The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-12
GREAT JOY.
Crippled L. Gascogne Steams
Into Port.
Machinery Had Broken Down-De-
Iayed by Severe Storms.


cogne. the long overdue French steam
ship limped into this port last night with
three red lights hanging from her fore
mast. as signal that she was disabled.
Her passengers were all on deck, some OF
them singing and most of them cheering
as persons are wont to do when their
minds are suddenly relieved OF heavy
strain.
For 10 days OF q voyage lasting 10 days
the ships machinery had been disabled.
ono of her main piston rods having broken
on her third day out from Havre.
For 10 hours on that fateful third day
the vessel was hove To while the break was
being repaired. It was comparatively
good weather when the break occurred,
but tho disabled steamer was fated TO run
into some Of the nastiest 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 Gascogne ran
into gale that increased to hurricane.
While of Sable island, Feb. b, the ma
chincry broke down again, and the
steamer was hove 60 again. this time ior III
hours. During all that period the engines
did not make a single revolution.
When the second repairs had been made
the steamer started ahead once more un-
der still further reduced power, and
headed toward the Long Island coast.
nut ons steamer Sighted ON the Voyage.
It is remarkable fact that during the
entire voyage across the Atlantic La
Gascogne did not sight steamer until she
Sunday. Late yesterday afternoon the
French steamer signalled Fire Island ana
thcn proceeded toward Sandy Hook light
ship. Here she was met by tugs ana es-
corted by them into port
While the passengers were considerably
worried ON account Of the delay, there was
never panic among them. They knew
that their ship was staunch one, ana
thoy had every confidence In their captain.
And, besides they knew that the ship was
net totally disabled But they were nerv-
Gus and apprehensive at times, and they
hailed tho conclusion OF their voyage with
10y. They cheersd the captain and they
chesreA the crew heartily.
Following Is a copy OF the official log OF
La Gascogne, copied by one OF the passen-
gers and thrown overheard to the tugs. In
bottles. IL shows the number of miles
reoled - every ~ hours:
Jan. "a, 40 miles; Jan. rs, Az miles;
Jan. ~, 500 miles; Jan. 30, 50 miles; Jan.
81, 2is miles; Feb. 1. e6b miles; Feb. 2, 2so
miles; Feb q 2i8 miles; Feb. 4, 1896 miles;
Feb. s and Q, record not obtained; Feb. 2,
10s miles; Feb 8, 169 miles; Feb. ., l3i
milos; Feb 10, 70 miles; Feb. II, 10 miles.
Statement Of Passenger.
AZ the request Of reporter. Mr.. Mix, a
repressntatiSs Of the Thomson Houston
Electrical company, one Of the cabin pas
senGors, hastily wrote out the following
statement, which he threw overheard:
s.All went well until Jan. 20, three days
after sailing from Havre. when the ship
Wis stopped, and tho passengers, on In.
stjfy a. y the Gauge, were informed that
= PAN 81 the machinery had broken down.
The tpformstion was a surprise to the
oassenf fsrb, Who were unaware at the time
shat IN accident had occurred. There had
been no shock or noise sufficient. 10 cause
alarm. a.
Tho pssssngsrs had noticed commotion
smone the crew and officers however,
Senseouont upsn the breakdown, and
when inouiriee were made by the passen-
gers the ofIiosrs made no attempt to con-
ceal the true facts We learned that the
piston Of one Of the intermediate cylinders
had broken, thus incspacitatng the entire
maehinery The engine had been stopped
as soon as possible, and the steamer fell of
into the trough Of the sea, which was not
heavy at the tine.
"rhe passengers were quito cool and no
one apprehende danger In fact we were
NOT 1t irst distressed by the knowledge of
the accident None of us realized that the
break, down was more than an ordinary
affair, and many OF us began speculating
Asw long time would elapse before tho
engineers got the break patched UP and
we would be again on our course. We
asy to for 16 hours while the full corps of
engineers worked on tho fractured cylin-
der. A brass sleeve was slipped over the
fracture and bolted in position. and In this
way the engineers were enabled to again
start up the engine
"The broken cylinder and its companion
sould not be used, however, aud as steam
was cut of from the boiler on the engines.
the speed was reduced one-half Even at
this rate we were further handicappcd by
being compelled TO stop every le hours 60
replace the brass Innings. which were con-
ouuAiiy Wctiiuk ou1 unucr lne Straln.
Rough Weather Caused Uneasiness
"All would have gone we'll but for n
terrible storm which beset the disabled
vessel on Feb. q II struck us while we
were living to TO make repairs. The vessel
pitched and tossed frightfully in the gale
and for the frs. time since the breakdown
Tho passengers began 10 feel uneasy. The
engineers were unable 10 work because of
she violent tossing OF the ship. Ii was i'm.
possible to handle the heavy pieces OF ma.
chinery.
FOR Al hours the vessel lay to while tho
engineers did their utmost TO make tenn
perary repairs again. IL was impossible
70 make as perfect job as Mt first, owing
10 the constant increase I'm the extent of
the arrangement TO the machinery, and
from speed OF $50 miles, which we were
enabled to make aftor the first breakdown.
we had 10 reduce our speed to 100 miles a
day. This made progress exceedingly
slow, and we were further impeded by the
constantly recurring gales. The wenther
v~frehtfd.
a zsif. burdsn.d With sicet and snow.
csns ont OF tse resr with terrific lor,..
snd the vessel pitched aud tossed ga The