The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-28
For Two Weeks at the Mercy of
the Atlantic.
HER ENGINES DISABLED
Towed IEto Halifax by the Roman After
Days of Anxiety - The Anchor
Hawser Parted in a Gale.
Driven Out to Sea.

than they have for 10 days. Since
Thursday two weeks ago. half of the
time they have drifted on the Atlantic,
and three days and nights have been
filled with anxiety for their personal
safety. but tonight they sleep in peace
and comfort, safe in the harbor of Hall
fax, their fears and cares on account of
danger being dissipated by the happy
knowledge that they are no longer at
the mercy of the stormy ocean.
After drifting for five days on the
Newfoundland banks with her engines
disabled and the screw shaft shattered,
the great Boston-b bound freghter Ro-
man, from Liverpool. came along. picked
her up and brought her into Halifax
without further mshap of consequence.
Great was the joy on board the big
French steamer when the cloudy Sun
day morning broke with the shores of
Nova Scotia in sight, and the word was
passed that Halifax would be reached
before dark. Port was reached just IN
good time. Three or four hours more
would have found the two steamers still
at sea- caught in a dark and stormy
night. with thick snow falling. and they
might have been compelled to turn
about and put off shore to keep clear
of the coast until daybreak.
The correspondent of the associated
press boarded the La Champagne just
as the anchor was dropped. The saloon
presented an animated scene. as the pas
sengers were eager to learn what
anxious friends in New York had
thought of the detention of the steamer.
All wished to tell the story of the ex-
periences adrift in midoeean. Now that
they were safe in port, they disclaimed
any fear, but some of them could not
conceal that they had pushed through a
trying ordeal.
La Champagne sailed from Havre on
Feb. II. with fine, clear weather. which
continued for two days. Then the wind
freshened and a gale sprang up. blowing
with moderate force. All went well until
the nth. The passengers had settled
down and We're passing the time pleas
antly.
The ship was steaming fast against
the head wind, when suddenly, after 4
o'clock, a tremendous crashing sound
was heard in the engine rooms. In an
instant a panic seized the passengers
and great excitement prevailed In the
saloons and among the occupants OF
the steerage. The ships passage was
stayed and heavy poundings shook the
whole craft
Captain Poirot quickly calmed the
passengers and soon after ii was dis
covered that the tail screw shaft had
broken. The steamer was running AZ
high speed and the engine flew around
like lightning when the resistance of the
screw was removed, and before they
could be stopped much damage was done
in the engine room. The wild racing of
The big engines made a great noise and
the terrified passengers thought the
ship would be smashed to pieces. Final
~ the engines stopped their pounding
after the piston and connecting rods had
snapped. Captain Poirot announced that
the injury could be repaired and the
ship would proceed at | o'clock the next
day. She was put about. but after fur
ther examination Ii was found that the
damage was irreparabie. Nothing re-
manned TO be done but anchor.
La Champagne was then in latitude
45.3s, longitude 1.23, just in the track
of the outward bound steamers. The
passengers and crew We're hopeful of
being sighted by some passing steamer,
but a thick fog sprang up. blighting
their hopes. The ship was shrouded in
fog and nothing could be seen on either
side. The steamer kept up a continual
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 a
third officer. either to make land or TO
sight a passing steamer That night
heavy gale arose. The anchor chains
strained and swung the ship which
tossed about like feather After mid
night the gale increased in fury and
at 4 o'clock Saturday morning the
anchor hawsef parted with snap and
the ship drifted southwark. The situa-
tion was critical in the extreme. Pas
sengers We're terrified at the thought
of their helpless condition. adrift on a
disabled steamer in midocean. The
current drove them outward at the rate
of 80 miles daily, yeering again to the
southwest All the while the steamer
kept showing her signals of distress
but in vain.
La Champagne drifted in this condi-
ion fpat luy .sr6n, zft3or L-ak
until Wednesday. the 23d. All through
the long day the ship steadily drifted
into the night. until the passengers who
had bravely withstood the experience
had almost abandoned hope. Most of
them had retired to their state rooms
when near midnight the welcome cry
sail ahoy'' was heard. Ii re-eehoed
from the lookout to the cabin and steer
age and every soul on that big ship re-
joiced. Two steamers were sighted 10
miles away. one directly before La
Champagne and the other on the port
bow. La Champagne guns belched
forth and her rockets nared up and her
red fire burned luridly. The steamer in
front gave answering signals and bore
down rapidly upon La Champagne.
She proved TO be the Warren liner
Roman. bound from Liverpool TO Bos-
ton. The Roman stood by the La
Champagne at once. Captain Poirot
AEAA AtRRdEA anu tIAEtle dItdAA-EIilSlllS
with Captain Roberts to tow him to the
nearest port. Halifax.
The Roman passed a steel cable To
the La Champagne at noon Thursday
and the two steamers started for this
port The first dag the towing hawser
parted three times but little delay re-
suited and the start was finally made
at O'Clock La Champagne was picked
up in latitude i5-2s longitude 51.23. and
from that point onward nothing nota-
Bile was experienced. The weather was
fine TODAY. when a snow furry started
and the steamers had 10 proceed slow
ES A subscription was made up on
board for the men who had SO braveiv
manned the lifeboat and left in search
Of help and 5000 francs was quickly
realized.
When La Champagne was entering