RMS Republic Sinking News

The Sinking of the RMS Republic - A Collection of Historical News Coverage

RMS Republic Sailing
"When, on Saturday morning early, forty miles out at sea, a small steamship ran into and punched an ugly hole in the side of great steamship with five hundred people on board, the world knew of the disaster in a few minutes. The man at the wireless key on the damaged steamship gave a few clicks on his instrument. He sounded the marine code meaning danger and distress. Then a wireless man on shore, on Nantucket, caught the signal, and all other business of the wireless was suspended . . ."

The Project

 

Thus began one newspaper report on the collision of the White Star Line's RMS Republic and the Italian steamer SS Florida. The accident occurred 50 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, on January 23, 1909. The Republic sank the following day while being towed to New York, while the Florida remained seaworthy.

Over 1500 passengers and crew were saved thanks primarily to Marconi shipboard and land wireless radio equipment and operators, especially the heroic efforts of Marconi operator Jack Binns. During the event, six passengers and crew members perished.

This website offers a comprehensive collection of newspaper reports filed during and after the sinking of the RMS Republic, including details, diagrams, and photographs not available elsewhere.

You may use the content of rmsrepublic.news under the terms of our copyright.

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The Scrapbook

 
Republic Scrapbook - Page 27

Headlines

  • Steamship Republic goes down while in tow.
  • Baltic captain wires American full story.
  • Photo-diagram showing how the Florida rammed the Republic, killing six passengers.
  • Wireless is proof prayer reaches God.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 34

Headlines

  • Friends resume vigil at White Star line offices.
  • Women on the Baltic care for the survivors.
  • Submarine bell led rescuers to Republic.
  • Story of wreck at a glance.
  • Connolly in a fuss.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 35

Headlines

  • Bird's-eye view of the deck of the Baltic upon arrival here.
  • General Ives says there was much confusion.
  • Much excitement and some roughness when families were separated by the officers.
  • Captain Ranson tells graphic story of hunt for Republic in fog.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 36

Headlines

  • Crowd cheering Captain Ranson, of Baltic.
  • James B. Connolly's story of the disaster.
  • Florida's bow smashed.
  • Woman's narrow escape.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 38

Headlines

  • Baltic's story of rescue.
  • Arrival of Baltic with the survivors.
  • Joyous meetings.
  • Friends board liner at quarantine.
  • How seven liners figured in the collision.
  • Talk with survivor.
  • Darkness followed the crash, but there was no panic.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 39

Headlines

  • Cheered by wireless flashes.
  • Republic's passengers knew aid was coming.
  • Hurrying through the fog to the scene of the collision.
  • What wireless told before Baltic came.
  • The story of the transfer of the passengers to the White Star liner.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 48

Headlines

  • Lorraine's search for disabled liners.
  • Frenchman brings in a story of a long, vain hunt in the for off Nantucket.
  • How bulkheads safeguard liners.
  • Binns' heroism is lauded upon Congress floor.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 57

Headlines

  • Story of the sinking of the Republic.
  • Gresham reaches Vineyard Haven with survivors.
  • Interior of wireless room on the Republic.
  • Pandemonium of cheers as the Baltic lands.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 61

Headlines

  • Pay for loss of the Republic.
  • Wireless room on the sunken Republic, from which calls for aid were flashed.
  • Woman's body carried down with republic.
  • Story of the sinking told by Furnessia.
  • Captain Ranson tells of hours search in fog.
  • One of the heroes who led work of rescue on Republic.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 71

Headlines

  • Connolly tells shipwreck story.
  • Wrecked crew here to-night.
  • The beneficent wireless.
  • Herald-Telegram tug meets the Baltic.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 72

Headlines

  • Captain's story of sinking ship.
  • Captain Sealby and officers of the wrecked liner.
  • Sealby stuck to liner in her death throes.
  • I'm no hero, say modest Jack Binns.
  • 16 stokers real heroes of disaster.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 74

Headlines

  • Brave crew of the Republic lined up on the deck of the Seneca.
  • Flashes to Siasconset.
  • Disaster story as heard by wireless man ashore.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 79

Headlines

  • Sealby's story of disaster.
  • First account from Republic's Captain.
  • Vigil with officer.
  • How the two were picked up by revenue cutter boats.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 80

Headlines

  • Florida limps in; flags at half mast for dead on board.
  • Officers stopped from telling of collision.
  • Survivors in hospital.
  • Steel man's story.
  • Three sides of stateroom fell in on him.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 84

Headlines

  • Cherring crowd hails Republic heroes; carries them off ship and holds parade.
  • Captain tells story of how he faced death.
  • 100 feet up the mast he went as his great ship plunged to the bottom.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 86

Headlines

  • Capt. Sealby's dramatic story.
  • Captain's desperate race for life on sinking ship.
  • Williams saved from the suction.
  • Sealby's license suspended.
  • Conference at White Star office.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 88

Headlines

  • Wife of Italian inventor thrilled by achievements of the wireless.
  • Mate tells stirring story of his rescue.
  • Wireless on all ships; bill for compulsory installation introduced in the House of Representatives.
  • The triumph of wireless telegraphy.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 89

Headlines

  • Sealby and Binns acclaimed as heroes by cheering crowds.
  • Captain Sealby tell story; Binns modest about work.
  • Committee of survivors meets.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 92

Headlines

  • Florida victims removed from wreck in dock.
  • The Furnessia tells her story.
  • Story of the surgeon of the Republic.
  • Saved the Republic from blowing up.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 93

Headlines

  • Wonderful tales are told by those who were saved from the sinking liner.
  • Editor's story of Republic crash.
  • Life saving inventions.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 95

Headlines

  • Florida's cruppled prow.
  • How Binns flashed his calls for help.
  • Marconi operators tell their story; think Capt. Sealby erred.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 101

Headlines

  • Florida here; has three dead.
  • Deny helmsman nodded.
  • Captain's story cut off; starts to tell it, but is interrupted, and officials stop an officer's narrative.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 111

Headlines

  • The modesty of Mr. Binns.
  • Sealby tells story.
  • Free Florida of blame; Italian's side of crash.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 113

Headlines

  • Binns story of wireless work; signals from broken key; Siasconsett replied first.
  • Capt. Sealby tells of Republic's loss.
Republic Scrapbook - Page 114

Headlines

  • Life saving device laws were obeyed.
  • Official story of the Florida.
  • Charges for wireless; differences... being adjusted.

Frequently Asked Questions