The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1895-02-15
LA GASCOGNE.
The Big French Steamer Arrives
Safe In Port

Safe In Port.
Her Delay Was Caused by . Broken Piston |
Rod, and In Her Disabled Condition
She Was Unable to Make Much
Hcadway In the Fierce Gale.
QUARANTINE, Feb. l2.--La Gascognc,
the big French liner, eight days over
due, dropped anchor at the bar just
before midnight. All are well on
board and a sigh OF relief goes up from
two continents The delay was due TO
broken.piston rod and to the terrific
gales which swept the north Atlantic
forthe past week or more and brought
disaster TO many stanch craft.
NEw York. Feb is.-The first def
mite news that La Gascogne had ar
rived reached the city at $50 p m, but
for an hour before that dispatches had
been coming in which gave ground for
the hope that the missing Frcnehman
was near at hand.
At SEQ messenger boy from the
Maratime exchange came running In
with a telegram as follows;
Fire Island, s:l5.-La Gascognc is
of Fire island"
That was official, and settled the
matter. rhe JOY Of the agent and
other officials knew no bounds. They
clapped each other on the back, and
shook hands with tears In their eyes
One OF them hustled up 10 the roof and
ran up the French flag while another
chalked transcript OF the last dis
patch ON the big bulletin board out
side, which Is used TO announce the
sailing dates of the French ships
An elderly Frcnchman burst into the
office Just before the final telegram
came II was a. A. Richie, the wealthy
| phosphate agent, with headquarters at
Ocnla, Fla, who has three daughters
on board La Gascogne, The reaction
from his anxiety was so great that he
laughed and cried at once. He shook
hands with everybody in the place.
"oh, my daughters" 4" he cried. They
arc safe. II you wish 70 see happy,
happy man, look ut me"
Tears glistened in the eyes of all who
were present, as they congratulated
the old gentleman.
At no place in New York wns tho
news OF the Gascogne's arrival hailed
with as much Joy as at the Hotel Mar
tin. For days all the prominent French
men OF New York have been gathering
at this popular French resort for the
news The long distance telephone
has been constantly ringing in the
cafe. Frenchmen in Philadelphia, Chi
cago. Boston. Pittsburgh and else
where have been asking for the news.
Such scene Of uncontrolled delight
has seldom been seen In New York.
/ Men who had relatives and intimate
friends on board almost cried for Joy.
Only party of Frenchmen could have
expressed their extreme happiness as
they did. With tears in their eyes and
their faces fairly bcamiug with JOY,
they huggcd each other Iassionatcly.
: There were many Frcnchmen at the
Martin who came from l.oSton and
other cities Ia meet relatives ON the
vessel. They lost not n moment in
rushing To la Gascngne's pier.
Mr.. Crosier, OF Philadelphia, whose
wife Is ON board the Gasrognc, was
quite overcome when he heard the
news
II can hardly talk, am so happy"
he said. ut seems ns II have just
passed through hideous nightmare.
My anguish, as the days and nights
went by without word, was some
thing terrible. can hardly believe
that II is true"
The tug Fred Il, Dazell, with repre-
sentatives Of the press on board, was
the first tug 10 reach La Gascogne.
The disabled steamer had left Fire
Island twenty-five miles astern and
was eight miles to the eastward OF
Sandy Hook lightship. It was 9;4S
p. m The big liner was limping into
port at half speed, with two big red
lights, signals Of distress, at the fore.
mast
The tug lay alongside half an hour
and the following story of the TRIP
was obtained;
The steamer left llavre January 26
On the first day out l49 miles were
logged; on the second day 407 miles; on
the third day, after travelling $50 miles,
the piston rod broke, and eighteen
hours were spent In making repairs
When they were completed the shiI
steamed at nine miles an hour, making
in an GO miles on the Goth. On the
sOth, 3lst and February l. 92S, 95;
and $50 miles day were made respect
lively.
On February the piston rod broke
down again. The break was more SC
rious this time Sea anchors were pu'
out, and for forty-one hours the shii
! was hove-to, making repairs. On the
lth tho first severe weather was ex
, pcrienced, and the ship was blown 15I
/, miles out Of her course. On the 5th
the repairs having been completed, 10
: miles were made. The ship was theI
a clear 10 the northward OF the track o
transatlantic steamers, and was there
= fore not seen by the many steamer
which passed over the regular track
On February 100 miles were made.
On the eth the machinery broke dow
4 for tho third time. The heavy cyclon
' struck her on that day, and the shil
0 hove-to with the sea anchors out al
o day. No Roadway was made, and, ow
4 ing to the motion of the ship, repair
!. were difficult On the next day tn,
|. chief engineer, who had been at hi
!. post day and night, completed the re
pairs, and the ship proceeded i3i miles
A Foolish Wager.