and during the coining spring SOY erai huge warehouses will be erected 115 well as additional divisional shops for the railway system. From Melville to Europe. via the Dud - son's Bay, the route is fully 1.000 miles shorter than the all -rail route to Mont- real. and the cheaper water rates w.iIl be the means of the bulk of the exports c,f We -tern Canada going out of Canada vie Melville. Anmericem cities west of Chicago will :leo derive a considerable r'edeet.ion, in redueed rates, by shippng their export, via the bay and each ion of 11(11 freirhl. will be shipped through To-day Melville boasts of daily immune, but within two years l'nuiel es will be strctcihing out in all di- rections t•enehnrg for passengers and f •e'ght and clir.ttribltttilrg saplrlies. DOG SAVES CHILD. Snatchss Three -Year -Old Boy From Death Under Train. Sout11 Norwalk, Conn., Feb. 1.— "Buster" .Plunkett, three years old, was saved from death in front of an ex- preas train this afternoon by Irish, a big St. Bernard slug.' that had been playing with "Baster" and his play- mate*. The child was on a Fled and several other boys were dragging hint about. In crossing the railroad tracks the sled lodged o1 the bore ground, and the chil- dren, frightened at the approaching train. dropped time rope and ran. The St, Bernard went up and licked the cry- ing child's face. It Was like n human farewell. 'ellen with wonderful Intelli- gente, Irish took the repo in his teeth and palled the lad from the track just as the express event by. OBUGING PRISONER. Hunts Up an Officer and Gives Him- selt In Charge. lte�;iu.h, Sask.. Fele 1.---A remarkable legal proseent.ion uas concluded to -day, when Neil Macauley w'as acquitted on a charge of theft because there was no evidence against him, his own course of action being the strongest evidence of his innocence. He was arrested at Mell- ville, Snslc., several weeks ngo and comn- nmitted for t.rtnl. There being no pollee - man there, and as he had come to Ile - gine to be tried, 11e voluutecred to go alone, The Magit(irete gave- him papers of commitment and the at once made. -his way to the neerest point in the Pro- vince where there is a amounted police constable, and gave himself up. The officer brought him hare, aimd be has fortunately been discharged. Ile could, just as easily have made his way over the border. A BOY ABDUCTED. Was Taken From His Mother In Toronto to St. Louis. Toronto Despatch—Abducted in broad daylight on one of the principal streets of the city and well on the way to St. Louis, Mo., before anyone was aware that he was missing, wee the novel ex- perience ap'rience recently of Abner F. Hamilton the six-year-old son of Mrs. Charlotte i . 11alunton, of 57 Cecil street. The child is still in the possession of the persons who carried him away, but steps are being taken to secure his re- turn and to punislt the persons respon- sible for his disappearance. The boy, it is stated, was abducted by his father, from whom .Sims, Hamil- ton secured a divorce in the United States some time ago. The decree gave Mrs. Hamilton undisputed posses sten of the child, whom she Im- mediately brought to Toronto, the home of her parents. One the morn- ing of January 13th the little boy was sent to Lansdowne School. At nobn when be slid not return his mother be- came anxious and 'made. inquiries, With., (Mt diemo'ering any clue to the, elttld'e •whereabouts. Later alien word of tile' boy's dia lep•• yrearainee beeatuo known •about the neighborhood a lady went to .Ma's. Ham- ilton and told of seeing a man step from rt w'aitina; cnrrano nrr 5padine ar-enu+0 and taking holt. of a little boy put him late the vehicle, irtunediately driving aw'a3'. Mrs. Iiamilton was not kept la suspense as • to the whereabouts of her child. for any length of time, re - oohing a ineee<s.ge that night that hear soli was in the possession of her for- mer husband. ,the has since received n telegman from St. Lands, stating that thea boy was there and is heirg taken Care of. •a ee► C UNTY Y WARDEN& Comity Councils Organized Through- out Ontario. Brant --Richard Sanderson, Brantford Township.,. Bruce—S, J. Parke, of 'Marton. Dufferin—,7as. Dynes, of Amaranth: Patin --Rectae Summers, of Aylnrer, after nearly 20 ballots. Essex ---,f. A. iollter, Colchester N. Fronteuae--Il. A. Hamilton, of Hinch- inbrook. Grey—Rohl. Agnew-, of Itfeaford•. Ilatdineand--Julius Root, Sherbrooke• Township. Hastings --Wm. Rogers, of Raevdon. Huron—Peter Lamont, of Zurich. Kent -Wm. Abraham, of Chatham • Township. 1•Ialiburton--lir. Giles, of T3'aliburtun. Leeds and Grenville—A. E. Baker, of Merriekville. Lambton--R. (2, Bailey, of Plymptox. Lincoln—Thomas W. Allen, of North Grimsby. Lennox and Addington—Cyrus Edgar, of 1,arker. Midi-tesex- Charles Gillies. Northumberland—Arthur A. Powers, of Orono. Norfolk—Win. Sutton, of Rimes. Ontario --R. 71. Mowbray, of Pickering. Peel --Frank .11. Jackson, of Toronto Township. :Perth --David Bones, of Blanshard. Peterbo'o-••R. N. Scott, of Smith. SimcoeRichard Bell, of Esse. \"ictoria—(loorge A. Jordan, of Lia d - say. Waterloo—J. Ratzenmeir, of New Hamburg. \Cellingtan •-1T. J. Colwell, of Arthur. \Welland -James IlfeKeown, of Wil- loughby. Wentworth—J. W. Gage, of Bartel Township. York—George S. Henry, of Lansing, HEROIC FIREMAN. He Saved a Little Girl's Life Near Montrose. St. Thomas, Feb. 1.—J. H. Meier - thus; a veterau of the South African . War, and new a Pere Marquette Rail- way fireman in this city, is considered on all sides to be well deserving of recognition at the hands of the com- mittee in charge of the Carnegie medals which are awarded for conspicuous brav- ery. McArthur was on his engine go- ing east over the M C. R. tracks, near Montrose, on Monday leveling, when, 021 looking out of the eab window, he noticed a six-year-old child vainly en- deavoring to release the feet of another child, two years younger, which were held fast in the timbers of a cattle guard on the oppoeite track. .A train was bearing down on the girls. at a high rate of speed, and McArthur, taking the situation in at a glance, jumped off his engine into the ditch, es- caping unhurt, and went to the rescue of the children. One of the girl's feet, was soon released, but the other waum, caught firmly, and it took great foree to release it, and to push the child to a place of safety. A few seconds later the train 'went thundering past, while lsieAr'tltur board- ed the rear encs of his awn train and continued his trip. 4t0 FIVE WERE KILLED By Gas Explosion and Fire in Coals Mine at Boswell, Pa. Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 1. — Five meat.. are dead tonight as the result of the gas explosion and subsequent fire in the Merchants' Mine of the United Coal Company at Boswell last night. One man is seriously injured and sev- eral others are slightly hurt. The dead are: J. G. Logan, of Pittsburg, mine superintendent; Geo. Morris, assistant superintendent; John Cole, day fore- men; Andrew Shutloek and his son,. mixers. It is believed this is the corm plede list of the dead. a,ei ALMOST ASPHYXIATED. Gas From Crate Tire buts Wcstmaunt• Family in Peril. • Montreal despatch: There came near being a second tragedy in Westmotint at an early hour this rnorninfg. C. W. Barlow was awakened 'by the barking of a dog belowstairs and going clown he immediately lost conseiomtslress and out- er members of the family tvno went downstairs met the same •fate., ,it wee. found that deadly gases were cecapfng from a grate fire, Otte of the daughters ran to a tete phone and called help. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow with another daughter were re- stored to their senses and the dog diets,.