NEW YORK

It was 110 years ago that an event took place that saw the start of Southampton's supremacy in passenger shipping that has evolved over the decades to its present position as the UK's premier centre for the multi-million-pound trade.

Just to underline this claim the world's newest cruise ship, the 85,920-ton Oosterdam, was due alongside the city's Eastern Docks yesterday for its international debut in a 48-hour visit.

It can be argued that this flourishing trade can be traced back to Saturday, March 4, 1893, when the liner New York, of the American Line, sailed into the Empress Dock on her first voyage between New York and Southampton.

This was a historic day for Southampton as it heralded a new era in maritime history that has helped shape the city.

Only four months earlier, on November 1, 1892, the docks were transferred from the original owners, the Southampton Dock Company, to the London and South Western Railway.

It was due in small measure to the vigorous leadership of the general manager of the railway company, Charles Scotter, that the American Line was persuaded to transfer the North Atlantic express passenger service from Liverpool, which had always been their home, to Southampton.

Dock facilities at Southampton were much better than those at Liverpool as the Empress Dock, where the ships of the American Line were to be berthed, had only been completed in 1890, so that vessels had the benefit of the latest passenger accommodation, with rail connection right alongside.

According to the archives, Southampton was "a gay town'' on the day of the arrival of New York.

"During the early morning there was much uncertainty about when New York might arrive,'' says the record books.

"In the afternoon news was received that she had passed Prawle Point, near Plymouth, and was expected to arrive in Southampton early that evening.

"The Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack were speedily hoisted at the Bargate, the municipal offices and other vantage points in the town.

"Thousands of people made their way to the docks, which were open to the public.''

A story in the Southampton Times of the day reported that "quays of the Empress Dock were thronged with people" and "the tedium of waiting was relieved by the music of the band of the Ist Hampshire Volunteers''.

Peals were rung at St Michael's and Holyrood churches.

There was a mounted police patrol in Canute Road to control the crowds, and the docks police, led by Inspector Rowthorn, were reinforced by the borough police.

At 3.30pm the L&SWR paddle steamer Wolf, with port, civic and railway officials on board, left the docks to welcome New York.

It was low tide and fears began to be felt on Wolf as to whether the American Line ship would make it into harbour.

However New York was brought safely alongside the west side of the Empress Docks by the tugs Hercules and Albert Edward.

The ship landed 140 saloon passengers, 40 second class passengers, 75 steerage passengers and 900 bags of mail.

The passengers went to London in what was described as the "magnificently appointed American Eagle train'' comprising new stock specially built at the Eastleigh works of the L&SWR.

A week of shipping and civic receptions followed to celebrate the start of the service.