Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-02-16
IN PORT AT LAST.
The Missing Steamer La Cas-
cogne Is Still Afioat.
Disabled In Midocean and Driven Out of
Her Course by Terrific Gales She
Reaches New York Eight
Days Overdue.

QUARANTINE, Feb. 12.-La Gascogne
is safe The big French liner, eight
days overdue, dropped anchor at the
bar just before midnight. All well on
board and sigh OF relief goes up from
two continents. Delay was due to n
broken piston-rod and to the terrific
gales which have swept the North
Atlantic for the past week or more
and brought disaster to many stanch
craft. Capt. Baudelon and the officers
and crew of La Gascogne brought
the ship and passengers through the
gales and made port without help.
From the time they left Havre, Janu-
ary 26, until Sunday, they spoke no
transatlantic steamer and saw only a
four-masted schooner, the one which
reported at st. Pierre, Miquelon, N S.,
as having seen a large steamer off the
banks apparently in distress last
Saturday. The United Press tug,
Fred b. Dalzell, with representatives
of the Times, Tribune and Recorder
on board, was the first tug to reach La
Gascogne. The disabled steamer had
left Fire Island 25 miles astern and was
8 miles to the eastward of Sandy Hook
lightship. 1t was 9:45 p. m. The big
liner was limping into port at half
speed with two big red lights, signals
of distress, at the foremast. The tug
lay alongside half an hour and the fol-
lowing story of the trip was, obtained:
The steamer left Havre January 20 On the
first day out 4i9 miles were made; on the sec
ond day, 407 miles; on the third day, after
frnu will mn mi hn rNigtn rOd hrnlr md
eighteen hours were spent In making, repairs.
When they were completed the ship steamed
ut 9miles an hour making in, all 60 miles on
the 10Th. On the 80th 3lst and February I
2l5, 255 and 290 miles day we're made re-
spectively. On February 2 the piston rod
broke down again. The break was more serious
this time. Sea anchors were put out and. for
forty-one hours the ship was.hove to making
repairs
February A. the first severe weather was ex-
perienced and the ship was blown SO miles
out Of her course. On the 9th, the repairs hav-
ing been completed, 1903 miles were made. The
ship was then clear to. the northward. OF the
track of transatlantic steamers and was
therefore not seen by the many steamers
which passed over the regular track
On February 165 miles were made. On the
7th the machinery broke down. for the third
time The heavy cyclone struck her on that
day and the ship, hove to- with the sea anchors
out all day. No headway was made, and ow-
| ing to the motion of the ship, repairs were diff
| hcult.
On the next day the chief engineer, who had
been at his post night and day. completed the re-
| pairs and the ship proceeded 18l miles On the
| 9th, for the fourth time the machinery broke
| down and only "A miles were made. On the 10th
| $50 miles were made. and Monday, to the great
rejoicing of all on board. Fire Island was
sighted and the ship crept upto her anchorage
| off the bar
There were 1856 passengers on board
La Gascogne, divided as follows: First
cabin. 30; second cabin, 10;, third. cabin,
116, Including the crew there were
372 on the vessel
NEW YORK, Feb. 12.-The news that
La Gascogne had been sighted was re-
cieved amid the greatest excitement at
| the offices of the French line in
Bowling Green. The cabin. office
was crowded with anxious inquirers
who have relatives and friends
on board that steamship. They
had been standing around with pale
faces expecting at any moment to hear
the worst. When the word came that
the ship was safe, for a moment a still
ness reigned which was almost
painful in its intensity. Agent
Forget, for a moment, was rem
dered speechless, which evidenced how
anxious he had been for the safety
of the La Gascogne. Then he Eegained
himself and became wildly hilarious.
Many wet eyes could be seen in the
Office when the good news was ascer-
tanned, and the tears were not from the
eyes of women alone. Strong men
wept as little children. The strain of
days of worry had been too much for
them. One man, Mr.. Richie, broke
down completely and sobbed as if his
heart would break. He has three
daughters ON board La Gascogne, two
of them of very tender years. He had
abandoned all hope when the joyful
tidings came.