New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-07
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800 p. m. on August l amid the utmost
excitement. Many would-be passengers
were left behind on the pier. From
the moment the liner left British
shores the officers were on the alert,
and Halifax was held in mind as an
alternative port if contingencies de-
manded.
In the midst of thick fog, while off
Sable island, wireless message from
the Essex conveyed urgent warning to
make under full speed for Halifax. AZ
that time the Cunarder was $50 miles
from New York and lao from this port.
Lurking somewhere in the darkness
and fog was German cruiser, but
watching guard over the lanes of travel
along which commerce was speeding
were British warships, warning the
liners by wireless where danger lay.
Full steam was kept up during the
whole voyage, as shown by the Maure-
tania's daily runs from noon to noon
of each day. To noon Sunday she ran
$50 miles; Monday, 610; Tuesday, 592;
Wednesday, $50, and then sped the sis
miles 10 Halifax, a total of 1882 miles.
This distance was much heightened
by the vessel having first taken the
New York route, and having TO change
vised by the Essex that danger lay to
the southwark. The actual time to
Halifax was four days and ten hours,
which could have been reduced six
hours but for the time lost on the
indirect route. Besides this, six hours
was lost in steaming, owing to fog and
lodging ships and cruisers, thereby
bringing down to three days and TWEEN
" hours the time in which the fleet
Cunarier could have covered the dis
lance from Liverpool to Halifax. Had
she continued to New York under
forced speed she would net have
reached there until after midnight
Thursday.
Made Remarkable Run.
Under pressure the Mauritania made
the marvellous run of 27ls knots dur
ing the early hours of this morning
Her average speed was 26.06 knots.
When the purpose of the change OF
course was learned there was great ex-
citement among the passengers. In
the first class cabin there were 500
travellers, many of them prominent IN
the business and professional and
church life of this continent. They in
cluded p. A. s. Franklin, of the Inter
national Mercantile Marine Company,
and Mrs. Franklin; Bishop Frederick
Courtney, of New York, formerly of
Halifax, and Mrs. Courtney; Vice-Ad-
miral Cochrane, r. N; Mr.. and Mrs.
John W. Davis, Congressman George
W. Loft, the Rev. James II. O'Neil, DR..
j. p. Murphy, noted surgeon, of Chi
cago; William +. Corey, former presi-
dent Of the United States Steel Cor
poration, and David II. Montgomery,
and Mr. and Mrs. T.. II. Sothern.
Twenty-three Of the passengers will
be held in Halifax as prisoners of war
and handed over TO the proper author
ties. Those passengers are Of all
classes.
Believed Under Fire.
There was a sensational report going
the rounds OF the ship that late last
night fash of light was seen over the
stern of the cruiser, followed by the
report Of gun, and it was believed BY
many that they had approached close
to some ship which had fired on the
liner. None of the officers could sub
stantiate this, ss they were on the
bridge. but several of them believed il
TO be true.
After the vessels arrival here, and
before it was definitely decided TINT
the passengers were to be landed ia
Halifax, there was considerable sgita-
tion aboard the liner. The purser's
Office was continually besieged by pas
sengers for information, and it was
several hours before anything definite
could be given out. as both New York
and Ottawa had TO be advised of the
ships arrival, and instruction sought
both from the company and the Cana
dian government as to the disposal Of
the passengers. Boats were continu-
ally passing back and forth betweel
the shore and the ship bearing official
messages and letters and kilograms for
the passengers.
The representatives Of the immigrs-
tion department boarded the ship i'm
mediately she let go her anchor in the
harbor opposite the city slip, and re-