Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-28
CHAMP SAFE.
Big French Liner Towed Into
Halifax Harbor,
GREAT JOY PREVAILED
The Ship Was Drifting Help
lessly When Sighted.
Rescue Effected by the Steamer Roman
"A Purse Of 5000 Francs Await
ing Men Sent Out
For Help

Halifax, N. s., Feb. 2I-The overdue
French steamer La Champagne was
towed into Halifax this afternoon by the
steamer Roman. La Champagne let go
| the hawser by which she was towed into
port and dropped anchor in mid-stream
off the centre of the city at 5.15 O'Clock
while the Roman steamed ahead to dock
to take a supply of coal aboard
Hundreds of people 1ocked to the
wharves to watch the two big steamers
move up the harbor
After drifting for five days on the
Newfoundland banks, with her engines
disabled and the screw shaft shattered,
the Champagne was sighted by the
great Boston-bound freighter Roman,
from Liverpool, and towed in without
any mishap.
Great joy prevailed 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 harbor would be
reached before dark.
The Champagne sailed from Havre
Feb 12. The ship was steaming fast
/
suddenly, about A O'Clock, a tremendous
crashing sound was heard in the engine
room. Great excitement reigned in the
saloons and the steerage. Capt. Poirot
quickly calmed the passengers, and soon
after it was discovered that the tail
screw shaft had broken. The engines
also had suffered serious damage.
1t was found the damage could not be
repaired. Nothing remained to be done
hI1t anchor The (Nhann9 was then
in latitude 45.35, longitude 51.47, just in
the track of outward bound steamers.
A thick fog, however, sprang up, so
that nothing could be seen on either
side. The steamer kept UP continual
fire of guns and discharge of rockets.
On Friday the captain dispatched a
boat containing eight men, either to
make land or sight a passing steamer.
That night there was a fierce gale, and
Saturday morning the anchor hawser
parted with a snap, and the ship drift
| ed southwark The situation was crit
| ical in the extreme. The current drove
the ship southwark at the rate of so
miles daily.
| La Champagne drifted in this help
| less condition from Saturday morning,
Feb. 1S, until Wednesday, the 29d. Some
of the passengers then had almost given
up hope. Most of the passengers had
retired to their state rooms, when near
midnight the welcome cry, Sail ahoyv'
was heard. Two steamers had been
| sighted ten miles away, one directly
| before La Champagne and the other ON
| the port bow. La Champagne's guns
| doomed forth, and her rockets flared.
The steamer in front gave answering
signals, and bore down rapidly upon the
| Champagne.
| She proved to be the Warren liner
Roman, Capt. Roberts. bound from
Liverpool to Boston The Roman stood
by La Champagne, and at 1 o'clock
Capt. Poirot went aboard and made ar
rangements with Capt. Roberts to tow
him to the nearest port, which proved
/ to be Halifax.
The Champagne then was in latitude
4402, longitude 54.33.
A subscription was made up on board
for the men Who so bravely manned the
life boat and left in search of help, and
the sum of 5000 francs was quickly
raised. When La Champagne was en-
tering Halifax farbor, an address,
signed by all the passengers, was pre-
sented to the captain.
The accident to La Champagne will
necessitate the ship going into dry dock
The Roman, which has a large cargo
on board, but no passengers, was bound
to Boston from Liverpool Soon after
anchoriIg his prize, Capt Roberts paid
visit to Capt. Poirot on board the
French steamer. AS soon as his pres
ence on board became known in the
saloon. he was quickly surrounded and
had thanks and congratulations show
cred on him from all sides.
La Champagne's mails, consisting Of
$50 bags, were landed here tonight and
given in charge of the postal authorities
and they. with the saloon passengers,
will be forwarded to New York, leaving
here at s o'clock tomorrow morning.