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

A Mad Rush OF Friends and Cnriousity
seokors to Soc tn. Delayed Steamer.
QuAEAyrISE, S. l., Feb. ll.-Wheu
The Associated Press dispatch at 3:45
p. IN. firs, ann ounced that the Gascogue
WAS sighted OF Fire Island. flags pre-.
viously agreed upon as signals were
hois,ed on the flag staff Of the Office Of
the French line, upon the World build.
ing and over the offices Of all The As.
soci.ted Press newspapers. joyiully an.
nounciug to New York and through the
wires OF The Associated Press to tho
United States and Canada that tho long
overdue steamer was sale.
Then followed mad rush for Bowl.
ing Green, and by 80 the office. OF tho
French line were packed with excited
people having relatives or friends on
board the disabled steamship, 80 anx.
ou.ly expected for eight days past and
almost given up for lost.
A. Forget, the agent OF the line, was
hugged and punched and slapped; yes,
and actually kissed by those whose joy
ful feelings oyercamo them. One old
gentleman who had three daughters
abroad the Gascogue, and who Lost Il
dearly beloved child only month ago,
wept as il his heart would break,
and many others had hand
kerchiets to their eyes. Bu: tho
stern faced. black.bcaried agent had
not moment. to lose. Two tugs
chartered beforehand were prompt
ly ordered to get ready to force
their way through the ice and down tho
bay. Tho first tug, tho Louis Pulver.
carried II. Forget and three influential
members OF tho French colony down to
Sandy Hook. The second boat, Edwin
N. Millard, which left New York ut p.
m., was placed at tho disposal OF tho
press by tho French line and carried
down to quarantine about fifty nova.
paper men TO add to tho fifty already
there, picking up fifty others who were
on board tug. cruising about among tho
Ice hoes OF the lower bay.
The trip down to quarantine in tho
moonlight, crashing through tho Ice,
bulie.,ing into the Arctic wind
blowing, was delightfully."- Drac.
ing experience In spite OF
tho cold. Ono and all seemed
to fec! tho cxcitemont OF the moment.
tho 10y felt on the receipt Of tho news
telling OF the roscue. apparently from n
,orrible calamity, OF about i5O souls aud
a splendid ocean steamship valued At
about Sl.OOO,0OO, and having on board
cargo valued ut about Sj00.000
At icc.bound quarantine, that part OF
tho Staten Island was hemmnd in by
an apparently impenetrable ice field.
All wns !igh, and joIlity. The now and
handsome building devoted to the uso
of tho Associated Preas ship news Office
and tho office OF tho health officer Of
the port of New York was blazing with
oIectric lights and alive with newspaper
men, who carried their enthusiasm TO
tho cx,cnt OF gathering on tho pier
head to tho number OF, say hundred,
aud singing, moro or less molodiouuly,
Nearer, My God. 10 Thee" 1t was
quito touching-so much 10 that two
tugnnat captains and four dockhands
wore converted on tho spot and Joined
In tho singing with fcrvor.
Tickets wcro poated on Ovory hill aud
n close watch was kep. OIL the telegraph
Office and telephone rooms. for with all
the enthusiasm. tho gentlemen OF tho
prc.s werc on tho watch for tho slightest
crulnb OF nows.