The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-24
IN CLOSE QUARTERS.
The Paris and Majestic Were Strug-
Cling For the Mastery.
A Fog Suddenly Descended Which
Rendered the Situation Extremely
Pcrilous.

IrvERPoo1. May "a. Passengers on the
steamer Majestic are greatly wrought up
over what they deem was narrow escape
from collision with the Paris in mid
ocean.
1t appears from different interviews
with passengers that the Paris crossed
from her own southerly route in north
erly direction and afterwards turned
from north to south to regain her own
track. Many OF the Majestic's passengers
aver that this was done within distance
Of 500 yards of the Majestic 1t is not al
legged that there was anything like set
race.
The passengers. though highly indig-
nant and blaming the captain of the
Paris do not assert that there was any
wrongdoing or illegal action on his part,
but they declare that there was piece of
urjustifable bravado perpetrated which,
under other circumstances, migt~ have
had serious consequences. A saloon pas
senger says:
I'VE gradually drew up on the Paris
until we got abreast of her. Then the Paris
dropped behind. went astern of us and
came up on our port side. She kept
creeping up until midday OF Saturday,
and twice forced us out of our course.
She got so near that we could read her
name without glasses, and our cap
tain slowed mp TO let her pass"
Rev. Mr.. Hill OF Montreal says: "The
captain of the Paris signalled to our cap
tain that he wished TO cross our bows.
We slowed mp and she passed about 200
yards in front of rs. What might have
occurred was shown by the fact that fog
descended 80 suddenly and was SO dense
that both vessels had recourse to fog
horns"
Another passenger said that IL was
painful TO contemplate what might have
happened had the fog came little earlier.
Captain Handles Story.
SOUTHAMPTON, May 24--The captain of
the Paris made "A statement shortly after
the vessel arrived here last evening re-
garding the race with the Majestic. 1t
differs materially from the story told by
= passenger on the Majestic with refer
snce to the bow-crossiug incident.
Captain Randle said: "Soon after leav-
ong New York the Majestic hove In sight
considerable distance astern. The
Paris maintained her lead until Satur-
day. when. owing to delay caused by a
change of stokers. the White Star boat
su cceeded in oyerhauling the Paris and
crossed her bows from port to starboard.
This happened between and o'clock
Saturday morning The Majestic steamed
along about half mile distant on the
starboard side. The Paris gradually
forged ahead keeping about the same
distance to port The captain of the Ma
jestic. finding his vessel dropping astern,
slowed down his engines and crossed
under the stern of the Paris, receiving
her backwash. He then proceeded on his
course. ending three days exciting race.
The Chronicles Comment.
LONDON May 24.-The Chronicle says:
II the tale told by the passengers of the
steamer Majestic OF the race between the
Majestic and Paris be true, it is high time
that an international agreement be made
to stop such races. We can scarcely be-
lieve the statement that the American
captain deliberately crossed the bows of
the Majestic and compelled her to slow
down. and we hope the story is capable of
explanation.