The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1895-02-15
LA GASCOGNE.
The Big French Steamer Arrives
Safe in Port.
Many Sad Hearts Gladdened by the
Appearance of the Vessel
Her Delay Was Caused by Broken Piston
Rod. and Ia Her Disabled Condition
slle Was Unable 10 Make Much
1Ieadway In the Fierce Gale.


the big French liner, eight days over,
due, dropped anchor ut the bar just
before midnight All arc well ON
board and sigh of relief goes up from
two continents The delay was due 70
broken piston rod and TO the terrific
gales which swept the north Atlantic
for the past week or moro and brought
disaster to many u stunch craft.
Capt Baudelon and the officers and
crew OF La Gascogne brought the ship
and passengers through gales and made
port without help, From the time
they left Hnvrc, January 90, until Mon.
day they spoke no transatlantic
steamer, and saw only four-masted
schooner, the one which reported at
ST Pierre. Miquclon,.N. $, as having
seen large steamer off the Banks, mp
parently in distress last Saturday.
NV YoRK, Feb. lo.-The first def
mite news that La Gascogne had ar
rived reached the city at SEQ p. M, but
for IN hour before that dispatches had
been coming in which gave ground for
the hope that the missing Frcnchman
was near at hand.
AT $50 a messenger boy from the
Maratime exchange came running in
with a telegram us follows:
Fire Island. 5:15.-La Gascognc is
off Fire island"
That was official, and settled the
matter. rhc 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 to the roof and
ran up the French flag, while another
chalked u transcript of the last dis
patch on the big bulletin board out
side, which is used to announce the
sailing dates of tho French ships.
An elderly Frenchman burst into the
Office just before the final telegram
came 1t was A. A. Richie, the wealthy
phosphate agent, with headquarters at
ocala, Fla, who has three daughters
on board La Gascognc. 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, he cried. "rhey
are safe. If you wish to 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 was the
news of the Gascogne's arrival hailed
with us much joy us 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
whore 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 ioy.
Only party of Frenchmcn could have
expressed their extreme happiness as
they did. With tears in their eyes, and
their faces fairly bcaming with joy,
they Rugged each other passionatcly.
There We're many Frenchmen ut the
Martin who came from Boston and
other cities to meet relatives on the
vessel. They lost not moment in
rushing to La Gascognc's pier
Mr.. crosicr, of Philadelphia. whose
wife is on board the Gascogne, was
quite overcome when he heard the
news
II can hardly talk, am so happy
he said. lit seems as If have just
passed through II hidcous nightmare.
My anguish. as the days and nights
went by without word, was some.
thing terrible. ] can hardly believe
that 1t is true"
The tug Fred Ii. Dazell, with repre-.
sentatives OF the press on board, was
the first tug to reach La Gascognc.
The disabled steamer had left Fire
Island twenty-five miles astern and
was eight miles to the eastward OF
Sandy Hook lightship. 1t was o:li
p. m The big liner was limping into
port ut 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 trir
was obtained:
The steamer left Tlavre January 20
On the first day ont 44o miles were
logged: on the second day 4O7 miles; on
the third day, after travelling $50 miles
the piston rod broke. and eighteen
hours We're spent in making repairs
When they were completed the shir
steamed ut nine miles an hour. making
in all 6G miles on the Goth. ON the
3Oth, 3ist and February /, M, e5s
and ESQ miles II day were made respect.
lively.
On February . the piston rod broke
down again. The break was more Sc
rious this time. Sea anchors were put
out, and for forty-one hours the shir
was hove-to, making repairs. On the
18th the first severe weather was ex
pcrienced, and the ship was blown lst
miles out of her course. On the 9Th.
the repairs having been completed, 10.
miles were made. The ship was ther
clear 10 the northwurd of the track o.
transatlantic steamers, and was there
fore not seen by the many steamer,
which passed over the regular track.
On February 6 100 miles were made.
On the 18th the machinery broke dowr
for the third time. The heavy cvclon,
struck her on that day. and the shiy
hovc-to with the sea anchors ont al
day. No Roadway was made, and, ow
ing to the motion of the ship, repair,
were difficult On the next day III,
chief engineer, who had been at hi,
postday and night, completed the re
pairs, and the ship proceeded III miles