Jack Binns and the Wreck of the "Republic"

Meanwhile, an inspection of the "Florida" revealed that although her bow was crushed and one compartment was flooded, she seemed in no danger of sinking. She closed with the Republic and attempted to render assistance. It was decided that, until other ships arrived, the Republic's passengers would be transferred to the Florida. Binns, meanwhile, continued to talk the "Baltic" towards his ship's position. Finally, late in the afternoon, the "Baltic" approached. Binns describes what took place in a newspaper interview:

"The most anxious hour of the day was at about 6 o'clock in the evening, when Captain Sealby heard, only faintly, the explosion of a bomb in the far distance. He at once communicated with me and I made inquiries, learning that the "Baltic" had been exploding bombs in an effort to apprise us of her whereabouts. We, too, had been exploding bombs, but exhausted our supply, and, from now on, had nothing but our almost exhausted and fast-weakening wireless apparatus to which we could pin our hopes of rescue. The "Baltic" then informed me that she had but a solitary bomb left, and arranged with us that this would be exploded at a certain moment. This was done, and as we heard the faint rumble there was no further doubt in our minds that the Baltic would soon find us as we tossed about, marooned, as it were, in the fog, and not knowing how long we could remain afloat."

Soon the "Baltic" appeared out of the mist; a beautiful sight to Binns who remarked that nothing was so lovely as a ship at sea, "...especially when that ship is needed to supply a link between life and death."

Binns signed off as the "Baltic" hove to leeward and took him and the remainder of the "Republic's" crew aboard. That night, Binns managed a few hours of sleep as the "Republic's" passengers were transferred by boat to the "Baltic." The next morning, seeing the "Republic" still afloat, Capt. Sealby of the "Republic" asked for volunteers to return to the ship and await tugs in an attempt to tow the damaged vessel to New York. Binns, and many of the officers and crew raised there hands.

Returning to his wireless cabin, whose walls were crushed in the collision allowing cold sea winds and mist inside, Binns checked his equipment. Finding it operational, he resumed communications. Soon, the "Furnessia" and "Gresham" arrived and attached lines to the

Go To Page: 1 2 3