Evening journal., 1894-08-13
SCARE ON FRENCH LINER
La Champagne Grazed a Nor
wegian Bari. OF Cape Race.
LoOMED SUDDENLY FROM THE FOG
Passengers on Deck Experienced Thrill
That Lasted Twenty Seconds Collision
was Narrowly Avoided Celebrated the
Escape at Dinner That Night.

That Lasted Twenty Seconds Collision
was Narrowly Avoided Celebrated the
Escape at Dinner That Night.
NEW YORK, Aug 13.-The steamer
Champagne of the French line, bound to
this port, narrowly escaped collision with
an unknown Norwegian bark off the
banks Of Newfoundland last Thursday
afternoon. BY quick and clover vancouver
ing Captain Laurent ayorted what might
havo been "a serious accident
Tho Champagne, one of the best steam
ers Of the Fronch line, left Havre a week
ago last Saturday. She had smooth wealth
er, and off the banks Of Newfoundland %
thick fog rolled over her course. There
was "a heavy curtain of mist over the wa
ter on Thursday afternoon, although the
weather was not disagreoable Most of
tho passengers were out on deck. Tho
Champagne was going at about ~ knots
an hour, "a little more than half speed.
Tho siren of tho liner was blowing con
tinuously, and two lookouts were watch
ing intently FOR vessels in the fog. The
vessel was IL miles from Cape Race.
Tho praoticed car OF Captain Laurent,
who was on the bridge caught the sound Of
the vessels foghorn He knew that 10
must be sailing vessel.
Tho sound came from over tho starbonrd
bow and was apparently not moro than
$50 yards away Tho commander lost no
time 1Io caused tho helm to be put hard
aport and aignallod for the engines to DO
reversed.
As the Champagne moved nearer the
passengers could make out the outlines Of
a bark heading eastward. The wind was
from the south, and the vessel, on the star
board tack. was crossing the steamer s
bows. moving nt three knot rate.
To the passengers on the Champagne S
deck it seemed that 10 was only a matter
of fow seconds before steamer and bark
would be in collision. Tho action was
crowded into space Of about 90 seconds,
the steamer moving TO the starbOard astorn
Of the bark, missing her by 20 or 80 yards.
Tho vessel was a Norwegian bark OF
about 500 tons Tho steamer had mean
while almost lost hondway. Tho engines
woro started again and q fow minutes
later the Champagne was steaming % II
knot ratio for New York Many Of the
passengers were thrown into a state Of
frenziod excitement by the incident They
crowded about Captain Laurent and hail
cd him as thoir deliverer Tho commander
smiled and told them that tO an exporiono-
cd mariner there was nothing remarkable
in tho experience which they had under
gone.
There have been many such encounters
with sailing craft OIL the banks recently.
The White Star steamer Majestic about
two weeks AGO ran down n fishing smack
I'm fog and brought tho rescued crew tC
this port
Tho Anchor limo steamer City of Rome
q month or SO ago, while bound for this
port, stuck another fishing vessel and tn,
steamers first officer was put on board tC
navigate her to the coast OF Nova Scotia
A passenger on the Champagne said
that while many of those on deck were
considerably excited most Of the passen
gers had such confidence in Captain Lau
rent that they were easily quioted. A
| dinner that night thoro was moro than tn
/ usual gaycty, and many toasts were drunl
60 tho health of the Champagno's com
l ulauUcr