Sir, – In An Irishman’s Diary, (March 31st), Frank McNally provides a well-researched insight into Irish aspects to the the loss of White Star’s SS Atlantic on April 1st, 1873. In concluding the article, a “tongue in cheek” reference is made to “loyalist Belfast producing an SS Republic (1871) which perhaps ominously for unionism didn’t sink”.
The company reused the name Republic for another Harland & Wolff-built ship which made its first voyage under White Star colours in December 1903. Unlike its similarly named predecessor, this Republic did sink when, in the early hours of January 23rd, 1909, she was struck amidship by an Italian liner the Florida near Nantucket. There was dense fog at the time.
Jack Binns, the Marconi radio operator on the Republic, famously stayed at his post using the ship’s wireless to call for help. Three crewmen were killed on the Florida; four passengers died on the Republic. A number of ships responded to the distress signal, including White Star’s Baltic, which took on board passengers from both damaged ships. The Republic sank the following evening, while the Florida made New York under her own steam.
The interesting aspect to the loss of the Republic is that the serious nature of the collision caused no concern to either White Star or Harland & Wolff as to the safety features of the new Olympic-class liners. The keel of Olympic was laid in December 1908 with work on Titanic commencing in March 1909. There was every confidence these new ships could have comfortably stayed afloat if damaged amidships, with two sections open to the sea.
In the unlikely event any reader might have taken seriously a tongue in cheek comment on any view “loyalist Belfast” might have held towards another White Star vessel named Republic, worry not. When launched by Harland &Wolff in February 1903 the ship was named Columbus and intended for the Dominion Line. – Yours, etc,
ED COGHLAN,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.