1908 Harmsworth Trophy
English Motorboats Here
Incased in huge cradles and lashed to the upper deck of the Atlantic Transport liner Minneapolis when it arrived at its dock yesterday were the two speediest motorboats in Europe--the Duke of Westminster's Wolseley-Siddeley and Lord Howard de Walden's Daimler II, both of which will compete in the British International Cup, formerly known as the Harmsworth Cup, at Huntington Bay, Long Island, on Saturday. Within forty minutes of the arrival of the Minneapolis the two power boats were unshipped and securely fastened on a lighter. They will be taken to Huntington Bay this morning, and may be given a trial to-morrow.
Neither the Duke of Westminster nor Lord Howard de Walden will come over for the race, although both had originally intended being present. The Wolseley-Siddeley is in the charge of Capt.. Noel B. Robins, who has raced her in every contest in which she has taken part. He is accompanied by Arthur Stapleton and G. E. Swingler, mechanicians. The Daimler II is captained by Alfred George Fentiman, with A. E. Grice, H. Wealans and Thomas Thornlow as assistants. Fred Galton will act as boatswain for the two boats.
The official record attained by Wolseley-Siddeley is thirty-one knots, or nearly thirty-six miles an hour, which was made over the measured Admiralty mile off Stotesbury in Southampton Water. The Duke of Westminster paid $25,000 for the Wolseley-Siddeley, which made a striking success at Monaco, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean races last Winter.
Daimler II is in many respects similar to Wolseley-Siddeley. She was second to Dixie in last year's International race. Since that time she has been equipped with an entire new set of engines, although no alteration has been made to her hull. She has three eight-cylinder motors, and although she has not received an official trial since the new motors have been installed, her speed indicates that she is faster than Wolseley-Siddeley. The latter has a ten-inch wider bean than Daimler II, while Lord de Walden's boat is wider at the stern. Capt. Fentiman expects to give Daimler II an official trial at Huntington Bay the latter part of this week.
(Excerpts transcribed from the New York Times, July 28, 1908, p. 6)
[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page. —LF]
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