The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-09-08
GREAT RACE
ACROSS OCEAN
Splendid Contest Between 2
of the Greatest Ships
World Ever Knew.
LucAN+A SAILED YESTERDAY Az
TERNooN, AND THE NEW TUR-
RiNE LUsITANIA LEFT HER
DOCK SHORTLY LATER.
Special to The journal.


liverpool, Sept. with the wild
cheers of assembled thousands ring
ing out over the waters, what prom
ises to be the most exciting steamship
race ever held was commenced this
afternoon between the Lusitania, the
biggest ship In the world, which is
making IT'S maiden voyage across the
Atlantic, and the Lucania, holder of
the record between Queenstown and
Sandy Hook.
Under command of Captain James
G.. Barr, the Lucania sailed early this
afternoon. Shortly afterward the new
turbine giant, Lusitania, set forth IN
der the command Of Captain j. B.
Watt. The great leviathan of the sea,
beside which the largest of other
steamships in the transatlantic trade
seem small, carried the fullest posi-
bic quota of passengers, and the Gu
nard company refused hundreds of ap-
plications from people who were
anxious to cross on the Lusitania's
first voyage.
The Lusitania will proceed under
easy steam to Queenstown in order to
give the Lucania time to embark her
passengers and get away. The Lusi-
tania will leave Queenstown at IL
O'Clock tomorrow morning. Then will
commence the great contest of speed
from Lannt's Rock to Sandy Hook
The Lucania should be on the broad
expanse Of the ATLANTIC doing 21
knots with three hours start when the
new turbine monster merges from
Queenstown, but travelling at the rate
- 14X4 IL
overhaul the Lucania long before the
statue of liberty is sighted. The act
that the Lusftania is not to be driven
at her top speed on her maiden Yoy-
age will give the 1ucania a sporting
chance of arriving first at New York
The Lucania will travel at its topmost
speed from the coast of Ireland to
Sandy Hook lightship, a distance of
1880 miles. Each of the ships will
burn at least 1000 tons of coal day
Among the passengers on the two
vessels are many American million
aires, and during the trip vast sums
will undoubtedly be wagered on the
result. Both conEesting vessels are
Cunard liners, and the race was ar
ranged as a test of the superiority of
the new vessel
On her trial trip the Lusitania, over
a 1000 mile course, did 25 IL knots
for an average hourly speed. The
Lucania has made the fastest trip
ever recorded between Queenstown
and New York-5 days, z hours and
% rdnutes-which record she accom-
plished in 1894 when Horatio Nc
Kay commanded her The vessels
will not race back, it having been ar
ranged to keep the Lucania in New
York but thre days. where the Lusi-
tania will not sail from New York on
the return voyage until September 81.
On, her famous record trip the
Lucania left Queenstown at 1922 a,
m. October Il, 1894. Her daily runs
were $40, 5S4, 5Ss, 544 and 80 miles to
Sandy Hook, where she arrived at 4
D. m. ON October e. Her total dis
lance covered between Daunt's Rock
where time is taken at ireland, and
Sandy Nook. where it is taken at New
York, is ATS knots. Whether the
Lusitania will break this record, and
how much, is the principal subject of
conversation among Bnglfshmen to-
day. -.
The Lucania has only two screws,
whereas the Lusitania has four. The
new giant of the deep is 7s5 feet long,
co 1SGI Wfu0, diEO OF 16SC QSSp
the shelter deck, or 78 feet from the
boat deck. which, however, is topped
by sly another deck Her hoating
weight is about 5000 tons, and it is
estimated that in order to propel her
at the required sea speed of "a IL
knots the turbines will require 90 de-
VeAop 6S, 090 horse power, requiring a
coal consumption of al least 1 900 tons
a day, or 5000 toas for the voyage
The coal for one trip would last 400
ordinary households for fifty years
The Lusitania and her sister shin,
the Mauretania, now being fitted out
on the Tyne. were constructed with a
view to their use as commerce de-
stroyers of fast transports in case of
war with a maritime power. With
that object in view the British gov
ernment advanced the Cun4Td COM
pany a loan of 100000 pounds at,
ga per cent, and also promised a
yearly subsidy OF 10000 pounds. In