Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-07
WENT -AsRORE IN THE FOG

WENT AsRORE IN THE FOG. The La ohamps9ne ls Hard and Fas fin mud Bank-The Passengers Arr Nos Alarmed.
 NEW YoHK, May 6.-The steamer La
 Champagne went ashore at s:15 this morn
 ing. Pilot sheeny said. when he arrived at the bar this morning the foe
 which had prevailed all nigh, lifted sufficiently for him to continue .nsc prot without waiting on the bar, as many vessels had done in the last twenty-foui hours. He proceeded right along until he was opposite the tail of the west bank. Then the fog thicksned and he saw noth. ing. He proceeded under reduced speed, sounding the fog whistle, until suddenly there loomed up from the fog on the port bow . dock, which subsequently, proved to be the government wharf at Fort Hamilton, which projects considerable distance into Gravesend bay.
 Tho steamer was immediately backed at full speed and the starbosrd anchor WAS let 90 but without avail. Her headwsy was 50 great that the chain cable of the right-bower parted, and the vessel plunged Into the mud, coming to dead stop. The dropped, but the vessel was hard and fast. The passengers were not much alarmed when the vessel struck.
 The boats were cast of from the davits preparatory 10 landing the 329 passengers should necessity compel 1t. This was not found necessary, however, ss the agents made arrangements to transfer them to the city.
 At noon the wreoking steamer William E. Chapman, with . large force of men, arrived. It was expected that large an attempt made to haul her of. Health Officer Jenkins visited the steamer about noon and inspected the passengers, 50 that no delay would be made at quarsn- tine. The revenue cutter Hudson, with the boarding officer, paid an official visit. The tug Pulvsr transferred the malls.
 The La Champagne was then surround ed by small craft of every description, and along the shore bluffs snd on the rampsrts of Fort Hamilton great crowds watched the stranded steamship with interest.
 At 4 o'clock the steamer headed at right angles to the shore just below the govern mont dock at Fort Hamilton snd within c stone's throw of the shore. Her water line was about six fest above water, for. ward, and somewhat moro aft, few inches of her propeller being exposed ct the time, 1t being half tide. Pilot Sheeny, In an in- terview; said he made all the buoys up to the tail of the bank of Swinburns Island, pected to see next the buoy ct Crsven's Shoal, east of Hoffman Islsnd, at which point the course changes to north-north- east. The buoy was not seen, but when he believed he Lad got to the north of the shoal he ordered that the couree be changed, expecting not to hear the bell on Fort La. fsyette.
 The bell lron Norton's Point, Coney Tel and, wss heard, but no other was heard, and the next intimation of his location came when the end of the government dock at Fort Hamilton appeared through the fog. The pilot stated that If the quarter master steered the course he directed and the compass was right he should have been in the channel of Fort Lafayette at the time the steamer struck the shore about quarter of mile below.
 Atthe time that the Ls Champagne struck Second Officer Daure and Third Officer Rotte were on the bridge. It was reported that one of the officers said he had ques- tioned the pilots directions and the pilot had replied that he was all right. The pilot denied this and the captain when asked if the report was true said he would rather be excused from converting.
 Captain Laurent said his ship had suf- fered no injury to her bottom. She was on e shelving bank of mud and sand and only about one and half times her own length out of deep water. There was no shock when she went on nor grating. The captain said that the pumping out of her water ballast, the removal of her passen- sengers and her hands would tighten her nearly foot. The high tide this evening would be foot higher than the morning tide. If this did not enable the three tugs employed for tho purpose to get her of her cargo would be frightened of during the night and tomorrow. and would give her two feet additional advantage for the high tide to morrow.
 The steamer was not released from her position at high tide this evening. Her cabin passengers were taken to New York on the Ross and the steersge passengers were landed at Ellis leland.