New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-16
MAURET AN|A NOSES OUT
FRANCE IN OCEAN RACE
Only Few Minutes Separate
Crack Steamers After 5-Day
Sprint Across Atlantic.

As exciting a race between two ocean
greyhounds as was ever run over the At
lantic course ended yesterday. when the
Cuuard liner Mauretanla. the fastest
mcrchnntman ahoat. which once averaged
q % knot, an hour for DAYS run. ana
the France the crack vessel of the
French Line, came into port As was tit
ting champion the MnIrctania won.
but only by a few minutes
The English ship left Liverpool satur-
day morning: that evening the France
steamed out OF Hayre The Mauritania
had 10 stand By more than two hours on
Queenstown 10 take on passengers and
mail. however. 90 much OF the lead she
had on her rival was lost Wireless mes
sages were exchanged between the steam
ers. Before long passengers on both were
aware OF the slight distance that sepa-
rated them. and All knew that the differ
ence In time between the two great ships
at New York would be matter OF a few
hours As II happened. IL was less than
thirty minutes.
Several wagers as 10 which steamer
would be the first 10 dock were flashed
back and forth by wireless. and the prog
ress OF both ships was watched with in
terest second only 90 that about news
ticker during a worlds series baseball
game.
when passengers on the France sighted
the four red stacks OF their rival steam
er on Wednesday morning. excitement
was at high pitch. All that day the Eng
fish vessel trailed at their stern. but n
was evident that the distance between
the steamers was growing less At day
break on Thursday early risers saw the
two vessels ploughing ahead on even
terms and AS the day wore on the
Mauretania continued her squirt and slow
ly but surely. forged ahead At sunset
however. she was within sight Of the
France. and her lights were visible all
that night.
During the early hours OF Yesterday
the French steamer made up some OF the
lost ground" and the hopes OF passen-
gers who had wagered that they would
be first through the customs lines scared
They were doomed 10 disappointment.
however for the Mauretania was of
Sandy Hook AT s.06 a. m. and the France
came I'm sight twelve minutes later. on
Fire Island earlier In the morning only
five minutes separated the racing yes
sells Both reached their berths ut the
Chelsea piers less than thirty minutes
apart
The Mauritania made the run from
Dauuts Rock in FIVE days three hours
and hfty-nine minutes. while the France
steamed from Havre TO New York I'm five
days. twenty-three hours and seven min
utes. The average speed OF the Mature
tanla was "a knots. that OF her rival
225 knots. an hour. Both ships arrived
with cabins and Storage well filled
While the vessels were racing over the
sea gambling for high stakes was going
on In the smoking room OF the Mature
tania. In "A game OF baccaret in which
several men participated Thursday night
Jay O'Brien. OF this city. won $500 on
the turn OF single card. On the entire
trip about $1,000 came his way. Mr.
OBrien said yesterday. II was estimated
by one passenger that during the entire
run more than 5000 changed hands over
the gaming tables.
on the France were Mrs. C. j. Blair. OF
Chicago. who brought home an extensive
collection OF antique furniture. rugs and
tapestries. which she said she would place
temporarily In the Chicago Museum OF
Art Dr. Dufestel and Or. Martel. repre-
sentatives OF the French government to
the international Congress on School
Hygiene 10 be held the last Of this month
AT Buffalo. and Mrs Phillip Van Volken-
burgh. the ten million dollar widow"
who has brought suit for divorce from
her husband in the Connecticut courts.