The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-03-01

Halifax, March 1.-The three hundred
odd passengers on board the French
liner La Champagne rested more
soundly last night than they have for
ten days.
Since Thursday two weeks ago, half
of which time they have drifted on the
Atlantic, three days and nights have
been filed with anxiety for their per-
sonal safety, but last night they slept
in peace and comfort, safe in the har-
Dor of halifax, their fears and cares
on account of danger being dissipated
by the happy knowledge that they
were 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 Bos-
ton-bound freighter Roman, from Liv-
erpool, came along, picked her UP and
brought her into Halifax without fur
Their mishap of consequence.
Ia Champagne sailed from Eayre Oh
Feb. II with fine clear weather, which
continued for two days. Then the
wind freshened and gale sprung up,
blowing with moderate force. All went
we'll until the nth. The ship was
steaming fast against the head seas,
when, suddenly, about 4 O'Clock,
tremendous crashing sound was heard
in the engine rooms. In an instant
panic seized the passengers and
Great Excitement Prevailed
in the saloons and among the occu-
pants of the steerage. The ships
passage was stayed and the heavy
poundings shook the whole craft
Can't. Poirot quickly claimed the pas
sengers and soon after it was dis.
covered that the tail screw shaft had
broken.
The captain 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
remained to be done but anchor La
Champagne was then in latitude 1923,
longitude 31.23, just in the track OF
outward-bound steamers. The passen-
gers and crew were hopeful of being
sighted by sonIe passing steamer, but
a thick fog sprang up, blighting their
hopes. The steamer KEEP up contin-
ual fire of guns and discharge of rock
cts, but no answer came to their sig
nails, and ON Friday the captain dis
patched a boat containing eight men
and third officer, either to make land
or to sight passing steamer
That night fierce gale arose and
heavy seas dashed against the big
steamer on the banks. The anchor
chains strained and swung and the
ship tossed about like feather. At
ter midnight the gale increased in
fury and at o'clock Saturday morn
ing the anchor haWser parted with
snap and the ship drifted southwark.
Tine situation was critical in the eX-
treme. She drifted in this condition
from Saturday Morning, Feb. Is, to
Wednesday, the 23d.
New York, March l. = The Holland
American line steamer Rotterdam,
from Rotterdam, arrived at quarantine
Saturday night with Third Officer
George Unsworth and eight seamen of
the overdue French line La Cham
payne, who were picked up from a
life boat on Thursday, Feb. a, in lati-
tude al north, longitude 81 west. The
men, when taken aboard the Rotter-
dam, were in a helpless condition,
having been in the ships lifeboat for
six days and nights. The men were
all more or less frostbitten.