National Affairs: Cast Of!

The morning of Independence Day found the S. S. Leviathan of the United States Lines lying at Pier 86, in the Hudson River, at the foot of 46th Street, Manhattan. It was a dull morning, but the ship’s three red, white and blue funnels shone in their new paint.

Ten thousand passes had been issued to visitors. Until 9:45 A. M. the decks were black with people. By then five thousand visitors had been aboard. Then the gray-uniformed attendants refused to admit any more and the stewards gradually cleared the decks of all but passengers.

Six clear notes fell on the heavy air from the ship’s bell. The gangways were run in; the cables cast off. The ship’s horn spoke—three loud blasts. With the rumble of the propellors, turbulent white water appeared at the great ship’s stern. Then suddenly rain fell in torrents.

Captain Hartley eased the Leviathan out into the stream. The little Clermont, a replica of Fulton’s invention (the first steamship), appeared and led the way down the bay. Six aeroplanes above formed a guard of honor, and stayed by till the Leviathan passed Sandy Hook. Then out on the open sea, taking a steady pace of 23 knots, the monster laid her course for Cherbourg and Southampton.

Eight hundred and seventeen first cabin passengers, 450 second, and 450 third—paying about $500,000 in fares —sailed on the great liner. Among the more prominent were Albert D. Lasker, former Chairman of the Shipping Board and its special representative for the trip, Secretary of Labor James J. Davis, William Vincent Astor, Mrs. Nicholas Longworth (daughter of the late Theodore Roosevelt), Representative Martin B. Madden, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed Smoot of Utah, and in the second cabin John W. Slack, postal machinery manufacturer of Silver Creek, N. Y., who recently made unprecedented “fake” bid of $1,000,000, 000 for the entire Government fleet.

Said Mr. Lasker: “When we took the trial trip the Leviathan was not booked for 40% (for the present trip) . . . but after her return . . . hundreds of applicants were turned away at the offices of the United States Lines. . . . This is the first time in the history of shipping that a new boat has gone out loaded to capacity.”

Said Secretary of Labor Davis: “Forty-two years ago I came to America in the steerage below the waterline. . . . This is the land of opportunity. Now I am travelling in the suite once reserved for an emperor (the ex-Kaiser).” Said Senator Smoot: “This is the first time I have not been seasick on an ocean voyage!”