Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-17
AN OCEAN RACE.
The St. Louis and Majestic viii Sail,
Today, from New York
The Point Is. Who will First Reach the
Shores Of Old England.

New York Oct ia regular old-time
race between two ocean greyhounds was
commenced, today, the American Line
steamer St. Louis and the Majestic, of the
White Star service, being the participants.
Ii will not only be test OF the two ships
in the dash across the Atlantic, but 1t
will also settle the question az to which
vessel can get the American mails to
London first, elapsed time considered.
The st. Louis Is bound to Southamp-
ton, the Majestic to Liverpool, via Queens
town, the last-named port being where
the English, Irish, Scotch and Contincn-
tai mail Is discharged The fact that the
ST. Louis Will, on this trip. inaugurate
the ten years mail contract which the
government has awarded to the American
Line makes the interest In the race OF
great Importance. The difference in dis
lance between this port and Southampton
and Queenstown, at the point Of diver
gence, Is about 275 sea miles or Is hours
extra steaming for the St Louis.
There was about four hours difference
in the time Of the start Of the two vessels
here the st. Louis Leaving at II O'Clock
and the Majestic at 3 =. M. This ad-
vantage Of the st. Louis will be calculated
In the figuring Of corrected time. The
Great Southern Railway Of Ireland meets
the White Star Line ships at Queenstown.
A special train will be run on the arrival
Of the Majestic there
The distance between Queenst oWn and
London by way Of Dnblin, Kingston and
Holyhead ia 504 miles, which will, accord
ing to arrangements, be covered in Is
hours and 40 minutes. 1t requires two
hours time to travel from Southampton
to London, so that, should the Majestic
reach Queenstown within 10 hours before
the St. Louis arrives at Southampton the
British vessel would still have a chance Of
getting the mail first into London.
But the general opinion prevails down
town that the Yankee boat will deliver
her mail sacks at the English capital in
advance of her British rival
The fastest trip that the Majestic ever
made between Sandy Hook and Daunt's
Rock the entrance to Queenstown harbor
Is s days, go hours and 16 minutes, made
five years ago The shortest time that the
st. Louis has consumed in going between
Sandy Hook and the Needles is days, IL
hours and 25 minutes The difference in
this time is IA hours and 9 minutes, or
considerably in favor Of the St. Louis
WIFI Inc qlesIoH tol redchlhS Lohuoh 10
considered.
The prospects of hard fought battle
between the two leviathans were earnestly
discussed among steamship men in the
Maritime Exchange. The agents of the
other regular lines will watch the dual
contest with great keenDcss. The post
office authorities will watch it, too, 1t be-
ing their desire to show that American
boats are better postal craft than those of
any other nationality alloat.
This will be the beginning of the
seventh voyage for the st. Louis She
will take away a big number of passengers
and nearly 700 bags of mail. Among her
saloon passengers who will enjoy her night
across the sea will be Capt. A. p Cooke,
U. S. N; Henry Kimber, NJ. P; William
H. Brown, J. M. Hurtado, Rev and Mrs.
j. H. Wiley, Rev. II. NJ. Mestres and
Miss Belle Rogers Horton.
The maiden trip Of the St Paul is also
being watched with as much interest AT
4.50 this afternoon the new greyhound
was at sea five days, having cleared Sandy
Hook bar at 12 30 p. NJ, last Wednesday.
TO equal the worlds record of > days, 10
hours and 55 minutes between this port
and Southampton, the st. Louis will have
to reach the Needles before 4. As A. NJ,
Wednesday, American time, or 9.45 Green
witch time