The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-12
ALL REJOICE.
A Wave of Qualification Sweeps
Over New York,
Because OF the Safe Arrival ol
La Gascogne.
A TROUBLOUS VOYAGE
But No Danger at Any Time
Says the Captain.
Mr.. Mix Gives a Graphic De-
scription of the Trip.

NEw YORK. Feb 12.-Although La
Gascoqne was not expected at her dock
before 12 or l o'clock, thousand people
were at the pier at the foot of Morton
street by o'clock this morning, strug-
Cling for admittance to the landing. A
special detachment of policemen formed
a line across the entrance to the pier
and had all they could do to keep back
those who had no business on the dock
A tug was engaged early this morn
ing in clearing the slip of ice SO
that the big steamer could tie up when
she reached her dock. The crowd con
tinued to grow all the time and num-
bered several thousand by the time La
Gascogne arrived.
The steamer, battered and weather.
beaten, crawIed wearily in toward Fire
Island last night just as the sun was set
ting.
On her masts there was neither flag
nor pennant The bows, which were
wont to gracefully dash the spray before
them, seemed scarcely to cause a ripple
on the blue surface. No one could be
seen about her deck.
The Red, White and Blue.
Darkness settled down on the ocean
ana In0 Ol IH0 ELL
could scarcely be discerned across the
water
Then, of a sudden, there blazed from
her black sides, three brilliant torches,
red, white and blue.
The first sign of La GascOgne, was &
tiny cloud of pale blue smoke, seen to the
eastward from the marine observatory on
Fire Island. Capt. sydney smith of the
Forge River life saving station, seven
teen miles down the beach, sent the first
word to the observatory that the steamer
was crippled and was probably the miss
ing Frenchmau.
1t took La Gascogne over two hours to
cover the seventeen miles traversed from
the time she WAS first sighted until she
reached a point opposite the observatory.
When she limped up to quarantine she
was safe and sound to all intents and pur-
poses; for all except internal injuries and
all were we'll and happy on board of her.
Last night she anchored off the bar,
and her bright lights, cleaning from
numerous port holes, flashed over the
calm waters off the hook as she rocked
gently on the night swell
The Night Off Sandy Hook.
That night off Sandy hook will be re-
membered by hundreds for many year
Few on board the stately steamer could
sleep Every now and then a face or
head would peer over the rails glancing
anxiously laudward, as if they were not
yet certain that land was safe at hand and
that La Gascogne had weathered phe.
nomenal weather in most skillfuI man
ner in spite of her disabilities.
OF course, in all similar cases. there
are various versions of the long delay of
the steamer. The company's officers
naturally reticent, made as little as DOS
sible of the matter, and the passengers
naturally magnify the whole affair
The morning was getting old before
the Associated Press preventative was
able to SEQ Capt. Baudel0n, commander
of La Gascogne, and when an interview
was possible it had to be cut down to
skin and bones," for the captain was
busy supervising the work of getting
the steamer under way for her final lar
IN the long journey He said, brushing
the dew of cup of coffee from his
moustache:
Was No Danger.
you astonish me. Alarmed about oul
safety? Why should that be; we were
all right. There never was a moment:
danger. just mishap to one of OH
cylinders and it caused us to make a Ionp
trip instead. Here is the log, look it over
You'll see there was nothing much tht
matter with u.s." Aud then the gallan
Coup d'Mer lit cigar and climbed ur
to the bridge. The log of La Gascognt
reports heavy sea and rough weathe
through the entire trip.
NO vessels were met until the 11tl
instant. when, at II a. H., signals ant
salutes were exchanged with an Englisl
steamer of the Inman line steamin,
west On the 10th instant a water Logged
and abandoned schooner was passed
There Is not word in the log of an
accident to the La Gascogne.
Never were the French restaurant
ano cafes IN New York SO joyous as the
were last night They bubbled wit
champagne and enthusiasm. Everybod
felt as if he had found money or Mad "a
latives on board. Every Frenchman fal
personal interest in La Gascoone IN,
this was shared by everyone who kney
Frenchman
The People Rejoice.
At the Cafe Martin, at Ninth and I'M
versity Place, there was the greatest er
thusiasm. for it is recognized Frenc
headquarters. More than 2O0 times
oay the telephone has been runp
ship. 0ei0'e
Frenchmen gathered in knots at tn
various resorts and gave vent to their or
H, n Muslasin In cheers and congratulation,
ne news spread rapidly over the cit,
A' Inc CaIes De Paris, Au Chatnior an
tneat;H' G.ners' 'nere was mad rejoicing an
All that were left in the French or.,
ter turned out to celebrate the ~ u"I a.
rival of La Gaseogne But the intoaa
1eeilng and joy at the arrival of La o.,
coghe was not confined to the Frono
quarter by any means. At the big hote