The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-07-06
EXCITING SHIP RACE,
Giant Liners Sped Across the
Atlantic Ocean.
WERE NEVER LOST TO SIGHT.


Apart From Fire Island to English
channeI-Passeneers Up Early and
Late to Watch Rivalry-Short Dis
tance Between as Contest Ended.
1t falls to the lot of comparatively
few voyagers across the Atlantic to
enjoy the excitement of a 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
nrday night. June 26, while the latter
reached Dover Sunday morning.
For seven days and nights the two
great vessels plowed the selfsame I'M
ruff1ed seas almost side by side. So
evenly matched were they in speed
that their logs were almost identical,
and, although for five and half days
the Amerika held her rival half to
quarter of a 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 49, The Lapland followed an
hour later and was closely followed
down the bay by the yelite Star liner
Baltic. The Cunarder Carmania and
the American liner New York preced-
ed the three When the Eapland 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 If 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
at all times only few miles ahead
and constantly in wireless communica<-
fion with the America, Lapland and
Carmania. The Carmania drew to the
southwark the first night and crawled
mp 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-
element 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
cioudless, 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
terchange of numerous messages be-
tween friends from one to 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. su
Friday was cold and clear with a
strong north wind on the beam of both
boats. The America now drew to the
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
midnight Friday the lights of each
vessel were just distinguishable from
the other, and it was with a sense of
loss and disappointment that good
nights were said. But Saturday morn
ing, which again brought a smooth
sea, sunlight and light northeEly wind,
revealed the fact that in the hours Of
darkness the ships had again drawn
near to eachsother and were then only
a scant mile apart, the America to the
southwark.
The Lapland's passengers saw at
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 Lapland
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 were almost abeam, the
America 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
OF speed, drawing ahead of the Lap
land, crossed the latter's bows only a
few hundred yards away, and kept
ahead for three hours until she went
into Plymouth.
Thus the race of seven days and
three hours, all across the north At
1antic, closed with q scant victory for