The herald., 1895-02-13
Erecting Of La Gascogne to the
Newspaper Men
PLAYED POKER IN A STORM
How the Passengers of the Disabled Ship
Killed Time
story Of the 1ishap That Befel the Steamer
Told by the Captain and the
Passengers.

New DIRK, Feb. l2.-Ihe passage OF La
Gascogne from quarantine to the pier of
the Compagnia Generate Transatlantic
was somewhat in the nature of a tri-
umphal progress. Every steam craft in the
channel and along the river saluted the
belated steamer with whistles, and many
flags were dipped to her as she passed
She showed no sign of ill-usage. Arriving
at the pier at the foot of Morton street,
passengers were disembarked and received
the joyous greetings of the great crowd
waiting there.
Early this morning fleet of tugs went
down to meet La Gascogne.
AS the fleet approached, the big ship
gave whistle and the tugs responded
with shrieks that plain as words bid a
welcome. Through the glasses men and
women could be seen running up and
down the decks, waving things in their
hands and apparently beside themselves
with Joy.
Within hailing distance there was
babel of voices and shouts and screams,
and the people on the ship crowded the
rail. Cheer after cheer went up from the
people on board and was responded to by
those on the ship. Above the din voice
from one tug reared, Aboard La Gas
cogne. what was the matter?" and a
chorus of voices responded ga piston
broke. Hurrah! hurrah We're here.
Hurrah!' Then there was more cheer
ing. The tug ran alongside, and the re-
porters clambered upon the cabin roof and
were almost on a line with the deck of the
liner with the spray dashing over them
and wetting them to the skin.
A disconnected story of the accidents
and the trip was obtained from those on
the ship. Everybody was anxious to tell.
A dozen had the ships log all ready to
inspect.
Every other minute the conversation be-
tween the two boats was broken by cheers.
The people on the liner would dash away
from the rail and jump up and down and
hug each other and then rush back and
demand news.
woman? Did you think we were lost?
say about us?''
'Hurrah hurrah. Yes the piston broke.
We. drfted eighteen hours
''Hurrah. Didn't see ship until yes
terday. Saw a schooner in tow Of
steamer"
There was not much use trying to get
things connected from that crowd. They
chung close to the side until the pilot gave
the word for the big ship to anchor.
1t was an hour and a quarter after she
had been sighted and that hour and
quarter were spent in congratulations and
asking questions, the passengers doing
the most of that. The officers avoided the
rail after they gave the first bit of infor-
nation.
The moment the signal to stop the
ships engines was given, ladder was
run up from the tug boat and while she
was still travelling three or four knots,
three nimble young men climbed up like
monkeys. There were wild shouts from
the agents boat, which had a position in
the rear.
Aboard La Gascogne. Don't you dare
let any one aboard that boat" But as
fast as the young men reached the rail
they were pulled over it, and for time it
looked as if it were they and not the
ships people who had just arrived from a
perilous voyage.
1t was hard to board the ship after she
had come to anchor just outside the Scot
light. Not that any one aboard the big
ocean traveller had any objection to re-
ceiving callers. On the contrary, they
were only too happy to hear once more
from the rest of the world. 1t was neces-
sary to rig ladder. The only one to be
found was several feet too short to reach
the Gascogne's decks, and shoulders were
used on which to rest the lower rounds.
The seas kept the frail ladder swinging to
and fro, and it required the greatest care
not to be launched off into the ocean. But
as soon as the reporters hands reached
the lower rail Of the La Goscogne's deck
dozen arms were stretched out to assist
them, and with wild cheer of welcome
he was pulled over the rail and landed on
the deck of the vessel which many had
given up for lost.
The reporter was forced to answer a
dozen questions before he was allowed to
ask one. Then came the story of the
voyage which had exercised two CONT
nents and which was gained by short
conversations with several OF the officers.
Every one evinced the utmost confidence
in Captain Brudelon and his assistants.
1t was rather strange, but Of the many
PucoShSSAS oAASiS WOiC oiiiy ltul1 QOZeu
who cared for the seductive game of
poker, and the sight of these six seated
in the smoking room every night wager
ing their money as calmly as though they
were in their homes served to make all
the others inclined to be restless more at
their ease.
One of the passengers shouted: s'Did
they feel alarmed ashore2 Did they give
us upP'
They we're told that it was thought the
ship was making for the Azares. He re-
piled: 1--WE were going to the North Pole |
instead"
did you have enough to eat?''
YES" came the answer from the Gas |
cogne. 1--WE had plenty all the time and |
they gave us an especially fine dinner to-
day"
The passengers all united in saying that |
|they were not alarmed and had good |
time aboard. The ship was out sixteen |
Hays in all. and both coal and provisions |
held out to the end On Sunday the |
iascogne passed the schooner Georgia Nc
saddeii, which was reported on Sunday
by the Umbr u. This would indicate that |
he Umbria must have just missed seeing
|hc Gascognc and bringing the news of
or safety in a day earlier. The Gas
ogne picked up her pilot from No 8 |