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{{short description|Steamship}}
davids mixape sucks billy came into town and found a ship they became best friends{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image {{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= ] |Ship image= RMS Republic.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Republic''
}} }}
{{Infobox ship career {{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= |Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|government}} |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|Ship name=''Republic'' ex-''Columbus'' |Ship name=* ''Columbus'' (1903)
* ''Republic'' (1903–1909)
⚫ |Ship operator=Oceanic Steam Navigation Company d/b/a White Star Line
|Ship owner=* British & North Atlantic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (1903)
⚫ * Oceanic Steam Navigation Company (1903–1909)
|Ship operator=* ] (1903)
* ] (1903–1909)
|Ship registry = ]
|Ship ordered= |Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded= |Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=Harland and Wolff Shipyards |Ship builder=], Belfast
|Ship yard number=345 |Ship yard number=345
|Ship registration number=118043 |Ship registration number=118043
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|Ship launched=26 February 1903 |Ship launched=26 February 1903
|Ship sponsor= |Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=''Columbus'' |Ship christened=
|Ship completed=12 September 1903 |Ship completed=12 September 1903
|Ship acquired= |Ship acquired=
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|Ship homeport= |Ship homeport=
|Ship motto= |Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours= |Ship honours=
|Ship honors= |Ship honors=
|Ship captured= |Ship captured=
|Ship fate=Sunk at 8:40 pm on 24 January 1909 after a collision with SS ''Florida'' at 5:40 am the previous morning. |Ship fate=Sunk after collision with ] on 24 January 1909
|Ship status=
|Ship notes= |Ship notes=
|Ship badge= |Ship badge=
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|Header caption= |Header caption=
|Ship class= |Ship class=
|Ship tonnage=15,400 tons |Ship tonnage=15,400 ]
|Ship displacement= |Ship displacement=
|Ship tons burthen=
|Ship length={{convert|570.0|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship length={{convert|570.0|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|67.8|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|67.8|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship sail plan= |Ship sail plan=
|Ship power= |Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=twin propeller |Ship propulsion=Twin propeller
|Ship speed={{convert|16|kn|km/h}} |Ship speed={{convert|16|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range= |Ship range=
|Ship endurance= |Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth=
|Ship boats= |Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=2,830 passengers |Ship capacity=2,830 passengers
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}} }}
|} |}
''']''' '''''Republic''''' was a steam-powered ] built in 1903 by ] in ], and lost at sea in a collision six years later while sailing for the ]. A ] distress call was issued on the new ] device, the first recorded, resulting in the saving of around 1500 lives. Known as the "Millionaires' Ship" on account of the number of well-known and immensely rich Americans who traveled by her, she was often referred to as a "palatial liner." She was the flagship of White Star Line's Boston service and was one of the ten largest passenger liners in the world at the time.<ref>''The Republic and The Delhi'', Daily Telegraph of London, Tuesday April 16, 1912. (In regard to the loss of RMS Titanic.)</ref> '''RMS ''Republic''''' was a steam-powered ] built in 1903 by ] in ], and lost at sea in a collision in 1909 while sailing for the ]. The ship was equipped with a new Marconi ] ], and issued a ] distress call, resulting in the saving of around 1,500 lives. Known as the "Millionaires' Ship" because of the number of wealthy Americans who traveled by her, she was described as a "palatial liner" and was the flagship of White Star Line's Boston service.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Republic and The Delhi |work=Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=16 April 1912}}</ref> This was the first important marine rescue made possible by ], and brought worldwide attention to this new technology.


==History== ==History==


===White Star acquisition=== ===White Star acquisition===
The ship was originally built in ], ] for the ] ] (a sister company to the ]) and was named '' ]''. She was launched on 26 February 1903 and made her maiden voyage in October 1903 from Liverpool to Boston.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dunn|first1=Laurence|title=Famous Liners of the Past Belfast Built|date=1964|publisher=Adlard Coles|location=London|pages=70–71|accessdate=26 September 2014}}</ref> After two voyages with the Dominion Line, the ''Columbus'', along with three other Dominion liners; ''New England'', ''Commonwealth'' and ''Mayflower'' were sold to the White Star Line for use on their new service between Liverpool and Boston on the North Atlantic run as well as services between both New York and Boston and the Mediterranean. The ''Columbus'' was renamed ''Republic'', the second ship under White Star livery to hold the name (White Star's original {{SS|Republic|1872|2}} of 1872 had been sold over a decade earlier), while her three fellow former Dominion liners were renamed ''Romanic'', ''Canopic'' and ''Cretic'' respectively. The ship was originally built in Belfast, Ireland, for the ] ] (a sister company to the White Star Line) and was named {{SS|Columbus||2}}. She was ] on 26 February 1903, and made her maiden voyage in October 1903 from ] to ].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dunn|first1=Laurence|title=Famous Liners of the Past Belfast Built|date=1964|publisher=Adlard Coles|location=London|pages=70–71}}</ref> After two voyages with the Dominion Line, ''Columbus'', along with three other Dominion liners: ], {{SS|Commonwealth||2}}, and {{SS|Mayflower||2}}, were sold to the White Star Line for use on their new service between Liverpool and Boston. ''Columbus'' was renamed ''Republic'', the second ship under White Star livery to hold the name (White Star's original {{SS|Republic|1872|2}} of 1872 had been sold to the ] in 1889 and renamed ''Maasdam''), while her three fellow former Dominion liners were renamed ''Romanic'', ''Canopic'', and ''Cretic'', respectively.

''Republic'' made her first crossing under White Star from Liverpool to Boston on December 17, 1903, arriving in Boston December 27. In January 1904, she made her first crossing from Boston to the Mediterranean via Gibraltar, making calls at ] in the Azores, followed by the Italian ports of Naples and Genoa and ending at Alexandria, a voyage which often took up to three weeks to complete one-way. In November 1904, she made her first crossing on the service between New York and the Mediterranean. White Star intended this route for two purposes, opening up cruising opportunities for wealthier passengers, and more predominantly on her westbound crossings, tapping into the massive Italian immigrant trade. The ''Republic'', with a Third Class capacity of 2,000, proved to be immensely profitable on this route. A vast majority of Italian immigrants who sailed by White Star boarded ''Republic'' and the other ships at Naples, along with smaller groups of Greeks, Austrians, Slavs, Turks and Syrians. White Star's placement of Sao Miguel on their Mediterranean services also opened them up to traffic from Portuguese immigrants as well. White Star shuffled her back and forth between the three different routes over the course of the next four years.


===Collision with SS ''Florida''=== ===Collision with SS ''Florida''===
{{refimprove section|date=January 2013}} {{more citations needed section|date=January 2013}}
In early morning of 23 January 1909, while sailing from ] to ] and ] ports with 742 passengers and crew and Captain Inman Sealby (1862–1942) in command, ''Republic'' entered a thick fog off the island of ], ]. Amongst the passengers were plenty of illustrious people such as Mrs. Sophie Curtis, wife of ], Mrs. Mary Severance, wife of ], Professor ] with wife and children, General ], St. Louis millionaire ], and Mildred Montague, Countess Pasolini. Travelling in first class were also Mr. Leonard L. McMurray, who, in 1915, would survive the sinking of the ] {{RMS|Lusitania|3=2}}, and Mrs. Bessie Armstead Davis, daughter-in-law of senator ] of ] with two children. In the early morning of 23 January 1909, while sailing from New York City to ] and ] ports with 742 passengers and crew and Captain Inman Sealby (1862–1942) in command, ''Republic'' entered a thick fog off the island of ]. Amongst the passengers were some illustrious people, such as James Ross Mellon, his wife Rachel Hughey Larimer Mellon, their daughter Sarah of the ] and family maid, Mrs. Sophie Mansfield Curtis, wife of George Munson Curtis (treasurer of the ]), Mrs. Mary Harriman Severance, wife of ], Professor ] with wife and children, General ], St. Louis millionaire ], historian ], and Mildred Montague, Countess Pasolini.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?150557 |title=RMS Republic II People On Board |website=WRECKSITE |date=25 November 2010|access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rms-republic.com/passengers.html |title=RMS Republic Passenger List |website=RMS Republic |date=30 May 2021|access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref> Travelling in first class were also Mr. Leonard L. McMurray, who, in 1915, would survive the sinking of the ] {{RMS|Lusitania|3=2}}, and Mrs. Bessie Armstead Davis, daughter-in-law of senator ] of ] with two children.
] ]
Taking standard precautions and maintaining her speed, the steamer regularly signaled her presence in the outbound shipping traffic lane by whistle. At 5:47&nbsp;a.m., another whistle was heard and the ''Republic's'' engines were ordered to full reverse, and the helm put "hard-a-port". Out of the fog, the Lloyd Italiano liner {{SS|Florida}} appeared and hit ''Republic'' amidships on her portside, at about a right angle. Two passengers asleep in their cabins on ''Republic'' were killed when ''Florida's'' bow sliced into her, including liquor wholesale manager Eugene Lynch's wife Mary and banker W. J. Mooney. Eugene Lynch was critically injured and died as a result of his injuries at Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, January 26. On ''Florida'', three crewmen were also killed when the bow was crushed back to a collision bulkhead.<ref></ref> Six people died in total. Taking standard precautions and maintaining her speed, the steamer regularly signaled her presence in the outbound shipping traffic lane by whistle. At 5:47&nbsp;a.m., another whistle was heard and ''Republic''{{'}}s engines were ordered to full reverse, and the helm put "hard-a-port". Out of the fog, the ] liner ] appeared and hit ''Republic'' amidships on her portside, at about a right angle. Two passengers asleep in their cabins on ''Republic'' were killed when ''Florida''{{'}}s bow sliced into her, liquor wholesale manager Eugene Lynch's wife Mary and banker William J. Mooney. Eugene Lynch was critically injured and died as a result of his injuries at Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, 26 January. On ''Florida'', three crewmen were also killed when the bow was crushed back to a collision bulkhead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.att.net/~rstinchcomb/newreck/republic.html |title=Ship Wrecks of New England - SS Republic |website=att.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615105304/http://home.att.net/~rstinchcomb/newreck/republic.html |archive-date=2006-06-15}}</ref> Six people died in total.


The engine and boiler rooms on ''Republic'' began to flood, and the ship listed. Captain Sealby led the crew in calmly organizing the passengers on deck for evacuation. ''Republic'' was equipped with the new Marconi ] ] system, and became the first ship in history to issue a ] distress signal, sent by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rescue/filmmore/transcript/transcript1.html|work=The American Experience|title=Rescue at Sea|publisher=]|accessdate=2012-03-22}}</ref> ''Florida'' came about to rescue ''Republic's'' complement, and the ] ] ]<ref></ref> responded to the distress signal as well. Passengers were distributed between the two ships, with ''Florida'' taking the bulk of them, but with 900 Italian immigrants already on board, this left the ship dangerously overloaded. The engine and boiler rooms on ''Republic'' began to flood, and the ship listed. Captain Sealby led the crew in calmly organizing the passengers on deck for evacuation. ''Republic'' was equipped with the new Marconi ] ] system, and became the first ship in history to issue a ] distress signal, sent by ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rescue/filmmore/transcript/transcript1.html |work=The American Experience |title=Rescue at Sea |publisher=] |access-date=2012-03-22 |archive-date=9 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109192118/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rescue/filmmore/transcript/transcript1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Florida'' came about to rescue ''Republic''{{'}}s complement, and the ] ] {{USCGC|Gresham|WPG-85|2}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Gresham1896.pdf |title=Gresham, 1896<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=16 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927164756/http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Gresham1896.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> responded to the distress signal as well. Passengers were distributed between the two ships, with ''Florida'' taking the bulk of them, but with 900 Italian immigrants already on board, this left the ship dangerously overloaded.


The White Star liner {{RMS|Baltic|1903|2}}, commanded by Captain ], also responded to the CQD call, but due to the persistent fog, it was not until the evening that ''Baltic'' was able to locate the drifting ''Republic''. Once on-scene, the rescued passengers were transferred from ''Gresham'' and ''Florida'' to ''Baltic''. Because of the damage to ''Florida'', that ship's immigrant passengers were also transferred to ''Baltic'', but a riot nearly broke out when they had to wait until first-class ''Republic'' passengers were transferred. Once everyone was on board, ''Baltic'' sailed for New York. The White Star liner {{RMS|Baltic|1903|2}}, commanded by Captain ], also responded to the CQD call, but due to the persistent fog, ''Baltic'' was not able to locate the drifting ''Republic'' until that evening. Once on-scene, the rescued passengers were transferred from ''Gresham'' and ''Florida'' to ''Baltic''. Because of the damage to ''Florida'', that ship's immigrant passengers were also transferred to ''Baltic'', but a riot nearly broke out when they had to wait until first-class ''Republic'' passengers were transferred. Once everyone was on board, ''Baltic'' sailed for New York.


At the time of ''Republic's'' sinking, ocean liners were not required to have a full capacity of lifeboats for their passengers, officers and crew. It was believed that on the busy North Atlantic route assistance from at least one ship would be ever-present, and lifeboats would only be needed to ferry all aboard to their rescue vessels and back until everyone was safely evacuated. Unlike the later ] sinking, this scenario fortunately played out flawlessly during the ship's sinking, and the six people who did die were lost in the collision, not the sinking itself. At the time of ''Republic''{{'}}s sinking, ocean liners were not required to have a full capacity of lifeboats for their passengers, officers, and crew. On the busy North Atlantic route, assistance from at least one ship was believed to be ever-present and that lifeboats would be needed only to ferry all aboard to their rescue vessels and back until everyone was safely evacuated. That scenario, unlike during the ], played out flawlessly during the ship's sinking, and the six people who died were lost in the collision, not the sinking itself.


] ]
Captain Sealby and a skeleton crew remained on board ''Republic'' to make an effort to save her. Crewmen from the ''Gresham'' tried using collision mats to stem the flooding, but to no avail.<ref></ref> By this time the steamers ''New York'' and ] (from ]) had also arrived, and waited while an attempt was made by ''Gresham'' to take ''Republic'' under tow. This effort too proved futile, and on 24 January, ''Republic'' sank. At 15,378&nbsp;tons, she was the largest ship to have sunk up to that time.<ref name="LTS">{{cite book|last=Pickford|first=Nigel|title=Lost Treasure Ships of the Twentieth Century|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=]|year=1999|isbn=0-7922-7472-5}}</ref><ref name="The Official RMS Republic Website">{{cite web|url=http://www.rms-republic.com/index1.html|title=Treasure of the RMS Republic|publisher=MVSHQ, Inc.|location=New York|year=2009|accessdate=2012-03-22}}</ref> All the remaining crew were evacuated before she sank. Captain Sealby and a skeleton crew remained on board ''Republic'' to make an effort to save her. Crewmen from the ''Gresham'' tried using collision mats to stem the flooding, but to no avail.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euronet.nl/users/keesree/allships.htm |title=TITANIC - A Voyage of Discovery (allships)<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524070422/http://www.euronet.nl/users/keesree/allships.htm |archive-date=24 May 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> By this time, the steamers ''New York'' and {{RMS|Lucania||2}} (from ]) had also arrived and waited while a futile attempt was made by ''Gresham'' to take ''Republic'' under tow. On 24 January, ''Republic'' sank stern first; at 15,378&nbsp;tons, she was the largest ship to have sunk until then.<ref name="LTS">{{cite book|last=Pickford|first=Nigel|title=Lost Treasure Ships of the Twentieth Century|url=https://archive.org/details/losttreasureship0000pick|url-access=registration|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=]|year=1999|isbn=0-7922-7472-5}}</ref><ref name="The Official RMS Republic Website">{{cite web|url=http://www.rms-republic.com/index1.html|title=Treasure of the RMS Republic|publisher=MVSHQ, Inc.|location=New York|year=2009|access-date=2012-03-22}}</ref> All the remaining crew were evacuated before she sank.


===Rumoured cargo=== ====Reported cargoes====
There are many rumours that the ''Republic'' was carrying gold and/or other valuables when she went down. One rumour is that she was carrying gold worth $250,000<ref>{{cite book|last=CONNOLLY|first=James B.|title=Sea Borne - Thirty Years Avoyaging|year=1945|publisher=Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc|isbn=978-1406768947|url=http://books.google.com/books/about/Sea_Borne_Thirty_Years_Avoyaging.html?id=DTlZSaIBOhwC}}</ref> in American gold coins to be used as payroll for the US Navy's ].<ref name="LTS" /><ref></ref> Another theory that she was carrying money for the relief effort for the ] in ].<ref></ref> A third theory, put forward by Captain ], is that she was carrying $3,000,000 in gold coins as part of a loan to the ] government.<ref name="The Official RMS Republic Website"/> All of these values, of course, are in 1909 dollars when gold was $20 per ounce. Today, the coin values would bring the recovery to at least many hundreds of millions of dollars, and some experts{{Who|date=January 2015}} have estimated that the recovery (with proper marketing of the recovered coins) could approach $5 billion or more, making the ''Republic'' salvage the largest treasure recovery of all time.<ref></ref> Some reports indicate that ''Republic'' was carrying gold and other valuables when she sank. One report is that she was carrying gold worth $250,000<ref>{{cite book|last=Connolly|first=James B.|title=Sea Borne - Thirty Years Avoyaging|year=1945|publisher=Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc|isbn=978-1406768947|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DTlZSaIBOhwC}}</ref> in American gold coins to be used as payroll for the US Navy's ].
In addition to the US Navy coin-monies shipment, various sources reported <ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rms-republic.com/story_rumor.html| title = The Rumor, The Reports, The Legend {{!}} RMS - Republic}} </ref>{{better source|date=February 2023}} on a much larger cargo, $3,000,000 in US gold double eagles ($20). Among these, ''The Washington Post'' reported, "Three million dollars in gold coins lie in the rotting hulk of the White Star liner Republic, lost off Nantucket in January, 1909. The ''Republic'', damaged in a collision, was being towed toward New York by the Coast Guard cutter'' Gresham'', when she sank in 240 feet of water. A salvage attempt in 1919 was unsuccessful."<ref>Diving Bell Gropes for Lost Gold, By Robert Talley The Washington Post, June 24, 1934, Pg. M5.</ref> And again one year later, "In 1909, the Star Liner Republic was damaged in a collision. While being towed to safety, she sank in over 200 feet of water. At the present, all attempts to salvage the $3,000,000 in her holds have been unsuccessful."<ref>Lusitania's Treasure of Gold and Gems to Be Salvaged By Alexander J. Wedderburn, Jr. The Washington Post, Dec. 1, 1935, Pg. B6.</ref> The New York Times reported, "The White Star Liner Republic, lost off Nantucket Shoals in 1909, carried $3,000,000 in gold eagles. However, the Republic rests in 185 feet of water."<ref>Clarence E. Lovejoy, Maps Give Skippers Chance at Sunken Gold - Week-End Cruising Can Now Include Treasure Hunt New York Times, July 10, 1959, 18.</ref>


== Rediscovery == == Rediscovery ==
The wreck of the ''Republic'' was found by Captain ] in 1981. She lies upright approximately {{convert|50|mi|km}} south of ]<ref name="LTS" /><ref name="The Official RMS Republic Website"/> at {{coord|40|26|0|N|69|46|0|W}} in approximately {{convert|270|ft|m}} of water. Two salvage expeditions in the 1980s attempted to locate the gold, but were unsuccessful. However, the ship contains many other treasures. In addition to the gold, many ship and personal artifacts remain. To date, however, none of the rumoured Tsar's treasure has been found. The wreck of ''Republic'' was found by Captain ] in 1981. the wreck lies upright roughly {{convert|50|mi|km}} south of ]<ref name="LTS" /><ref name="The Official RMS Republic Website"/> at {{coord|40|26|0|N|69|46|0|W}} in a depth of around {{convert|270|ft|m}} of water.

The wreckage of the ], another liner sunk as the result of a collision with a ship, lies a few miles to the northwest.
<gallery>
File:Andrea Doria at Dawn.jpg|thumb|SS ''Andrea Doria'' the morning after the collision with the MS ''Stockholm'' in fog off Nantucket Island: The hole in her starboard side from the collision with ''Stockholm'' is clearly visible.
File:Stockholm following Andrea Doria collision.jpg|thumb|26 July 1956: After colliding with ''Andrea Doria'', ], with severely damaged ], heads to New York.
</gallery>
===The salvage continues===
In 2011, Captain Bayerle's exclusive salvage rights to the wreck were reconfirmed by the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts.<ref></ref> A re-survey of the vessel was performed during 2012 and MVSHQ is preparing for a major recovery effort during summer months of 2015-2017. A "section lift" of the vessel had been planned but recent surveys (2009) have determined that the ship is in such fragile condition that she would break up under any strain. Instead, Bayerle will excavate the section of the ship which contains the specie (bullion) room.<ref></ref> In 2013, MVSHQ, Inc. retained Etoile Blanc Consulting, LLC to manage investment and media properties related to the anticipated RMS Republic recovery.<ref></ref>


==See also== ==See also==
⚫ * ], which also sank as a result of a collision
*]
⚫ * ]
⚫ *] which also sank as a result of a collision
⚫ *]


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
*
*
* *
* by Alfred M. Caddell, ''Radio Broadcast'', April 1924, pages 449-455.
*
* , ''The Outlook'', 6 February 1909, pages 294-297.
*
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*
⚫ *
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{{White Star Line ships}} {{White Star Line ships}}
{{1909 shipwrecks}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Republic (1903)}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Republic (1903)}}
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Latest revision as of 13:37, 14 November 2024

Steamship

Republic
History
United Kingdom
Name
  • Columbus (1903)
  • Republic (1903–1909)
Owner
  • British & North Atlantic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (1903)
  • Oceanic Steam Navigation Company (1903–1909)
Operator
Port of registryLiverpool
BuilderHarland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number345
Launched26 February 1903
Completed12 September 1903
FateSunk after collision with SS Florida on 24 January 1909
General characteristics
Tonnage15,400 gross register tons
Length570.0 ft (173.7 m)
Beam67.8 ft (20.7 m)
Draft34 ft 1 in (10.39 m) .
Depth of hold24 ft (7.3 m)
PropulsionTwin propeller
Speed16 knots (30 km/h)
Capacity2,830 passengers
Crew300

RMS Republic was a steam-powered ocean liner built in 1903 by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, and lost at sea in a collision in 1909 while sailing for the White Star Line. The ship was equipped with a new Marconi wireless telegraphy transmitter, and issued a CQD distress call, resulting in the saving of around 1,500 lives. Known as the "Millionaires' Ship" because of the number of wealthy Americans who traveled by her, she was described as a "palatial liner" and was the flagship of White Star Line's Boston service. This was the first important marine rescue made possible by radio, and brought worldwide attention to this new technology.

History

White Star acquisition

The ship was originally built in Belfast, Ireland, for the International Mercantile Marine's Dominion Line (a sister company to the White Star Line) and was named Columbus. She was launched on 26 February 1903, and made her maiden voyage in October 1903 from Liverpool to Boston. After two voyages with the Dominion Line, Columbus, along with three other Dominion liners: New England, Commonwealth, and Mayflower, were sold to the White Star Line for use on their new service between Liverpool and Boston. Columbus was renamed Republic, the second ship under White Star livery to hold the name (White Star's original Republic of 1872 had been sold to the Holland America Line in 1889 and renamed Maasdam), while her three fellow former Dominion liners were renamed Romanic, Canopic, and Cretic, respectively.

Collision with SS Florida

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In the early morning of 23 January 1909, while sailing from New York City to Gibraltar and Mediterranean ports with 742 passengers and crew and Captain Inman Sealby (1862–1942) in command, Republic entered a thick fog off the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Amongst the passengers were some illustrious people, such as James Ross Mellon, his wife Rachel Hughey Larimer Mellon, their daughter Sarah of the Mellon banking family and family maid, Mrs. Sophie Mansfield Curtis, wife of George Munson Curtis (treasurer of the International Silver Company), Mrs. Mary Harriman Severance, wife of Cordenio A. Severance, Professor John M. Coulter with wife and children, General Brayton Ives, St. Louis millionaire Samuel Cupples, historian Alice Morse Earle, and Mildred Montague, Countess Pasolini. Travelling in first class were also Mr. Leonard L. McMurray, who, in 1915, would survive the sinking of the Cunard liner Lusitania, and Mrs. Bessie Armstead Davis, daughter-in-law of senator Henry G. Davis of West Virginia with two children.

This picture of SS Florida was taken by Martin & Ottaway, a New Jersey marine consulting firm, after Florida collided with Republic. Florida survived the collision and was repaired in 24 days.

Taking standard precautions and maintaining her speed, the steamer regularly signaled her presence in the outbound shipping traffic lane by whistle. At 5:47 a.m., another whistle was heard and Republic's engines were ordered to full reverse, and the helm put "hard-a-port". Out of the fog, the Lloyd Italiano liner SS Florida appeared and hit Republic amidships on her portside, at about a right angle. Two passengers asleep in their cabins on Republic were killed when Florida's bow sliced into her, liquor wholesale manager Eugene Lynch's wife Mary and banker William J. Mooney. Eugene Lynch was critically injured and died as a result of his injuries at Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, 26 January. On Florida, three crewmen were also killed when the bow was crushed back to a collision bulkhead. Six people died in total.

The engine and boiler rooms on Republic began to flood, and the ship listed. Captain Sealby led the crew in calmly organizing the passengers on deck for evacuation. Republic was equipped with the new Marconi wireless telegraph system, and became the first ship in history to issue a CQD distress signal, sent by John R. Binns. Florida came about to rescue Republic's complement, and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service cutter Gresham responded to the distress signal as well. Passengers were distributed between the two ships, with Florida taking the bulk of them, but with 900 Italian immigrants already on board, this left the ship dangerously overloaded.

The White Star liner Baltic, commanded by Captain J. B. Ranson, also responded to the CQD call, but due to the persistent fog, Baltic was not able to locate the drifting Republic until that evening. Once on-scene, the rescued passengers were transferred from Gresham and Florida to Baltic. Because of the damage to Florida, that ship's immigrant passengers were also transferred to Baltic, but a riot nearly broke out when they had to wait until first-class Republic passengers were transferred. Once everyone was on board, Baltic sailed for New York.

At the time of Republic's sinking, ocean liners were not required to have a full capacity of lifeboats for their passengers, officers, and crew. On the busy North Atlantic route, assistance from at least one ship was believed to be ever-present and that lifeboats would be needed only to ferry all aboard to their rescue vessels and back until everyone was safely evacuated. That scenario, unlike during the RMS Titanic sinking, played out flawlessly during the ship's sinking, and the six people who died were lost in the collision, not the sinking itself.

Republic sinking by the stern after the collision

Captain Sealby and a skeleton crew remained on board Republic to make an effort to save her. Crewmen from the Gresham tried using collision mats to stem the flooding, but to no avail. By this time, the steamers New York and Lucania (from Cunard) had also arrived and waited while a futile attempt was made by Gresham to take Republic under tow. On 24 January, Republic sank stern first; at 15,378 tons, she was the largest ship to have sunk until then. All the remaining crew were evacuated before she sank.

Reported cargoes

Some reports indicate that Republic was carrying gold and other valuables when she sank. One report is that she was carrying gold worth $250,000 in American gold coins to be used as payroll for the US Navy's Great White Fleet. In addition to the US Navy coin-monies shipment, various sources reported on a much larger cargo, $3,000,000 in US gold double eagles ($20). Among these, The Washington Post reported, "Three million dollars in gold coins lie in the rotting hulk of the White Star liner Republic, lost off Nantucket in January, 1909. The Republic, damaged in a collision, was being towed toward New York by the Coast Guard cutter Gresham, when she sank in 240 feet of water. A salvage attempt in 1919 was unsuccessful." And again one year later, "In 1909, the Star Liner Republic was damaged in a collision. While being towed to safety, she sank in over 200 feet of water. At the present, all attempts to salvage the $3,000,000 in her holds have been unsuccessful." The New York Times reported, "The White Star Liner Republic, lost off Nantucket Shoals in 1909, carried $3,000,000 in gold eagles. However, the Republic rests in 185 feet of water."

Rediscovery

The wreck of Republic was found by Captain Martin Bayerle in 1981. the wreck lies upright roughly 50 miles (80 km) south of Nantucket Island at 40°26′0″N 69°46′0″W / 40.43333°N 69.76667°W / 40.43333; -69.76667 in a depth of around 270 feet (82 m) of water.

See also

References

  1. "The Republic and The Delhi". Daily Telegraph. London. 16 April 1912.
  2. Dunn, Laurence (1964). Famous Liners of the Past Belfast Built. London: Adlard Coles. pp. 70–71.
  3. "RMS Republic II People On Board". WRECKSITE. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  4. "RMS Republic Passenger List". RMS Republic. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  5. "SS Florida / SS Republic Collision (TBT)". Martin & Ottaway. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. "Ship Wrecks of New England - SS Republic". att.net. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006.
  7. "Rescue at Sea". The American Experience. PBS. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  8. "Gresham, 1896" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  9. "TITANIC - A Voyage of Discovery (allships)". Archived from the original on 24 May 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  10. ^ Pickford, Nigel (1999). Lost Treasure Ships of the Twentieth Century. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. ISBN 0-7922-7472-5.
  11. ^ "Treasure of the RMS Republic". New York: MVSHQ, Inc. 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  12. Connolly, James B. (1945). Sea Borne - Thirty Years Avoyaging. Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc. ISBN 978-1406768947.
  13. "The Rumor, The Reports, The Legend | RMS - Republic".
  14. Diving Bell Gropes for Lost Gold, By Robert Talley The Washington Post, June 24, 1934, Pg. M5.
  15. Lusitania's Treasure of Gold and Gems to Be Salvaged By Alexander J. Wedderburn, Jr. The Washington Post, Dec. 1, 1935, Pg. B6.
  16. Clarence E. Lovejoy, Maps Give Skippers Chance at Sunken Gold - Week-End Cruising Can Now Include Treasure Hunt New York Times, July 10, 1959, 18.

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