Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-12
AGAIN AT HER PIER
Thousands Welcome the Passengers
of the Gasoogne.
MRS. MLANAHAN TELLS OF THE TRIP
TriumphaI Progress Of the Vessel
Up the Bay.
MANY EXPERIENCES RELATED
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening star.
NEW YORK. February l2.-George w.
McLanahan of Washington, d. c., was the
fifth man IN the happy procession that
walked down the gang plank this morning
from La Gascogne, which was sighted of
Fire Island yesterday afternoon, eight
days overdue. and which anchored last
right off Sandy Hook.
Among the thousands who had gathered
to laugh and weep and feel gay over the
arrival of the long-delayed French liner
was Mr.. McLanahan's son, a Yale student,
and group of friends. and amid the gen.
eral cheering they sent up the Yale cry,
"Rah, Rahi Rah"'
The tears streamed from their eyes and
from the eyes of those they welcomed.
Mr. and Mrs. McL1nahan and Miss McLan-
ahan were met by a score Of friends.
Mr. McI.anahan said to a correspondent
of The Star that his Wife could better tell
the story Of their trip than he. and when
the first greetings. were over she did SO.
She related in graphic way her story. At
times. when speaking of their anxiety, the
tears filled her eyes.
"The weather was pleasant" she said
when we left Havre on January 20, and
during the first two days of the voyage
On the third day out, about 10 o'clock in
the forenoon. when many of the passengers
we're on the deck. the accident came. All
We knew about it was a series of six or
seven sharp shocks. There was no panic
or anything like II. The officers of the YES
sci said there was no danger and the pas
sengers simply showed curiosity rather
than alarm. There was some huryinS
about noticeable, and a ringing Of signal
bells but that was all. The passengers
went to the saloon for the most part and
discussed the accident. which ii turned out
was a break of the piston rod The beat
soon stopped and at length the machinists
got to work to repair the damage.
"They succeeded in fixing the break so
that the vessel could go on, and we did so
for time. but after some days then came
the second shock. and the vessel was again
disabled, so that we could not proceed.
Then came the terrible cyclone. For more
than forty hours We lay in the trough of
the sea. unable to go on and fearful that
the ship might founder. During this time
there was no suffering, save from seasicl-
ness and the discomfort of being pitched
about.
Conduct of the Officers.
'"The officers behaved in way that cam
not be too highly praised. For two days
and nights some of the men did not sleep
a wink. but were constantly at work try
ing TO repair the damage and devotins
their attention to the handling oil the
ship
I'VE did not dare TO think of the anxiety
or our friends" said Mrs NcLanahan.
"When we did think of that we could not
endure it. 1t was the only real cause of
IN 81
lady who had been pupil of Paderewski.
and during the monotonous days she played
for US We drifted far out of the course
of ships and for days saw nothing but
water Two days ago we saw IN the dis
tance an abandoned American ship. me
United States flag was hanging from her
mast Later We saw this hulk again In
tow of another vessel.
The scene in our ship during the cyclone
was distressing, although no serious re
suits have followed Our trunks in the
state rooms flew about like feathers. The
waves were at times sixty feet high and
the CiascoGne pitched about like CORK, but
she stood IL ali in good shape.
THE captain dil everything possible Tor
our comfort. We had all the food we
wanted and one had only to ask for
special dish and II was prepared ior us.
We read all the books we had and did our
best 10 keep good natuTed and cheerful
"The storm was gone by last Thursday
and the heavy machinery was mended
again so that we could proceed slowly.
Two days ago we saw another vessel far
in the distance The feeling of relief that
this gave us cannot be described DurinS
ALI the long voyage every ono showed the
greatest confidence in Capt. BaudelOn, and
i feel like thanking him for all his kind
ness.
I'VE are all WELL
NJ McI.anahan received many te!cErams
on his arrival He said that the evidences
of sympathy touched him more deeply than
he could express.
He spoke OF messages from Ifr. Norris
end asked that his thanksgiving and ap-
preciatlon of them be expressed In The
Star.
Mr. and Mrs NcUa1ahan will remain at
the St James Hotel here for few days