The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-22

was on the morning Of Saturday, the 7th
of April, 1898, that the Great Western,
commanded by Captain Hosken, finally
lifted her anchors, steaming down the
Channel, bound for New York, amid the
enthusiastic acclamation Of the British
populace.
There was now race across the Allan
tic-the first ocean race by steamships the
world ever saw. Close upon twenty years
had elapsed since the first steamer had
ploughcd her way through the Atlantic
waves, aud, in the meanwhile, the public
seemed as if asleep on the subject Of At
lantic steam navigation, disliking it, or in
common with the learned DIR. Lardner,
looking upon it as voyage to the moon
--lunatic, in fact. Now, all at once, sud
denly as by enehnntment, the public heard
that two rival steamers were going from
England to America at the same time.
and great was the anxiety to know which
Of them would be the first to arrive. For
week or more nothing else was talked Of
in all England but the steam race across
the Atlantic, aud huge bets were entered
upon as to which Of the two ships would
arrive first Rt New York; with modi6ca-
tions as to whether either or any Of them
would arrive at all. The race was alto
gether not an uneven one. Although the
Sirius had left her moOrings on the We'd
nesday, and the Great Western on Satur-
day morning, the former was under the
disadvantage Of going round the whole
coast Of southern England, and also of
stopping at Cork, before actually starting
on her Atlantic voyage, while a still great
er drawback, on her part, was that Of be-
ing a much smaller vessel than the
Great Western, with far less engine pow.
er, AID not specially constructed for her
new duties. The public excitement rose
to the highest pitch when a week had
elapsed after the starting Of the two steam
ers from Cork and Bristol respectively
without their having been spoken with
The captains Of both steamers, it was found
afterwards, had taken new routes across
the Atlantic, somewhat out Of the track
OF easterly-bound sailing vessels, in ordei
to get quickest to their destination. Blu
this was not known at the time, and the
gloomiest forebodings became rife, Will
high wagers at Lloyds upon the total los
OF the two Atlantic steamers, when at las
the happy news came Of the safe arriya
Of both at New York within twenty.fou
hours Of each other Liverpool had start
ed first, and Liverpool had won the race
The historical event Of the arrival Q
the two first English steamers in the Unite,
States was thus chronicledin in one of the Ne,
York papers SAT three o clock D. m, Of
Sunday, the 22d of April, the Sirius frs
deserted the land, and early on Mon
day morning, the 23d, anchored in tn
North River, Immediately off the Batter,
The moment the intelligence was mad
know hundreds and thousands rushed
early in the morning, to the Batter,
Nothing could exceed the excitement
The river was covered during the Who'll
day with row-boats, skiffs and yawl
carrying the wondering people out to gc
close view Of this extraordinary yesse
And while the people we're yet wonder
: ing how the Sirius was SO successful
made to cross the rude Atlantic, it was at
nounced about eleven on Monday mornin,
from the telegraph, that huge steamshi
: was in the ofhng. The Great Western
the Great Western was on everybody
tongue. About ? o'clock, p. m. the fir
!; curl Of her ascending smoke fell on n
} eyes Of the thousands of anxious specti
tors, and shout Of enthusiasm rose o
the air" The reporter then goes on
tell how the Sirius had steamed at the rat
Of over eight knots, and the Great Wester
at nearly nine knots per hour during tn
greater part Of her voyage, giving it as hi
opinion that "the grand experiment ha
now been fairly and fully settled, aud ha
been completely successful" Only on
question, he thought, was now left for SC
luton Can steam packets be made I
payY This was a question also occupying
the deep attention Of the cnterprising trad
ers of Liverpool and Bristol, origiuators Q
Atlantic steam navigation London Raj
,cay Ne,os.