The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-08-12
EXCITING SHIP RACE,
Giant Liners Sped Across the
atlantic Ocean.
WERE NEVER LOST TO SIGHT.

| Apart From Fire Island to English
| Channel-Passengers Up Early and
| Late to Watch Rivslry-Short Dis
1t falls to the lot Of comparatively
| few voyagers across the Ltlantic to
enjoy the excitement Of race from
Fire island to the English channel In
such measure as did those on the Ham
burg American and Red Star liners
America and Lapland. respectively.
The former arrived at Plymouth Sat
urday night. June &c. while the latter
reached Dover Sunday morning.
For seven days and nights the two
great vessels plowed the selfsame I'M
rufied seas almost side by side. So
that their logs were almost identical.
and. although for five and half days
the Amerkla held her rival half TO
quarter Of mile astern. she could not
shake her off and finally turned into
Plymouth with the Lapland only
few hundred yards behind.
The Amerika left her wharf at Ho-
boken at 10 o'clock Saturday morning.
June 10. The Lapland followed an
hour later and was closely followed
down the bay by the White Star liner
Baltic. The Cunarder Carmania and
the American liner New York preced-
ed the three. When the Lapland clear
ed Ambrose channel the Amerika was
some ten miles ahead. her hull just
below the horizon, and the New York
was still visible.
The weather conditions were perfect.
with a smooth sea and light air from
the southwark. These conditions pre-
vailed for four full days and nights or
until Thursday midnight. when the
wind freshened from the southeast
ward and long. rolling head seas set In
In which the steamers pitched easily.
with small IL any diminution of their
speed.
The Baltic was left astern the first
night out of New York. and the New
York was not caught up with, although
ut all times only a few miles ahead
and constantly in wireless cOmmunica-
ton with the Amerika. Lapland and
Carmania. The Carmania drew TO the
southwark the first night and crawled
up a little on the Amerika and Lap
land. but all Sunday and Monday was
plainly visible. as were her lights at
night on the southern horizon. She
passed out of sight Tuesday morning
early.
Meantime the Amerika and the Lap
land steamed on. Great was the ex-
citement Of the passengers on both
boats as hour after hour one would
seem TO gain and the other to lose. or
vice versa. BY Thursday afternoon
the ships were almost abeam. about
half mile apart The afternoon was
unusual. for the midocean swell of the
morning had subsidized the sky was
cloudless. the air cool and fresh.
Smoke poured in volumes from the
tunnels of both liners as they sped
along.
1t was quite evident both were being
pushed TO their best speed. The in
terchanpe of numerous messages be
tween friends from one 70 the other
steamer kept the Marconi operators
busy all day and far into the night
The contest. in fact. greatly relieved
the tedium of the voyage. Many were
those who sat up late on each boat
and rose at unwontedly early hours to |
watch the race.
Friday was cold and clear. with a
strong north wind on the beam of both |
boats. The America now drew to the I
southwark. and the steamers ran still |
parallel courses. but farther apart |
some four miles. in fact-than at any
time since they left New York. At 4
midnight Friday the lights of each /
vessel were just distinruishable from
the other and 1t was with a sense of [
loss and disappointment that good /
nights were said. But Saturday morn
ing. which again brought n smooth 4
sea. sunlight and light northerly wind. |
revealed the fact that in the hours of 4
darkness the ships had again drawn 1
near to each other and were then only 4
a scant mile apart. the Amerika to the /
southwark.
ue l@upidHu passengers SAW at 4
once that the race was probably theirs. /
as the Amerika would have to bear to
the north TO make Plymouth during
the afternoon after the Scilly islands /
were passed. while the Lapland pur-
sued her course TO Dover. This. they /
hoped. would force the Amerika to
pass astern of the Lapland. and this
hope also explained why the I.apland
had kept bearing to the north on
Thursday when she had about over
hauled her rival. That move had
forced what seemed now likely to oc-
cur
As the hours of Saturday passed the
excitement on both vessels increased
as they drew nearer and nearer. At
O'Clock they We're almost abeam. the
Amerika slightly in the lead. The pas
sengers crowded the rails and watched
for the result with eager. expectant
eyes. Closer and closer drew the ships,
and at 800. just as Bishops rock was
sighted. the Amerika put on a burst
NJ Snapd dra wing ahead of the Lam