The New York Times, 10 September 1914
LINER OCEANIC LOST ON ROCKS
---
Famous White Star Steamer, Armed as Cruiser, Wrecked on Coast of
Scotland
---
ALL ON BOARD ARE SAVED
---
British Press Bureau Announces That the Big Vessel Is a Total Loss
---
NOTED AS MILLIONAIRE SHIP
---
Years Ago the Favorite Vessel of J. P. Morgan, Philip Armour, Wm. C.
Whitney and Other Wealthy Men
---
Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES
---
LONDON, Sept. 9---The Press Bureau announces that the armed merchant
cruiser Oceanic of the White Star Line was wrecked yesterday on the
north coast of Scotland and has become a total loss. All of the officers
and crew were saved.
James Parton, European manager of the White Star Line, when called on
the telephone by THE NEW YORK TIMES correspondent and asked if he had
any particulars of the loss of the Oceanic, was much agitated.
"I have no news to give," he said and hung up the telephone.
The official announcement gave no details of the loss of the vessel, nor
any information as to what mission she was engaged in. The Oceanic was
reported in the navy list published yesterday as having been taken for
Government service.
This month's Navy List gives the following officers for the Oceanic:
Capt. William P. Slater, Commander Harry Smith, R. N. R.; Lieut.
Commander M. P. Stokes, Lieutenants of Royal Navy Reserve V. L. Wiles,
G. E. Warner, R. Mortimere, C. H. Greame, C. H. Lightolier and D. Blair.
----------
The Oceanic was the second steamship of that name, built by Harland &
Wolff of Belfast in 1899 for the Oceanic Steamship Company of Liverpool,
and was for many years one of the most popular vessels in the Atlantic
passenger trade. She was designed when Thomas H. Ismay was Chairman of
the company, and he took a personal interest in the decorating and
furnishing of the ship.
No expense was spared on the Oceanic, and the cost of gilding her dining
saloon was said to have been nearly $200,000. All her public rooms were
finished in the same luxurious manner, and for years after she came out,
in September, 1899, the Oceanic was the favorite ship of J. P. Morgan,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, W. C. Whitney, Philip Armour, and many other
wealthy men. Her May sailing to Liverpool up to ten years ago was called
"the millionaires' trip," because a large number of the richest men in
the United States made a practice of sailing together on her and giving
special dinners and luncheons on the voyage.
Refurnished Three Years Ago
Three years ago the International Mercantile Marine Company spent about
$250,000 on the Oceanic in refurnishing her, building a new
companionway, with heavy carved bronze gates at the saloon entrance. The
saloon also was regilded. J. Bruce Ismay, who was President of the
company at that time, wished the ship to be kept up to her original
standard because she was the last that his father saw launched and was
his pride among the fleet.
The last time the liner left New York was on Saturday, Aug. 1, at noon.
She carried passengers and mails for Southampton via Plymouth, and was
in command of Capt. Harry Smith, R. N. R., the senior Captain of the
White Star Line, who was navigating officer on her when she went ashore.
Upon her arrival at Southampton on Aug. 8 the passengers were hurried
ashore and a naval crew took charge of the vessel. In twenty-four hours
they had put eight 6-inch guns on her upper decks and had hung ropes
around the bridge to protect the officers from rifle fire, the cabins
were taken down and she made her first trip to Havre on Aug. 12 with a
load of British troops. At that time she was flying the white St. George
ensign of the Royal Navy and had a naval Captain, officers, and crew on
board.
Graceful as a Yacht
From a sailor's point of view the Oceanic was one of the most graceful
vessels that ever entered New York Harbor. She had yacht-like lines, and
there was a jaunty rake to her funnels and masts. For years she
maintained a speed of 21 1/2 knots, and up to her last Atlantic voyage
she could make 20 1/2 knots.
Her dimensions were 706 feet long, 68 feet beam, 50 feet depth of hold,
and 17,274 gross tonnage. She was a twin screw ship, schooner rigged,
and carried a crew of 385 men. When the Oceanic was taken over by the
navy in Southampton her funnels and hull and superstructure were painted
black.
The White Star Line officials said last night that they had no knowledge
of the movements of the Oceanic after she was taken over by the British
Government. It is surmised that the liner might have been on her way to
Archangel to carry Russian troops to Belgium or to protect unarmed
transports coming from that port.
The original cost of the Oceanic is said to have been about $4,500,000.
-30-
LINER OCEANIC LOST ON ROCKS
---
Famous White Star Steamer, Armed as Cruiser, Wrecked on Coast of
Scotland
---
ALL ON BOARD ARE SAVED
---
British Press Bureau Announces That the Big Vessel Is a Total Loss
---
NOTED AS MILLIONAIRE SHIP
---
Years Ago the Favorite Vessel of J. P. Morgan, Philip Armour, Wm. C.
Whitney and Other Wealthy Men
---
Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES
---
LONDON, Sept. 9---The Press Bureau announces that the armed merchant
cruiser Oceanic of the White Star Line was wrecked yesterday on the
north coast of Scotland and has become a total loss. All of the officers
and crew were saved.
James Parton, European manager of the White Star Line, when called on
the telephone by THE NEW YORK TIMES correspondent and asked if he had
any particulars of the loss of the Oceanic, was much agitated.
"I have no news to give," he said and hung up the telephone.
The official announcement gave no details of the loss of the vessel, nor
any information as to what mission she was engaged in. The Oceanic was
reported in the navy list published yesterday as having been taken for
Government service.
This month's Navy List gives the following officers for the Oceanic:
Capt. William P. Slater, Commander Harry Smith, R. N. R.; Lieut.
Commander M. P. Stokes, Lieutenants of Royal Navy Reserve V. L. Wiles,
G. E. Warner, R. Mortimere, C. H. Greame, C. H. Lightolier and D. Blair.
----------
The Oceanic was the second steamship of that name, built by Harland &
Wolff of Belfast in 1899 for the Oceanic Steamship Company of Liverpool,
and was for many years one of the most popular vessels in the Atlantic
passenger trade. She was designed when Thomas H. Ismay was Chairman of
the company, and he took a personal interest in the decorating and
furnishing of the ship.
No expense was spared on the Oceanic, and the cost of gilding her dining
saloon was said to have been nearly $200,000. All her public rooms were
finished in the same luxurious manner, and for years after she came out,
in September, 1899, the Oceanic was the favorite ship of J. P. Morgan,
Cornelius Vanderbilt, W. C. Whitney, Philip Armour, and many other
wealthy men. Her May sailing to Liverpool up to ten years ago was called
"the millionaires' trip," because a large number of the richest men in
the United States made a practice of sailing together on her and giving
special dinners and luncheons on the voyage.
Refurnished Three Years Ago
Three years ago the International Mercantile Marine Company spent about
$250,000 on the Oceanic in refurnishing her, building a new
companionway, with heavy carved bronze gates at the saloon entrance. The
saloon also was regilded. J. Bruce Ismay, who was President of the
company at that time, wished the ship to be kept up to her original
standard because she was the last that his father saw launched and was
his pride among the fleet.
The last time the liner left New York was on Saturday, Aug. 1, at noon.
She carried passengers and mails for Southampton via Plymouth, and was
in command of Capt. Harry Smith, R. N. R., the senior Captain of the
White Star Line, who was navigating officer on her when she went ashore.
Upon her arrival at Southampton on Aug. 8 the passengers were hurried
ashore and a naval crew took charge of the vessel. In twenty-four hours
they had put eight 6-inch guns on her upper decks and had hung ropes
around the bridge to protect the officers from rifle fire, the cabins
were taken down and she made her first trip to Havre on Aug. 12 with a
load of British troops. At that time she was flying the white St. George
ensign of the Royal Navy and had a naval Captain, officers, and crew on
board.
Graceful as a Yacht
From a sailor's point of view the Oceanic was one of the most graceful
vessels that ever entered New York Harbor. She had yacht-like lines, and
there was a jaunty rake to her funnels and masts. For years she
maintained a speed of 21 1/2 knots, and up to her last Atlantic voyage
she could make 20 1/2 knots.
Her dimensions were 706 feet long, 68 feet beam, 50 feet depth of hold,
and 17,274 gross tonnage. She was a twin screw ship, schooner rigged,
and carried a crew of 385 men. When the Oceanic was taken over by the
navy in Southampton her funnels and hull and superstructure were painted
black.
The White Star Line officials said last night that they had no knowledge
of the movements of the Oceanic after she was taken over by the British
Government. It is surmised that the liner might have been on her way to
Archangel to carry Russian troops to Belgium or to protect unarmed
transports coming from that port.
The original cost of the Oceanic is said to have been about $4,500,000.
-30-
