New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-16
MAURITANIA, NEARING
PORT, RUNS INTO GALE
All Ready to Speed Big Liner in
Attempt to Make Round Trip
in Twelve Days.
OFF LIGHTSHIP AT Ito A. M.
Extra Force of Customs Men To
Be on Hand Early To-day
to Expedite Discharge
of Baggage.

The Cunard flyer Mauretania, whose
record breaking attempt to make the
round trip from Liverpool to New York
and hack again in twelve days has at
tracted the attention of the civilized
world, was abeam the Ambrose Channel
Lightship at 10 o'clock this morning
An hour would be necessary to get into
Quarantine and. with possible deten-
ton there of an hour for inspection of
passengers by the Health Officer and the
taking off of her mall it was feared that
she was not likely to make fast her
gangplank at 18th street much before
4 a. m.
Captain Turner reported at I o'clock
that he was 152 miles east of the Am
hrose Channel Lightship, and that he
would be at the lightship al midnight
but landlubbers who juggled with the
shippers figures could not see how he
could do it unless he drove the Maure-
tania at the impossible speed of thirty
knots.
Captain Turner reported that he was
running through fair and clear weather
at p. M, but he did not know, perhaps.
that there was moving toward him
sixty mile gale that passed over Man
haitian at I:2O p. m.
The local Weather Bureau reported
that the wind had diminished after
reaching its maximum of sixty miles,
tut that it was keeping well up to forty
eight miles an hour at D. m A forty-
six mile gale was reported at Block
Island also at s D. m. and it was he
neved last night that the Mauretania
was getting more than her share of wind
resistance on her run to port
On account of the weather conditions
prevailing in this harbor last night if
was said that unless the wind had
greatly moderated after midnight the
Mauretania would not undertake to dis
charge her mail while under wav. II
was believed that the two mail boats
would take off her entire mail cargo of
some 4,500 bags while at anchor Off
Quarantine
Bets on Her Arrival Numerous,
Thomas Stead, who is in charge of the
company's publicity department, spent
the entire day answering questions pre-
sented by telephone and by callers The
feat set. for the Mauretania has caused
no end of discussion in clubs, hotels and
offices and numerous bets on the time
of her arrival were made yesterday
The big liners task has created a
phenomenal amount of interest through
out the United Kingdom. According to
the correspondents Of the English news
papers who were constantly in touch
with the Cunard office yesterday. the in
terest in the British political situation
is almost eclipsed over there and will
have a serious rival until the Maure-
tapia is again in the harbor of Liverpool.
Every scrap of news that came in by
wireless from the Mauretania yesterday
was pounced upon with avidity by the
correspondents and instantly sent to
England.
The company made no provision for
customs officials to board the big flyer
this morning at Quarantine from the
revenue cutter. Captain Turner was
ordered to discharge his mail as soon as
he came into Quarantine and. if feasible.
proceed to the pier at 14th street as soon
as the health officer passed his vessel.
II the wind is high or the waters of the
bay are at all choppy the Mauretania
may discharge all heI mail before at
tempting to steam to her pier.
While the company expected the big
flyer to be in her dock between = and 3
o'clock this morning, it was reported at
midnight that she would hardly have her
gangplank made fast before 4 a. m.
1t was arranged that as soon as she
docked the passengers baggage would
be taken from the hold and arranged on
the pier. There was to be d handful of
customs inspectors in charge to see that
no one attempted to take advantage of
the unusual docking hour to get away
with unexamined baggage. The plans
further called for a big staff Of deputy
surveyors, appraisers and inspectors to
be on hand at 4 a.. m. when the ex-
animation of baggage would begin.
AS the coaling process is noisy, that
operation was not to begin until 8 o'clock
this morning. This decision was reached
late yesterday, so that the passengers
would be able to sleep undisturbed.