CARGO OF MILLIONAIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3297, 16 August 1911, Page 8

CARGO OF MILLIONAIRES.

£40,001),Oft) WORTH.

AERIAL PARCEL DELIVERY

The world’s largest liner, the White Star Oimpic, left New York for Southampton recently; with the biggest cargo of American millionaires that any one ship over caried. Among her .580, saloon pasengers are between 40 and 50 'millionaires; and multi-millionaires, who possess, acording to the newspapers,. an aggregate sum of over £40,000,000. There are also numerous* wealthy families among the other saloon passengers, so that the Oimpic on this voyage is probably tlie richest shin that' ever left port. There are eight railway presidents, nine, or ten bankers, and 30 °r 40 merchant princes on board tlie liner, and all her cabins are full.

Nearly as great a demonstration was accorded the big vessel as she swung out from her pier and sailed down tlie harbour as on her arrival'after her maiden voyage. The .newspapers state that the total passage money for the eastward trip is £65,000, while the cost of working the steamer for one round trip is £35;000. During tlie week that the Olmypic was in New York the commissariat department has been one of New l York’s busiest centres. Tlie following quantities of food -were taken on board for consumption during the voyage: 35,0001 b of beef, 10,0001 b mutton, 20001 b veal, 30001 b pork. 8000 chickens, 70001 b fish, .2000 lobsters, 5000 guinea, liens, four turtles. 8000 gallons of. milk, 100 gallons of cream, 60001 b of butter, 3000eggs, 30 tons of potatoes, 1500 quarts of ice cream, 200, barrels of vegetables, 200 barrels of flour, and 770 boxes of fruit. Twelve thousand sightseers have visited the Olympic since her arrival in New York, each paying 2s, which goes to English and American! seamen’s charities. - ■ ’ 'a An extraordinary incident occurred as the Oimpic. was passing through the lower hay. Mr Thomas Sopwith, the English ■ aviator, hovered over the steamer in his aeroplane and dropped aboard a pair of spectacles carefully wrapped and addressed to Mr W. A. Bulipee, a prominent Philadelphia merchant. . Mr Burpee had broken his spectacles shorty befpre sailing, and sent them to Wanamaker’s store for repairs. Just before the Olympic sailed Mr Burpee sent a wireless message to Wanamaker s which lias a wireless installation on the roof, ‘ requesting that the spectacles be sent to him in London. ' Taking advantage of Mr Sopwith s ascent. Wanamalcer’s sent a wireless message to Mr Burpee tdii&t the spectacles would be delivered by aeroplane. Mr Sopwith was then engaged to make the delivery, which -was safely accomplished. ______