New-York tribune., 1907-09-08
GREAT CROWDS At START,
One Hundred Thousand Persons
Sing Rule britannia.
TBy Tu Associated Pr-.1


Liverpool. Sept T-Amid the cheering Of ters
OF thousands Of weu-wishers and the shr1ekiny
OF many sirens, the giant Cunard Line steamer
Lusitania sailed this evening on a 3O0o-naiIe
race against time across the Atlantic. and there
is hardly a person IN England tonight who Is
not convinced that By next Friday the greatest
turbine steamer ever constructed will have won
back for the Cunard Line the Iaurels wrested
from II ten years ago by the North German
Lloyd Line.
Probably never before has so much interest
been shown in the maiden voyage Of a new YES
sci. This can be attributed partly TO the in
tense rivalry between England and Germany in
the transatlantic passenger traffic partly to na-
uonal pride in ownership-the Lusitsnia is be-
Heved to be the greatest triumph Of the ship
builders art-and 70 no small extent TO the
sporting element afforded by the prospects Of
a race between the youngest Atlantic flyer and
the Lucanfa, az time the holder OF the rec
ord
The Lusitania vas over one hour late IN
starting. and IL was five minutes past nine this
evening when the huge vessel swung clear OF
the landing stage and started to chase her
smaller sister. the Lucania. which, with four
hours start. already was far down the Irish
Sea
Fully one hundred thousand spectators lined
the landing stage and the river banks near
the pier. and yelled themselves hoarse as the
liner gathered headway down the river, and
every steamer and riverside factory for miles
along the Mersey Joined in the chorus Of good
bys The din was deafenlng
Lighted from stem 10 stern along the rows OF
northoIes that marked her numerous tiers OF
decks. the mammoth proportions OF the Lusi-
tania were emphasized BY the tlu1ninations.
and the vessel presented fine spectacle as she
trait
reached its climax when the vast multitude
broke out with Rule. Britannia" This song
was taken UP by the crowds on the Cheshirs
side of the river and sung until the ship. with
her three thousand passengers. had passed be-
vond the sight Of the four-nIile-long riverside
promenade.
The I.usitania VIII be allowed to go easily as
far as Queenstown. but from there IL Is ex-
pected that she will be driven at her full speed
OF 2515 knots an hour. OF course. the officials
Of the Cunard Line say that no race Is con
ternpIated, but the engine room crews or the
tvxo vessels have been busy for q week IN get
ting everything in readiness with the expecta-
tion that the engines will be called upon 70 do
+betr hest on this occasion Twenty hours IS
about the lowest estimate By which the Lusi-
tania Is expected to beat the Lucania into New
York
All the accommodations both vessels have
been taken. For the Lucania $40 first class
and $50 second class passengers have been
hooked. and for the Lusitania 4S0 first class
and 4s5 second class The lists include many
prominent persons Among the passengers On
the Iusitania will be E c. Barber, H. G. Doian.
Mr.. and Mrs Louis Hay. Mr.. and Mrs Robert
GoeIet Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus II. Mccormick and
& G. Perkins The Lucania takes the team Of
the MaryIebons Cricket Club, which viii play
a series of games in America and Bishop P. ].
OReilly.