The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-13
WE1ooMED BY THO USAvDs.
La Gascogne Greeted by Crowds at He
 Pier in New York.

Quarantine, s. l., Feb. 12-The Gas cogne came up the bay escorted by flotilla of tugs shortly after 10 o'clock. The ice in the Narrows reached from shore to shore, and the long delayed liner loomed up high-sided and red funneled in the midst of the grinding ice cakes.
 The health officer in person boarded the ship, with Deputies Sanborn and L'Homedieu, in order to clear her with the slightest possible delay. MT. A. Forget, the agent of the line, was along side in tug and went on board to shake Captain Baudelon by the hand and congratulate him and his faithful and tireless engineers on the success that had crowned their efforts. The steerage passengers were ranged in a line extending all the way aft on the port side and were at once examined and passed. All the saloon passengers were at breakfast and when the swarm of newspaper men clambered over the side there was nobody except the ships officers to talk to.
 The Gascogne was cleared from Quar-
 
 time the health officer boarded her, and proceeded to her pier accompanied by the tugs.
 New York, Feb. 12-La Gascognes progress towards her dock at the foot of Morton street resembled a triumphal procession. Every steamboat, tug and lighter joined in saluting her and crowds of people gathered at the Bat tery watched her slow approach.
 The great demonstration, however, awaited her at the pier. A tug had been engaged for some time in clearing away the ice which had gathered in the slip alongside, and the superintendent was determined that nothing should de- lay the landing of the passengers. The crowd though kept back from the pier by squad of policemen, twenty strong, still managed to throng the approaches and the neighboring piers, and watched the operations of the tug with great in- terest. Finally those at the end of the pier, who had been piering anxiously through the yellow haze that hid the Battery and the waters beyond set up cheer. It was caught by the crowd, and there was a rush for the end of the dock which even the police were unable wholly to withstand.
 Though La Gascogne did not reach her pier until Il ;15 o'clock, the crowd had begun to gather more than two hours previous to that time. The early corners had secured admittance to the pier itself, for no extraordinary demon stration had been expected, but long before the steamer was sighted down the bay the numbers had so increased that it was necessary to close the gates and deny admittance to all but those who acually had business there. The crowd outside surged against the gates and 1t seemed for time that they must give way, but the arrival of extra police partially restored order.
 It might have been imagined by one who was watching the people as the 1 great vessel swung into Her dock, that l everyone of those gathered there was personally interested in the safe ar rival of someone of those on board, so | joyful did all appear. Those who had | friends among the passengers or crew forced themselves to the side of the [ dock and exchanged voluble greetings | with persons whom they knew.
 When the plank was finally lowered, | the police had hard work to keep the l crowd from rushing on board, but suc- oeeded in doing so, and as soon as possible the passengers left the ship | and were soon welcomed at short range by their friends.
 Superintendent West of the French | line, who went on board La Gascogne ! last night and remained there until the steamship reached her dock made the following statement, in substance, to the press:
 When La Gascogne was three days put, a double-cylinder piston gave way and necessitated a delay while attempts were made to repair 1t. In 'act, it gave way more than once, caus- ng delay each time, and during part 1f this time La Gascogne steamed only our knots an hour
 "Off Georges Banks, on February 10, "a Gascogne passed large four-masted schooner at anchor, water-logged and abandoned. She had the United States lag flying ensign down and it was made out that she was the George A. from Bath, Me.
 La Gascogne was passed by a Brit sh freight steamer shortly afterwards, pound for Philadelphia. She offered but it was refused, as it vas not needed.
 "One of the stops due to the dam .ged piston caused a delay of about orty-eight hours, but the steamer is II right, and she steamed slowly over he remaining portion of her journey. )f course, she drifted when the repairs were being made, but at no time was he in danger. Captain Baudelon says he weather was the worst he ever ex-