The United States receives a triumphant welcome At Southampton
Corbis
The British were gracious and enthusiastic in there welcome of the US ship. The New York Times reported that. " Along the Solent River, the Hampshire countryside, the open beaches, in open green fields, masses of people were standing to say to the United States, " Welcome, Welcome... As the liner moved up the Solent River, big excursion vessels, so packed with people they canted over, moved along the sides of the ship. Their shrill piping sounded continuously and the thunderous voice of the United States responded... Passengers on the deck choked up with emotion. A girl standing under the bridge kept repeating " These wonderful people, these wonderful people". And they were wonderful. Off Southampton dock an electrically amplified voice boomed these words. " Commodore Manning we welcome you". It could be heard all the way across Southampton Water. The ship answered with three whistle blast"
As a very small boy, in Southampton, I sat upon my Dads shoulders to witness the maiden arrival of the quite remarkable "UNITED STATES". I remember very clearly the vast numbers of local folk who had turned out to join all of the dignitaries.
The bow of the ship had been stripped of paint following her high running speed. Paint technology and standards were far lower than those of today.
It was generally believed, in shipping circles in Southampton, that the ship had suffered near mortal engine damage by the high-speed runs achieved in her early crossing. Too much emphasis was placed on records without allowing the engines to bed in and all teething troubles to be erased.
A couple of hours before sailing her vast siren would sound out over Southampton calling her crew back from the brothels and bars. Prostitutes from London used to travel to Southampton by train to meet the ship and conduct their business all night in the local park!
She was and still is a wonderful engineering achievement that must not be allowed to fade and die ands become another " QUEEN MARY’, a faded version of her former self with plastic funnels and no guts.
Peter Lamb.
Southampton, U.K.
