The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-07
|MAURET AN|A OUTRUNS
PURSUING WARsH|Ps
Giant Cunardcr Puts In at Halifax
After Fastest and Most Dra-
matte Voyage.
CHANGES COURSE QUICKLY
Warned by British Cruiser Essex,
Helm Is Shifted and, With En-
gines nj Highest Pressure. Run for
Safety Is Made.

HALIFAX. y. s, Angus, s.-com-
piet!ng In four DAYS and ten hours her
fastest and mos, dramatic voyage
across the Alta ntic. the mammoth Gu
nard liner Maurctania. from Liverpool
FOR New York. arrived at Halifax to-
day with 400 passengers. mostly
americans nccing from war-ravaged
Europe. Passengers and malls VIII be
landed here.
At 1880 O'Clock Wednesday night,
While Of Sabl" Island the Mauretania
MAS warned BY The British cruiser Es-
sex 10 change her course without de-
lag and head Tot Halifax. The helm
was shifted so quickly many passeu-
gers. joltcd by the shock az the ship
heclcd. believed the steamer was turn
tng turtle
Under the hiehes, pressure Of her
turbine ensines. with all Forts blank
Pied ana not lish; showing. the YES
Eel sped over the 40 miles that lay
8hetwccn her ana safety from German
fruisers. Behind kcr came the Essex
Whose searchlights AT might could be
6hcen flashing across the horizon as she
d scanned The waters for the enemy.
The MauretaiIia's passengers were
mot officially Informed OF what had oc-
'urred. They had received no intima-
2ion OF the declaration ot war
The Mnuretania sailed from Liver.
pool at '5a p NJ August !. amid great
Excitement. From the moment the hii.
Amer left. the officers were on the alert
and Halifax was selected ~ an alter
native port.
When in the midst Of thic}. coE off
sable Island. n wireless message from
he Essex gave urgent warning 10
make fun speed for IalifaN, The Gu
Siarder Was $50 miles from Ncw York
g.nd 40 miles from this port. Lurking
somewhere IN tn" foC was a German
cruiscr hut guarding the lanes of
steamship travel we're British war
= ships.
niAR,EIous run
MADE ny CuNAnDMR
The Maurctani;t made tho marvellous
run Of - IL knots during the carly
hours OF this morning. Her average
speed was - 06 knots.
When the purpose OF the change in
tho course was learned there Was wild
excitement among passengers. Among
The 500 nrst-cabtn passengers. many
IRE prominent in business. profc ssion-
Al and church life OF this continent.
a report went the rounds OF tho ship
hat latc last night flash Of light
Gas seen over the stern of a cruiser.
'ollowed by the report Of a gun. Many
t. believed some warship had fred on the
liner. Officers could not substantiate
his report but several believed it was
: rue.
Neither officers OF tho ship nor Off
ials of the company would say what
would DC done with the M-urctania
nut 1t was believed by the former that
She would be taken 10 New York un-
Ter e.cort and thence TO Liverpool
where she would he used for trans
;ort service within the lines.
The waterfront was crowded with
IN eernr throngs tonight as the
e. 'edric steamed up lii. harbor followed
BY the Essen, stripped for battle. She
had been out six days.
II no <cft inv ~
:. my experience, said DIR. j. l.. Muir
= ,hy. Of Chicago. retiring head of the
clinical Congress of North America,
: IN board the Mauretania.
All the way across we had been
eeing German cruisers every fifteen
minutes, to judge by reports. We
tnew the ships course was changed
when we felt the ship heel over Some
pr the passengers got on deck and re-
ported that we were going due north.
we ran for n little while. then stopped.
hen we started up again | should
hink that every record for passenger
hips was broken. from the rate we
made.
when the sailing OF the Inperatc.
vas Cancelled. there was a terrific
cramblc for accommodations had
looked by the Mauretania. but the ma
oritN OF the other LOO doctors from
ms side were returning by various
ierman boats"
- -ii''I't II mayo, OF 1tOCheSter,
INN, who was elected president Of
he congress this year. said there was
tremendous excitement all through
he voyage. The Mauretania was es-
orted out Of Queenstown by a British
'ruiscr. and there had been nothing
'ut rumors of impending capture ever
ince
Commissioner Lamb, head of the Sal
alton Army immigration service, n
passenger. said that when the liner
eaded around last night and started
acinS for Halifax. the vibration OF
he ship convinced those on board that
omething unusual was taking place.
Nearly exhausted from three DAYS
fpent continuously on duty in the en-
sinc-room. Chief Engineer James Car
'uthers, of the Mauretania, declared
he Mauretania could have done sew
raj knots better than she did last
light had there been any real urgency
Captain Charles kept constant vigil
Turing almost the entire voyage For
hree days he stuck to the bridge OF
IFS vessel. getting not wink of sleep
the seventy,two hours. Twenty
hree passengers will he held In Halt
ak as prisoners CT war. They are