New-York tribune., 1919-12-29
Customs Agents, Told Liner
Wouldn't Arrive Until
To-day, Are Too Short.
Handed to Pass Baggage
Majority Remain Aboard
Unexpected Arrival Due
to Failure of Ship to
Send Radio of Position

The White Star liner Adriatic, from
Southampton, which was to dock this
morning, slipped into port last night
unexpectedly, causing much constcrna-
ton to the customs officials and dis
appointment to 9O2 cabin passengers,
who had planned to get ashore with all
their luggage.
1t was definitely announced by the
White Star Line yesterday morning
that the vessel would not dock until
this morning. On this assurance the
baggage division of the customs service
dismissed most of its inspectors for
the day, and was able to round up
only twelve inspectors by the time the
Adriatic docked.
Alexander McKeon, deputy surveyor
in charge of the pier, informed the
White Star officials the twelve men
could not examine the baggage of 902
passengers, and that only one piece of
hand baggage would be examined for
each passenger as he or she left the
pier. This order was further frightened
by the announcement that If a family
group of passengers should leave the
customs lines the entire group would
he allowed only one bag Or suitcase.
Nest oc Passengers Remain on Board
When this information reached the
passengers the majority elected to re
main on board for the night.
Meanwhile great quantity of the
hold baggage was put ashore, but the
customs officials refused to examine
any of it.
it was said by the company's of
the Adriatic was largely due to the
failure Of tho vessel to send a radio o.
her position yesterday and the plans
of Captain Ransom to bring her into
Quarantine at 3 o'clock in the after
noon.
The arrangements for docking the
vessel were based on a radio received
rom her in mid-Atlantic, which indl-
Gated She would reach port too late
TO land her passengers last night.
Among the saloon passengers was
Mary Marsh Allen. an Enelish motoa
picture actress, who comes here to bid
for engagements with American pro
duction. Britain is far behind in the
art of making motion pictures, she
said and it VIII be long time before
the British producers can ever COM
pete with those of America.
Miss Allen, who is of lrish-Italan
extraction, kissed Carpenter on the
check after he had knocked out
Beckett in London. Miss Allen
brought over the rights to appear in
Stanley Wrench.
Sir Horace plunkett Arrives
Miss Maud Allan, the American
dancer. also was d passenger on the
Adriatic. She SAID she came here es-
pecially to visit her mother in Los
Angeles, but she MIGHT be persuaded to
or arfo IN
try before her return to Paris IN
March.
Sir Horace Plunkett. of Dublin,
agriculturalist and author. came over
on visit Of six weeks. He expressed
interest in Premier lloyd Georges re-
cent proposals for Ireland but de-
clned to comment unon them until
he had read them in their entirety. He
said he was always an advocate of a
added that while Ireland may be
prosperous in business and agricul-
turc she was not prosperous POLITICAL
". England, he said had given
Ireland nothing much as yet.
Captain Gipsv Pat Smith, son of the
evangelist, who had fought with the
British forces throughout the war, re-
turned 10 this country after a trip of
eleven months abroad. lie said he was
soon 70 mary Miss Karan Tjador.
Captain Smith said that the sending
Of an Ambassador from this country to
ireland would cause England to de-
clare war on America Another traveller
on the Adriatc was ]. Douglas Edgar,
champion golftr of Scotland. He said
he had some new IDEAS of playing golf
which had met with much approval in
Britain, and that he would promulgate
them soon al Atlanta, Go.
Among others on board were Lord
Alastair Loveson-Gower, Rear Admiral
W. H. H. Switzerland, L. S. n, and
Mrs. Switzerland; Mrs. William Ellis
Corey Miss Maggie Teyte, the singer;
Alfred J. Tqphouse and ]. W. c. David
son.