The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-28
LA CHAMPAGNE IN PORT
DISABLED ATLANTIC LINER T0WED
INTO HALIFAX HARB0R
Ship Saved Form Its PeriIOus Siiua-
ton by the Steamer Roman After
Being HeIpIessIy Adrift in Gale
for Five Days-Passengers Tell
the Story.

= HALIFAX, N. s., Feb. 27.-The over
due French steamer La Champagne
was toWed into Halifax this afternoon
by the steamer Roman. At 5:15 La
Champagne let go the haWSer by which
she was toWed into port by the Roman,
and dropped her anchor in midstream,
off the center of the city, While the
Roman steamed to her dock. Hundreds
of people flocked to the wharVes to
watch the two big steamers move slow
ly up the narbor.
Passengers told the story of their eX-
perience as follows:
La Champagne sailed from HaVre on
Feb. u with fine, clear weather, which
continued for two days. Then the wind
freshened and a gale sprang up, fbloW-
ing with moderate force. All went we'll
until the 18th. The passengers had set
tied down and were passing the time
pleasantly The ship was steaming
fast against the head seas, when, sud
denly after 4 o'clock, a tremendous
crashing sound was heard in the engine
rooms. In an instant panic seized the
passengers and great excitement pre-
vailed in the saloons and among the oc-
cupants of the steerage. The ships pas
sage was stayed and the heavy pound
ings shook the whole craft. Capt. PoirOt
quickly calmed the passengers, and
soon after it was discovered that the
tail screw shaft had broken The
steamer was running at high speed
and the engines flew around like light
ming when the resistance of the screw
was removed, and before they could be
stopped the piston and connecting rods
had snapped
Capt. POirOt announced that the in
jury could be repaired and the ship
would proceed at l o'clock next day.
She was put about. but after further
examination it was found that the
damage was irreparable. Nothing re-
mained to be done but anchor La
Champagne was then in latitude 5.2S.
longitude 5123, just in the track of
outward bound steamers.
The ship was shrouded in fog. and
nothing could be seen on either side.
The steamer kept up a continued fire
OF guns and discharge of rockets. but
no answer came to their signals. and
on Friday the captain DISPATCHED
boat containing eight men and the
thlrd officer, either to make land or to
sight a passing steamer
Ihat night fierce gale rose and
heavy seas dashed against the big
steamer on the banks. The anchor
chains strained and swung. and the
snip was tossed about like a feather
After midnight the gale increased in
fury, and at 4 o'clock Saturday morn
ms the anchor haWser parted with q
snap and the ship drifted southwark
Ihe situation was critical in the ex-
IRENE. The current drove them south
ward at the rate Of fifty miles daily,
Veering again to the southwest. All the
while the steamer kept showing her
signals of distress, but in vain.
La Champagne drifted in this con-
d1tion from Saturday morning. Feb. IS
until Wednesday, the 23d, when two
steamers We're sighted ten miles away.
one directly before La Champagne and
the other on the port bow. La Cham
pagne's guns doomed forth, and her
rockets 1ared up and her red fire
burned luridIy.
The steamer in front gave answering