Big Cunarder's Speed Reduced to Ten Knots an Hour in Perilous Zone
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ADRIATIC SENDS WORD
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White Star Liner Also Reduces Speed While Putting Wireless at Work
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The Mauretania of the Cunard line arrived here to-day after having passed
through the ice lane travelled by the Titanic and having had a similar
experience of being warned to look out for a dangerous berg.
Unlike in the case of the White Star liner on her maiden voyage the fleet
Mauretania slowed down to less than ten knots an hour and ploughed along at
that slow---for the Mauretania---speed until all danger was passed.
The Cunarder got the wireless tip to "'ware icebergs" from the Adriatic of
the White Star line. At 11.30 o'clock last Tuesday morning the Adriatic
sighted a berg 50 feet high and 100 feet long almost directly in the liner's
course.
The weather was clear and warm and the iceberg was visible miles away. The
Adriatic slowed down and ran past the island of ice, taking observations of
its exact position. The passengers flocked,to the rails and watched the
great berg.
ADRIATIC NEAR PLACE WHERE TITANIC SANK
When they learned from the ship's officers that they were almost in the
position where the Titanic sank there was considerable excitement on board.
Many attempts were made to photograph the iceberg, but the sunlight was too
brilliant and the berg was too far away.
The Adriatic was in wireless touch with the Mauretania, which was racing
behind the White Star boat at twenty knots an hour. Capt. Hayes of the
Adriatic warned the skipper of the Mauretania that the berg was a dangerous
one and that he had better keep a sharp lookout for her when he came along
that night.
The Mauretania did not reach the ice area until 11.30 o'clock at night.
Conditions were practically the same as in the case of the Titanic disaster.
There was a sharp drop in the temperature as the Cunarder approached the
location given in the wireless warning.
Immediately the great Cunarder was slowed down to half speed and then to 90
revolutions a minute. This meant ten knots an hour for the Mauretania, or
almost crawling for a vessel that can hurl itself through the waves at the
speed of an express train.
DIDN'T SEE BERG SIGHTED BY ADRIATIC
It was a clear but dark starlight night and the lookouts failed to catch
sight of the icebergs passed by the Adriatic. It was estimated that the
Mauretania passed within five miles of the ice. None of the passengers
aboard the Mauretania knew anything about passing through the ice zone until
the following day.
There was an exciting scene in the smoking-room of the Mauretania on Monday
when an elderly man who was playing bridge with three other men was accused
of swindling. He denied the charge vehemently and declared that he was a
Standard Oil man. Later, it is said, the man who made the charge was
persuaded to apologize.
William A. Brady, the theatrical manager, who returned on the Mauretania
with his wife, Grace George, said that the theatrical outlook in England was
far from promising. Labor troubles and the "movies," he said, were making it
more and more difficult to bring off a success.
"We may look for a swarm of British theatrical talent here next fall," said
Mr. Brady. "Many of the English actors have extravagant ideas of the
salaries paid in America, and they are going to have a sad disillusionment
and find that the swimming back home is bitter experience."
REPORTS ALL EUROPE IN STATE OF UNREST
C. K. G. Billings who with Mrs. Billings was returning from a sojourn in
Russia and Denmark, said that all Europe was in a serious state of unrest.
Mr. Billings said this state of unrest had stifled business as there was
constant fear that the bubble might burst and throw the entire Continent
into a seething revolution.
Mr. Billings took a string of his show horses abroad and brought bark three
Orloff ponies---the smallest trotting horses in the world. The breed was
developed by a Count Orloff of Russia one hundred years ago. Two of the
ponies Mr. Billings received as a present from Count Tellegeine, who was his
host during his stay in St. Petersburg.
Other passengers on the Mauretania were Richard C. Kerens, Ambassador to
Austria; Sir William Mulock, Charles Frohman and Justice R. M. Meredith of
the Canadian Court of Appeals.
