The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-12

QUARASrrSr, Feb. 12.-La Gascogue,
the long overdue French steamship,
limped into port las. night with three
red lights hanging from her iorcmast rs
a signal that she was disabled. her
pa,sengers were all OH dock; some OF
them were singing and most OF ,hom
cheering a, persons are wont TO do when
their minds are suddenly relieved OF n
heavy strain. For thirteen days Of a
voyage lasting sixteen days the ship lad
been disabled, one o! her main piston
rods having broken on hes third day
out from Havre.
For sixteen hours on that ia,eful
third day the vessel was hove TO while
the break was being repaired. 1t was
comparatively good weather when the
break occurred, but the disabled
steamer was fated TO run into some OF
the nsstiest weather OF her voyage.
When the break had been repaired
the steamer proceeded on her way. but
under greatly reduced speed. When
near the banks OF Newfoundland La
Gascorne ran into gale that increased
10 hurricane force. Whilo of Sable
Island February 8. tho machinery broke
down again and the steamer WAS hove
10 again. this time for IL hours. During
all that period the engines did no, make
a single revolution. when tho second
repairs had been made. the steamer
started ahead once more under still
further reduced power, aud headed to.
wards the Long Island coast.
Il is u remarkable fact that during the
entire voyage across the Atlantic, La
Gascogne did not sight a steamer until
she passed one bound for Philadelphia
late on Sunday. Late yesterday alter
noon the French steamer siSualled Fire
Island and then proceeded towards
Sandy Hook liGhiship.
While the passengers were considers.
bly, worried on account OF the delay
there was never panic among them.
They knew their ship was a stauuch one
aud they had every confidence in their
captain. And, besides. they knew that
the saip was no, totally disabled. But
they were nervous and apprehensive at
times and they hailed the conclusion OF
their voyage with Joy. They cheered
tho captain and they cheercd the crew,
and they cheered the World tng.
The New York World received copy
OF the official bag oithe steamer showing
the daily run during the voyage.
MESSENGER MIx's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Mix, n representative OF the
Thomson-Houston Electrical Company,
ono Of the cabin passengers, hastily
wrote out tho following statement,
which hs threw aboard the World Iuy:
ToL< Editor Of he World:
"All went well until January 20,
three days after sailing from ilavre,
when the ship was stopped and tha
passengers on inquiry as to the cause
were informed that pnr. OF the
machinery bad broken down. There had
been no shock or noise sufficient
TO cause alarm. The passengers had
noticed a commotion among Tho ere "
and officers, consequent upon the
breakdown. and when inquiries were
made by the passengers, tho officers
made no attempt to conceal the
true facts. We learned that tho piston
nj one OF tho intermediate cylinders had
broken. thus incapaci:ating tho entire
machinery. The engine had been
stopped as soon az possible and the
steamer fell into tho trough
OF the sea, which was not heavy at the
time. The Passengers were quite cool
and had no apprehension OF danger. In
fact, We were not at first distressed by
the knowledge OF tho accident. None
of US realized that the break.
down IVES more than an ordinary AFFAIR
and many OF us began specnla,ing how
long time would eIapse before the On.
gincers got the break patched up and
VIC would be again on ou. course.
Wo lay to for sixteen hours whils
the full corp. OF engineers worked on
tho cylinder. A brass sleeve was slipped
ovor the fracture and boI,ed in position,
and in this way the engineers were ell.
Abled again TO star. up the engines.
SPEED REDUCED oSg.HALr.
"Tho broken cylinder and ;ts coInpau.
ion could not bo used, however.
and as stoan was cut of from
the boiler OF the ongincs the
Hpeed was reduced ono.half. Even n,
this rate We were further handicapped
by being compelled to stop over twelve
hours to replace the brass Innings,
which wero continually wearing out I'm.
der tho strain.
A terrible s.rnin bose, tho idisablot!
vessel on tho fourth OF this
month. Tho vosscl pitched aud tossed
irightiully, and tho passengers began to
feel uneasy. The engineers were unable
TO work because OF the yiolont tossing
OF the ship. For for,y.ono hours tho
vcsscl lny to while the engineers did
thar utmost to mako temporary repairs.
"A gale burdcncd with sleet md snow
came out OF tho west with terrific force
nnd tho vessel pitched and tossed In
tho icrmens We signifled by signals
that wn woro disabled. but II was not
until yesterday that wo sighted and sig.
nailed vessel. She was an English
s'oamCr. Sho answered our sigma, but
proceeded on hcr way.
1--WE cannot ray too much In nrniso OF
tho captain and officers. who bohay cd
mnniully aud did all in THAR power to
mako our lot rs comfortable ne possible.
(Siencd) mix"
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