Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-23
EXCITING SAIP RACE.
Giant Liners Sped Across the
Atlantic Ocean.

TeW voyagerS across tho Atlantlc 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
Amerika and Lapland, respectively.
The former arrived at Plymouth Sat
urday night, June %. while the latter
reached Dover Sunday morning.
For seven days and nights the two
great vessels pkewed the selfsame I'M
rufled seas almost side by side. So
evenly matched were they In speed
that their logs were almost identical,
and, although for Eve and half days
the Amerika held her rival half to a
quarter of mile astern, she could not
shake her of and finally turned into
Plymouth with the Lapland only a
few hundred yards behind.
The Amerika left her wharf at Ho-
bokeh at 10 o'clock Saturday morning.
June 10. The I.apland 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 proceed
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 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 dinlinution Of theil
speed.
The Baltic was left astern the first
night out of New York. and the New
York was not caught up with. althoug1
at all times only Il few miles ahead
and constantly in wireless communica
ton with the America. Lapland and
Carmania, The Carmania drew to the
southwark the first night and crawle6
up little on rhe Amcri'sa and Lap
| land. hut all Sunday and Monday was
| plainly visible. as We're her lights a
| night On the southern horizon. Sht
passed out of sight Tuesday mornins
early.
Meantime the America and the Lap
| land steamed on. Great was the ex
element Of the passengers on boil
boats as hour after hour one would
seem to gain and the other to lose. o
vice versa. BY Thursday Afternoon
the ships were almost abeam. abou
half Il mile apart. The afternoon wa
unusual. for the Inidocean swell Of tn
morning had subsided. the sky wa
| cloudless. the air cool and fresh
Smoke poured in volumes from tn
tunnels Of both liners as they spe
along.
1t was quite evident both were bein
pushed to their best speed. The In
terchange Of numerous messages be
tween friends from one to the othe
steamer kept the Marconi operator
busy all day and far into the nigh
The contest, in fact. greatly relieve
the tedium of the voyage. Many wer
those who sat up late on each boa
and rose at unwontedly early hours t
watch the race.
Friday was cold and clear. with
strong north wind on the beam of bot
boats. The Amerika now drew to til
southwark, and the steamers ran sti
parallel courses, but farther apart
some four miles. III fact-than at an
time since they left New York A
midnight Friday the lights Of eac
vessel We're just dlstingushable fro1
the other. and it was with a sense Q
loss and disappointment that goo
nights were said. But Saturday morl
Ing, which again brought a smoot
sea, sunlight and light northerly vino
revealed the fact that in the hours q
darkness the ships had again draw
near to each other and were then onl
a scant mile apart, the America to tn
southwark
The Lapland's passengers saw 6
once that the race was probably their
as the Amerika would have to bear /
the north to make Plymouth durin
the afternoon after the Scillv island
were passed. while the Lapland pu
sued her course to Dover. This, the
noned. -'-,' 60 - ',o,i'ya I