The New York Times, 17 November 1907
MAURETANIA SAILS ON MAIDEN VOYAGE
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Immense Crowd Cheers Her as She Moves Out of Liverpool with Her 2,000
Passengers
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CARRIES £2,800,000 GOLD
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Enormous Insurance Written on Her and Her Cargo--Nearly All British
Underwriters Concerned
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By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to THE NEW YORK TIMES
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LONDON, Nov. 16---Insurance amounting to nearly $5,000,000 was placed on the
Mauretania just prior to her sailing for New York to-day. Of this amount
$4,000,000 is allotted to policies covering all risks of marine perils,
including fire, while the balance is apportioned against a total loss only,
which is understood to include the Government subsidy.
The value of the turbines and other machinery of the vessel alone runs into
no less than $1,500,000, and the total amount of risk, which is returned by
the underwriters as one of the best they have ever booked, is so large that
practically every marine insurance ofÂfice, not only in London, but in
LiverÂpool and Glasgow as well, participates in the business.
With the exception of the
Lusitania's risk, this insurance placed on the
Mauretania is by far heavier than that on a single merchant vessel.
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Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES
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LONDON, Nov. 16---THE NEW YORK TIMES's correspondent at Liverpool telegraphs
that the Mauretania was dispatched to-night upon her maiden voyage amid
scenes paralleled only on the occasion of the departure of the
Lusitania.
Interest was greatly accentuated in one respect, that is, by the fact that
the Mauretania is taking with her to relieve the money crisis in America a
large consignment of gold.
The Mauretania's gold shipment is nearly £2,800,000, which exceeds the
Lusitania's consignment by about £300,000.
Several hours prior to the vessel's departure the landing stage on the river
front was thronged with thousands of sightseers, who, with umbrelÂlas
upraised, bravely held their ground under the most cheeerless conditions.
The blaze of the illumination from stem to stern as the Mauretania was
berthed at the landing stage presented a magÂnificent spectacle.
The signal for departure was given shortly before 8 o'clock, and the vessel
glided down the river to the accompaniment of intermittent bursts of
cheering and the din of hooting sirens.
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LIVERPOOL, Nov. 16---The departure to-day of the Cunard steamship Mauretania
on her first transatlantic voyage inspired the mighty crowd that had
assembled on the landing stage to a degree of enthusiasm equal to that
shown when her sister ship, the Lusitania, sailed away from Liverpool on her
first voyage a few months ago.
The weather was cold and rain was falling, but thousands of persons turned
out in the darkness to shout farewell to the latest of all the ocean
greyhounds.
The giant Cunarder was a remarkable spectacle with her many tiers of
electric lights glittering when she was towed into the stream at 7:30 P. M.
Whistles were blown and people cheered.
Considering the season, the Mauretania carried an unusual number of
passengers, of whom there were 300 in the first cabin, while the second
cabin and the steerage were booked nearly, to the limit, making a total of
2,000 passengers aboard.
The passengers included Prince Andre Poniatowski, Princess de Poix, Sir
ClifÂton and Lady Robinson, Prof. Berlitz, Anthony J. Drexel, S. S. McClure,
Denis O'Sullivan, and the Hon. J. J. AstÂley. Two steamer trains brought the
first-cabin passengers from London.
The consignment of gold carried by the Mauretania is believed to be the
largest ever transported on one vessel. It was conveyed to the steamer on
six cars, which were specially guarded. It amounts to over £2,500,000.
The commander of the new steamship is Capt. Pritchard, who began life as a
cabin boy on a Welsh coaster.
The Cunard officials say that no special attempt will be made to break the
record on the first voyage; nevertheless, great things are expected.
The Mauretania was built on the Tyne, and her sister, the Lusitania, which
now holds the record, was built on the Clyde and there is keen interest as
to which of the rival builders will make the better showing.
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