Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-12

IN the morning, ana there were lois OF pas
sengcrs. besides myself, out on deck. We
were feeling comfortable on a good break
fast, WHEN suddenly came a most violent
shock. which was followed by n series of
conclusions. The whole ship trembled, and
the hrst impression was that we mad
struck an iceberg or some great object
lying low in the water.
"a great many of the women passengers
became much alarmed. and the running Of
officers to and fro. coupled with the clang-
ing of balls in the engine room, made the
men. to say tine least feel trifle uneasy.
Most of us made a rush for the office
to ask for information. In Il short time
we We're informed that the accident which
had occurred was not a serious one; that
there was d break in the piston-rod of the
intermediate cylinder, and that it could be
very easily repaired. We were assured
there was positively no danger, and that
the vessel could keep afoat under any cir
cumStanCes.
so there we ay without a movement of
the engines for sixteen hours, while the
engineer and his aSSs tants were at work
the break. After the first shock there
was very little alarm felt by those on
board. When the machinery did finally
start the ship proceeded very slowly. and
up to noon of the next day she only COW
cred G6 miles.
After another run of 2lJ miles the ship
stopped again Again We were frightened
until We learned that the engines had been
stopped again 10 examine the broken piston
and TO allow the overheated journals to
&C oil off. The time hung heavily while we
lay rolling in the trough of the sea, and
when We again started we went very slow
~. We matie 20 miles on January 81, lob
miles on February 1, 80 miles on February
= and on February !. 1876 miles.
This brought to n point off Sable
Island about loo miles from the coast OF
Newfoundland. Everybody on board knew
just where the ship was, for We all had
charts ard spent much time studying-out
our position. We were getting along easily
but slowly, when We felt another shock,
somewhat like the first, although not quite
so severe, and not followed by the series OF
conclusions which had accompanied the
first.
The vessel came to a dead stop, and an
officer told us the piston rod had broken
again. and in such manner that 1t could
not he repaired.
Then when we were still lying under no
Roadway we Were struck by this terrific
storm. which was more Of a cyclone than
anything else. Snow and hail accompanied
the storm, and all the passengers were or
dered below by the Captain. The matches
were battencd down and everything was
made as tight possible. We in the sa-
loon experienced no discomfort except that
caused by the extreme pitching and tossing
of the vessel But it was awfully lone
sCnIe.
During the storm, which lasted twenty
four hours. a life boat was broken TO
SIlinterS. and all of the railing around the
smoking room was torn from its stanch-
ward. There was absolutely no panic, but
the women We're very nervous, as was very
natural under the circumstances We all
had the greatest confidence in Captain
Baudeon and his officers and we felt that
We were in the hands of good sailors.
Yet They Played Poker.
"One incident which tended more than
anything else to allay the fears of some
of those on board IS worth mentioning.
Half dozen of the men passengers gath
cred in the smoking room every night and
made up poker party. They played cards
in the most unconcerned manner in the
world. Just as though nothing out of the
ordinary was happening. / think ii was the
sight of those men, calmly playing CARDS,
that had more csasSuring effect than
anything else.
The ship pitched and tossed. the wind
outside howlcd and screamed and the storm
of hail beat on the decks with fearful
clatter. We below didn't know just what
was going on, but those men played on,
never missing n chance
ION Monday the storm let up; five hun
bred tons of the broken machinery was
removed. and the engines were started
very slowly. and We steamed for 1c3 miles:
Then We stopped, because the journals had
become oyerh5ated again, and besides 1t
was necessary to inspect the machinery
From that time on We proceeded under
easy Roadway. although the weather was.
still very stormy.
r
urday we put l31 miles behind us, Sunday
we covered only ~ miles. and yesterday.
the last day OF our long voyage. We made
$50 miles.
IAN this time we had seen 10 other YES
sell until Sunday, about 10 o'clock. we
passed Imam line steamship. pound
for Philadelphia, and 1t was announced
that We would try and signal her. We all
gathered on deck and watched the pro-
ceedings At first II looked as though she
would pass Us without seeing our signals,
but finally We saw her answer BACK ice
captain siguaed with flags that his ma
chinery was damaged and asked ner TO
telegraph for tugs for US.
sarhe sight of that ship. the first one we
had seen since leaving Havre. was more
welcome ore than l can tell you. 1t was
as if we had suddenly found al Old friend
whom we had not seen for years.
Later in the Day we passed the schoon-
err George y. McFadden. AS 1or tns RESI-
of the tourney. the signals off Fire Island,
the coming of your tugS-you know that
better than 1 can tell.
O.ber Passengers Experience.
NJ. Eugene Jacquet OF Paris ana Nine
Jacuuet were welcomed by friend, VINO
had come down the bay to greet them.
This friend was at the Gard Du Nord'
Paris, en- January % last to bid adieu to
NJ. and Mime. Jacquet, and had left Havre
on La Normandie on February :, arriving
here yesterday morning II was quite an
unexpected ElcSttiS-
NJ Jacuu.t said the ship behaved well,
and the only inconvenience suffered by the
passengers was on February and T. when
nobody was allowed on deck Madame
.Jacquet spoke in high praise OF the officers
of La GascOSne.
J. e. Vilodau OF Detroit. Mich, said II
was the worst trip he had ever experience
ed in spite of the fact that he had crossed
tie ocean many times. Mr.. Nilodan was
astoaished when informed that La Cas-
cogne had not sustained any damage
.sN-hy sir said he, the weather was
so bad that the two forward lifcboats, NO.
l. on the port side. and No 1, on the star
board side had their forward ends washed
from the falls. No. was secured with
difficulty but No. l hung by it's after-fall
for forty-one hours, in spite OF all efforts
to secure it, and 1t bumped against the
ships sides until 1t was smashed to pieces
Six feet Of the forward rail were also
carried away"
E. b. Goodman of New York said that
the weather had been bad from the start,
only clearing up when nearing American
waters The first break known was on
Tuesday, January %. when La Gascogne
was three days out. The piston OF the
main cylinder got away and 1t was dis
connected for repairs. While these were
going or La Gascogne drifted southwark
before the heavy wind and sea, but she
was eventually able to proceed slowly I'M
h,,S