Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-17
Norwich OF Seas
Breaks Records
on Maiden Trip
Majestic ON Maiden Voyage
Crosses Atlantic in Five
Days l6 Hours-Not
Top Speed.

New York. May l6.-Ths Majes-
tie, mammoth rev Norwich OF the
seas. warped into It's pier at a:sS
this afternoon, after . trip from Eng
land. during which il broke es-
isting record for maiden voyages on
tie Atlantic.
Sir Berlram Hayes. her skipper,
who wen, TO her bridge in success
sive steps from cabin boy in the
White Star line. had not tried TO pu.
the Majestic a, top speed during the
voyage. For two days II had
"loaied," then speeding up a. il
ran into smooth seas. il drove along
al q as,s0.knot pace. hitting il up
to 20 on the ast leg from Fire island
10 Ambrose fish,ship.
Just five days and Is hours after
!. left Chcfbourg the Majestic
whirIed past the lishsship in a cloud
OF spray. Then il slowed down 10
pick up its pilot, A tiny tug footed
vigorously three times in welcome.
The terrific boom OF the Majcs,ie's
answered il. and other ships.
waiting TO welcome the new liner.
took up the refrain.
Stick to Channel.
Captain A. J.. Petersen. veteran
pilot, who always takes in the Mau-
retania and the Olympic. climbed
aboard the Majestic just inside the
lish,ship aud brought il in. He took
no chances, and il was noticeable
that he stuck TO the very center OF
the winding channel until he finally
slowed for the hesltl, officers tugs
AS the Majestic left its way up
The channel. the United States liner
Reliance, outward bound. passed II.
The reliance whistlcd the three salut-
ing blasts and dipped its colors. But
a few moments later. as the Majestic,
which threatens TO usurp all honors
Ior speed as well as size on the ocean,
was being turned around in Quaran-
tine, the Mauretania, the Cunarder
who is its nearest rival, sped out to
sea. ....-.a
The four stacks of the Mauretania
were silent. There was no show OF
:olors and the Majestic, with its
three stalks built close to the decks,
lying back to give it more speed
and power, broke out in flag signals
with "bon voyage" ..-
Two hundred feet beyond the new
conner, the Mauretania, from its for-
ward mast, broke out thanks" and
ped away.
Given Real Welcome.
After two hours in Quarantine, due
more to its own imm.>se size than
to any sickness aboard, the Majestic
vas cleared. Then 1t broke an
other record. For the first time in
he history Of shipping in New York
larbor, . liner more than 500 feet
ong, turned in its own length in
Quarantine. Tugs, fore and aft, did
he trick. .Aand by the effort the Ma
estic saved at least half an hour in
is docking time.
1t was the trip up the river which
vas its real welcome. Tugs, steam
rs and even people on shore were
loisy in their greetings to the biggest
hip afloat. A navy launch started
he noise just off St. George, Staten
siand.
From then on, until thousands
,acked the White Star pier sent up
great cheer, the Majestic's trip was
me Of triumph. Its whistles were
yoing steadily as II attempted to
,nswer salutes rom all sides.
Along the battery, the sea wall
vas black with people. Captains
'etersen and Hayes put the Majestic
nto its dock on rising tide, but
hey failed to make allowance for the
Iiant vessels momentum, and It
rashed into the pier, shattering two
eetions and breaking several win-
lows. She was directly off the dock
It 4:O7. 1t was tied up and the
irst persons were allowed to leave
at 4:35.
1T did better than $3.50 knots on
n average" reported Captain Hayes,
and at no time were we using its
ull boiler capacity. ! held it back |
,urposely. wanted to feel the ship.
1t is, to my mind, certain to break
II existing records for speed atloat."