Useful Links

You'll find some subject related links here. The Internet changes by the second. Sites are added, others are closed. If you know of another useful link relating to RMS Republic and/or the subject categories below, please let us know and, if we agree, we'll add them here. If a listed link no longer works, let us know that too and we'll try to fix it. Contact webmaster@rms-republic.com

  • The RMS Republic Specifically.
    • Found on the Blogs
    • Binns Scrapebook (449 MB download, OCR searchable) - A period scrapbook of newspaper clippings regarding RMS Republic.
    • The American Experience - Rescue at Sea. A story of courage, luck and heroism. Produced by Ben Loeterman, the film features interviews with descendants of Republic's passengers and crew, recollections of the young hero, Jack Binns and surprising revelations of the connections between this event and a later disaster at sea: the "Titanic." David McCullough narrates, and Matthew Broderick provides the voice of Jack Binns. This 1999 PBS documentary focuses on the use of technology - the Marconi wireless - in the rescue, with slight mention of the Republic's legendary treasure. See: The Launch of the "Republic". From that standpoint, PBS missed the mark. See also The Journal of American History for another review.
    • The Marconi Company's Digital Archive. Although not exclusively Republic related, the loss of Republic did influence to a good extent Marconi's fortune. Do a search under Republic and find source material, including several items referenced on this website.
    • Encyclopedia Titanica has a discussion board where members may post their questions concerning RMS Republic. You'll find some good commentary regarding Republic's cargos in First Class First? We, of course, have our own discussion boards a/k/a forums!
    • Samuel Cupples and Family in the Wreck of the RMS Republic - a notable passenger's wreck story.
    • National Data Buoy Center, Buoy 44008. Information on weather conditions in the vicinity of the Andrea Doria and Republic.
    • A First-Person Account of our 1987 salvage effort, by a member of our filmcrew.

  • Titanic. Republic and Titanic are linked not only by ownership and by several crewmembers who served on both vessels, but the lack of an official public inquiry concerning the Republic's loss may have actually precipitated the Titanic tragedy. There are a number of other very good Titanic websites in addition to the ones listed here.

    • Encyclopedia Titanica is the leading resource for new Titanic research featuring passenger and crew biographies, archive documents and images, online discussions, films and recordings, deckplans and articles.
    • Britannica Online Presents Titanic, a good overview photo-story of the Titanic tragedy.
    • George Behe's Titanic Tidbits, a great web site that examines little-known and sometimes controversial topics connected with the sinking of the Titanic.
    • The Titanic Historical Society, Inc. (THS) is the premier information source for all things Titanic and White Star Line related.
    • The Titanic Inquiry Project contains the complete transcripts of both the US Senate and British Board of Trade inquiries into the disaster, along with their final reports.
    • RMS Titanic, Inc. Website of the salvor-in-possession of the RMS Titanic. Describes the recovery, preservation, exhibition and marketing of White Star Line artifacts from Titanic (1912), artifacts identical in every respect to those found aboard WSL's Republic (1909).
    • The Titanic Nautical Resource Center is dedicated to providing interesting and educational information on pertinent subjects relating to the RMS Titanic (and her sister ships RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic), nautical maritime, boating, and other things of the sea. A good general-info nautical site, with a Titanic focus.

     

  • The Great White Fleet.

    • Great White Fleet - A Photo Pictorial provides details, primarily through photographs, concerning the Great White Fleet's entire cruise December 1907 through February 1909.
    • US Navy Historical Center FAQ Great White Fleet. The Navy's Historical Center provides some good links and other references concerning the Fleet's historic voyage.
    • Haze Gray & Underway. A photo history of the GWF's ships and voyage.
    • NavSource Naval History. An excellent source for U. S. Navy ship images, history, crew contacts, building, service and final fate information. This site contains perhaps the largest US Navy warship photo collection on the internet.
    • Voyage of the Great White Fleet, a reprint of a good summary of the Fleet's historic journey around the globe.

     

  • The 1908 Messina-Reggio Earthquake.

  • The Imperial Russian Fleet and the Tsar.

     

  • The 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War. Russia's ambitions in China and Korea conflicted with those of Japan and resulted in war. Russia financed its war with Japan by acquiring a short-term five year $160 million loan, issuing non-public bonds under the title '5 per cent. State Exchequer bonds of 1904' to primarily French banks and financiers. Russia needed gold in 1909 to satisfy her payment obligation under this short-term 1904 loan, then coming due in May, 1909. In order to accomplish this goal, Russia in essence converted the 1904 private debt to a long-term fifty (50) year public obligation, the Russian 4½% State Loan of 1909. Below you'll find some useful links for background on the Russo-Japanese War.
  • Coin Valuation.
    • Coin Facts, reports recent auction prices for 1909 St. Gaudens Double Eagles.
    • Collectors Universe Rare Coin Price Guide for $20 St. Gaudens.
    • NumisMedia Price Guide posts fair market value of gold coins which may reflect the possible value of the recovery of Republic's cargos. The particular mint and condition of any recovered coins, and their effective marketing, will significantly effect the total value of any recovery.
    • 24 hour Spot Gold Quotes. The price of rare gold coins is related somewhat to the current price of gold.
    • TeletradeCoin Auctions provides a good history of Double Eagles - the predominant denomination of coins believed to be aboard RMS Republic.
    • An American Gold Exchange article on the effect of marketing of gold coin hoards on gold coin prices, including their impression on the marketing of gold coins from such hoards recovered from S.S. Republic (the 1865 wreck), S.S. Central America, and S.S. Brother Jonathan. Effective and timely marketing of R.M.S. Republic coins will be a key determinate as to their value.
    • The American Gold Exchange provides a listing of the number of double eagles minted in each year. Generally, of course, the lower the quantity minted in each year, the greater the value for coins of that mintage, ceteris paribas.
  • Ocean Liners.
    • Great Ships includes photos and ship's history of several merchant fleets.
    • The Red Duster or red ensign represents the British merchant navy. We link to its White Star Line page where you can find history of the line and pictures and histories of its ships.
    • The Great Ocean Liners. History and pictures of the great ocean liners.
    • LostLiners.com. An educational Web site created to preserve the "Golden Age of Ocean Travel" and to tell the stories of these Ladies of the Sea.
    • The Steamship Historical Society of America Collection (SSHSA). The Society maintains one of the largest libraries in North America devoted exclusively to the history of engine powered vessels.
    • Royal Regals describes a selection of the more familiar ocean liners, and includes a good list of additional Ocean Liner links.
    • The Ships List was established to assist those seeking information on the vessels which brought their ancestors to their new home, be that the United States, Canada, Australia, or another part of the world. Some ships passenger lists, schedules, wreck data, and other information which is not readily available, has been collected, along with links to other sites of interest.
  • General Background.
    • Edwardian Life, a PBS site for Edwardian background in regard to their Manor House series.
    • The Edwardian Era provides information on the politics, world events, fashions, arts and other aspects of this most interesting period in history.
    • The Pre-World War I Gold Standard. A good overview of pre-WWI international finance and business cycle. [You'll have to wait about a minute for this page to load/transfer.]
  • Salvage Law and the Law of Finds. The application of Salvage Law and the Law of Finds to specific facts is often complex. The law is always evolving, but these links will provide a general overview of the issues. An admiralty attorney should always be consulted.
    • Application of Salvage Law and the Law of Finds, Defense Counsel Journal, January 2000. A good paper on the subject. (Do a search for "Vineyard" to pull a reference to our case.)
    • When Lost Liners Become Found: An Examination of the Effectiveness of Present Maritime Legal and Statutory Regimes for Protecting Historic Wrecks in International Waters with Some Proposals for Change, Regan, R., TULANE MARITIME LAW JOURNAL, 2005, VOL 29 NO 2, Pages 313-352.  A good paper on the subject. (Do a search for "R.M.S. Republic" to pull a reference to our case.)
    • The Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide includes over 1,500 annotated links to admiralty law resources on the Internet and a growing database of admiralty case digest and opinions, arbitration award abstracts and international maritime conventions. The emphasis is on the law of the United States and the focus is on Internet resources that can be used in an effective and practical manner by admiralty attorneys and maritime professionals.
    • Admiralty - An Overview. Cornell University's overview of admiralty law, with links to searches for current case law.
    • LexisONE - Admiralty. Lexis provides a comprehensive list of links relating to admiralty law.
    • Titanic in the Courts, an article in Archaelogy that provides a good history of litigation surrounding the Titanic, and touches upon the arrest of a vessel in international waters.
    • Titanic v. Haver. The seminal case on salvor-in-possession permitting the exercise of constructive in rem jurisdiction by US District Courts over shipwrecks lying in international waters. The more notable wrecks lying in international waters include, in alphabetical order: Andrea Doria, Atocha, Central America, Lusitania, Republic, and Titanic.
    • Admiralty Court Transcripts. IMAC selected court transcripts concerning the current and proposed state of salvage law.
    • Salvage & Recreational Vessels: Modern Concepts & Misconceptions Safe Seas overview of salvage law.
    • RMS Titanic, Inc. Website FAQ of the salvor-in-possession of the RMS Titanic. Describes Titanic v. Haver and the legal basis for control over a wreck in international waters, FAQs Nos. 50 through 52.
    • NOVA - Who Owns Lost Ships? A NOVA documentary chronicles the discovery and excavation of the French explorer Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle's ship, La Belle, which sank off the coast of Texas in 1686. This associated article discusses legal issues concerning salvage law and law of finds with regard to La Belle and other vessels. The article also touches on the sometimes-conflicting goals of archeology and salvage.
    • Treasure Salvage: Finders-Keepers?, a brief article by attorney Stephen White concerning the law of finds.
    • The Law of Salvage. An article on Salvage Law and elements of a salvage lien, with the Law of Finds.
    • Free Legal Advice, a basiq Q & A on the law of salvage and finds. Not all the answers, here, are accurate; each case has its own facts.
    • New York State Salvage Law Reference
  • Marine Archaeology
    • IMAC,The Institute of Marine Archaeological Conservation is an organization dedicated to marine archaeological conservation through private enterprise.
    • The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology (IJNA) is the primary journal for all aspects of nautical archeological research.
    • The Institute of Nautical Archaeology and the Texas A&M Nautical Archaeology Program offer information on their joint pages.
    • Florida State University's Directory of Underwater Archaeology on the World Wide Web. This site was created by the FSU Underwater Archaeology program and FSU's Academic Diving Program to provide an index to the many WWW sites concerning underwater archaeology and maritime history.
    • AnthroTECH's database of links and related categories.
    • NOAA supports nautical archaeology through its Sanctuary and Reserves Division. In addition to the USS Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA supports and protects Sanctuaries in the Florida Keys and the Channel Islands.
  • Diving and Saturation Diving.
    • Diving Medicine On-Line provides comprehensive and updated information about diving and undersea medicine for the non-medical diver, the non-diving medical professional and an excellent reference source for the diving medical specialist.
    • A Very Short History of Saturation Diving. A brief page on the development of saturation diving and current state of saturation diving technology. The parent website, The Historical Diving Society provides useful information on diving history and equipment.
    • Association of Diving Contractors. Information on commercial diving from that industry's trade association.
    • Commercial Diving Directory. This site is for the Commercial Diver involved in offshore and civil engineering diving operations. Their aim is to compile a listing of diving companies, equipment suppliers, training facilities and governing bodies world wide, and they have a good selection of commercial diving links.
    • The US Navy Diving Manual. This link will download an 8.2 megabyte file in zip format. Once unzipped it, contains an electronic version of the US manual, the definitive text on diving procedure, history, physics and more. It is in Adobe Acrobat pdf format, so if you need to download the free Acrobat Reader click here.
    • The Shipwreck Expo Directory, Capt. Dan Berg's site for historical and current worldwide shipwreck information and images for scuba divers, fisherman and maritime historians.
  • Treasure Hunting
    • www.RealTreasures.com, an educational and commercial website for shipwreck coins, Spanish colonial coins and ancient coins as well as other relics like civil war bullets and more.
    • Lost Treasure Magazine, a good place to start.
  • Researchers
    • Touchstone Research Group, LLC, provides historical research services within archives, libraries and other public and private records' repositories to lawyers, authors, journalists, scholars, private investigators, employers, corporations (corporate histories), banks and financial institutions, film and documentary producers and private individuals. Research into treasures, shipwrecks and their cargoes are Touchstone specialties.
  • Miscellaneous
    • Measuring Market Integration: Foreign Exchange Arbitrage and The Gold Standard, 1879-1913, a published academic paper that references our US-France gold commerce study (at Page 7).
    • One Asset, Two Prices: The Case of the Tsarist Repudiated Bonds. An interesting published academic paper on the effect of repudiation of the 1909 Russian Bonds on their market prices on both the London and Paris stock exchanges. However, the authors incorrectly refer to the 50 year 1909 bond as a forty year bond, possibly due to the remaining time left on the bond, approximately 40 years, at the time of repudiation.
    • Here are two interesting papers containing information, with sources, on how the Russian Government acquired favorable press to enhance the success of her bond offerings on the French market. The ability of Governments to favorably influence the press has potential application in the apparent concealment of Republic's cargos.
      • The First Globalization, Lessons from the French, a 130+ page paper that contains relevant info, with cited sources, on the methods used by the by the French to influence the Russian Government, and methods used by the Russian Government to influence the French press, beginning at State Led Capital Export, at page 55.
      • Presse et Finance, (in French) details Russian influence (including bribery) on the French press for favorable treatment of Russia's bond and other investment offerings.