Evening journal., 1895-02-12

The first sign OF la Gas ngne was tiny |
cloud Of Iale blue smoke seen TO the east
ward from the marine observer ON Fire |
island. Captain sydney Smith of tho |
Forge River life saving station. II miles |
down the beach sent tho first word to tho |
observer that the steamer was crippled aud |
was probably the missing frenchman
1t took La Gascogno over two hours to !
cover the 70 miles traversed from the time
sho was first sighted until she reached a
point opposite Che observatory. She passed
within two miles Of shore
How the News Was Received.
Not since the Cunard liner Umbria was
reported TWO years ago after a perilous
voyage across the Atlantic with broken
shaft has there been such excitement IN
this city as when the news was flashed
across The wires that steamer resem.
bling tho long missing La Gascogne had
been sighted or Fire island The belief
that the French liner was safe did not for
some time reassure the generally inoredu
lous public. Ii was too good 20 be true,
and 1t was only when the bulletin was an
nounced that Ia Gascogne and no other
vessel was slowly making her way to her
port Of destination that the long pent up
feelings OF those who had anxiously watch
ed day by day for tidings OF the missing
craft broke loose
In every hotel. in every club, in every
saloon in the city the sole topic Of conver
sation was the arrival Of the ship, the
hope Of whose rescue from the terrific
storms which have caused such terrible
disasters in the maritime world had al
most abandoned the hearts Of the most
sanguino.
In tho offices Of the French line the
scene when tho telegram was received an
nonncing the safety Of tho big liner was a
striking one.
| The news spread quickly through the
| city Hundreds Of persons besieged the
| pier Of the company as though they expect
ed that Ia Gasoogne would in an hour OF
| two be moored at her dock. This crowd
was re-enforced every moment. Friends
| Of French passengers fired query after
query at Mr.. West, the superintendent Of
the line.
The only information vouchsaled them
was that the ship was safe. They shook
| hands with each other and laughed and
wept with Joy over / 000 people decided
on staying at the dock until La Gasoogne
arrived and it was only when conspieu-
GUS announcement was posted on the out
side Of the company s pier that she would
not leave quarantine until this morning
that the anxious watchers slowly went to
their homes.
The rejoicing was naturally greatest in
the French quarter The heroism Of La
Gascogne's captain was lauded, the suffer.
ings of her passengers, the probabilities oil
numerous accidents, were all enumerated
over and over again, but the one great
feeling was that Of JOY at what was con
sidered by all as nothing less than mira
Gle.
Joy IN the French Quarter.
At the Hotel Martin, the well know
French resort, the guests in the dining
rooms and the corridors spoke Of nothing
else some OF La Gascognes passenger
were known to many Of them. Two 0
them-M Bavior and NJ. Ribon-wor
guests Of the hotel two years ago and ar
well remembered by its staff and its fre
quenters
The unvarying statement from the lip
Of all was I'VE knew La Gasoogne woulI
arrive safe. We never gave up hope.
At the French club the news enlivenel
q moody lot Of clubmen who had given tn
1 steamer up for lost and were expressin
I their belief that no word would ever b
! received Of her. when their gloom was dii
q pelled by the welcome dispatch announS
= ing that ere morn she would be in harbol
What happened at the Hotel Martin an
d In the French quarter was repeate
7 throughout the city. AS Ifb word ha
renched either tho French line or the nawi
papers as to what had caused the delay i
! La Gascogne's making port, coniectuI
4 was rife as to the nature OF the aooiden
: which befell her.
Several hundred kilograms We're sent b
4 the officials Of the line to friends and reli
l -. nd
= kept busy until very near midnight in n
plying to the questions showered upo
/, them from all over the world as to wheth6
the good news was true or not
The steamship Bolivia. from Rotterdam
n was seen in company with La Gascogr
: when she passed Fire island. She quiokl
J. left the disabled liner astern and crosse
! the bar at 10 o. clock.
3 On reaching quarantine she was boarde
4 by Health officer Doty Her captain r
4 ported that be had proffered La Gascogr
d assistance. but his offer was refused 81
i appeared when the Bolivia passed her
be at anchor and seemed to have som
4 thing wrong with her steering gear.
! Close by her was the Washington.
tank vessel which also offered to rendl
4 assistance. The offer was declined. as ha
y been that Of the Bolivia, and the Wasbin
3 ton reluctantly resumed her course f
+ New York.
: Three tugs were sent to la Gascogne
i help She arrived at quarantine bcfo
u midnight Health Officer Doty said th
1. he would not make his inspection Of ]
Gascogne until today.
u Agent Forget and Superintendent We
!. left the city at late hour last night Z
Il quarantine and returned on board q
n steamer.
:, La Gascogne's Passengers.
/ The following is list Of cabin passe
i gers on board the steamer La Gascogne:
Il Mr.. and Mrs Grocer and servant, NJ
and Mrs. Lanahan and Miss Lanaha
! Mr. and Mrs. Guttmann. Messrs. AXE
"a he'll. Adolfe Castro, Drevon, Buser, Ha
"A ris, Schwarz, Joaquin, Goodman, JacquC
\ Leon, Ribou, Phillips, Mix. Sanchez, II
~ vier, Matagrin, Lichtensteen and koni
I. stern Mesdames Hendercort Hewes, Fis
s Dumas, Colsize, Bronsord and Myer; nj
q Rich and servant Miss Borsel, Miss Aur
II Miss Sumofska and Miss Treiohler,
IS The following is a list Of the third ola
II passengers.
~ Messrs Andreiano, Bernardon Bert
lotti and brother. Barthelot Bilodea
Biasi, Biagi, Bianohi, Curto, Capora
rroca fsrarto Coualli Cugfno Taliss