New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-28
IA CHAMPAGNE AT HALIFAX
TOWED TO PORT BY THE ROMAN.
r,,r FRENCH LINER ADRIFT FIVE DAYS
BEFORE HELP CAME.


..Sy OF THE PASSENGERS HAD ABOUT ABAN-
poxEp HOPE WHEN THE REscUER SAW
THEIR SIGNALS OF pIsrREss-THEY WILL
START FOR NETWORK PY SPECIAL
TRAIN THIS MoRNING-sToRIEs OF
THEIR PERIIous EXPERIENCE
Halifax. n. s.. Feb. 27-"Five days and Ave
mortal nights adrift. shall never forget" said
a Young woman passenger TO a reporter he
srtered the saloon Of the disabled French liner
IA Champagne as she dropped anchor at 5:15
o'clock this afternoon in the port Of Halifax.
where she was towed by the Warren Liner
Roman That summed UP the feelings Of the
three hundred passengers of La Champagne.
which for nearly week had been buffeted by
the waves and had battlei with the head seas
on the stormy Newfoundland banks.
The Champagne was adrift on the banks from
Friday. February is. until Wednesday. the 23d.
when she was picked UP by the Roman. The
passengers had almost given UP hope OF reach
Ing land in safety.
shortly after noon to-day the signal service
reported the approach OF two steamers from the
eastward. and a few minutes later it was dis
.overed that the Warren Liner Roman was ap-
rroachng the harbor with the overdue French
,rs- IN tow. Tugs were Immediately dispatched
90 ,,ee. the steamers, and the whole harbor
.orce ~ .owboats proceeded to Chebucto Head
hut their services were not needed. The TWO
.,earners moved slowly up the harbor past the
forts and dropped anchor In port a. o:lo p. m.
The decks Of the big French liner were crowded
with excited passengers. who did not seek 70
conceal their delight as they found themselves
within the kindly shelter Of the harbor.
JOYFUL HUBBUB IN THD CABIN
The Tribune correspondent boarded the Cham
pagne Just as the anchor dropped The saloon
presented an animated scene as passengers
rushed hither and thither eager TO learn what
anxious friends IN New-York had thought OF the
steamers detention- All were ready to tell the
story of the experiences which had befallen them
IN midocean. Now that they were sare IN port
they disdained any thought Of fear, but some or
them could Ill conceal that they had passed
through a trying and anxious time. Not since
the Gascogne's mishap had transatlantic
liner undergone such terrible experience as the
campagne adrift in midocean for five days
without sighting a sail OF any kind
The Champagne sailed from Havre on Febru-
ery IL with fine. clear weather. which con-
t,nued for two days. Then the wind freshened
and a gale sprung up, blowing with moderate
force. All went we'll until the 18th. The pas
sengers had settled down and were passing the
time pleasantly. The ship was steaming fast
against the head seas. when suddenly. about
o'clock a tremendous crashing sound was heard
In the engine-room
PANIC WHEN THE SHAFT BROKE
IN an instant a panic seized upon the passen-
gers. and great excitement reigned In the saloon
and among the occupants Of the steerage The
ships progress was stayed and the whole craft
shook Captain Poirot quickly calmed the pas
seneers and soon after II was discovered that
the tail shaft had broken. The steamer was run
ring at high speed, and the engines flew around
like lightning when the resistance or the screw
was removed. Before they could be stopped con-
siderable damage was done In the engine-room.
The wild racing Of the big engines made an aw-
full noise and the panic-strcke1 passengers
thought the ship would be smashed to pieces.
Finally the engines stopped their pounding. after
the piston and connecting rods had snapped and
ether damage done. Captain Poirot an
nounced that the damage could be repaired and
the ship would proceed at / o'clock next day.
She was put about. but, after further ex-
animation. II was found that the damage was
irreparable Nothing remained to be done but
anchor. She then in latitude 45:2S. longi-
steamers
FOG SHUT THEM IN
The passengers and crew were hopeful OF
being sighted by some passing steamer. but a
thick fog sprung 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 10 their signals, and on
Friday the captain dispatched a boat contain
ing eight seamen, a coxswa!n's mate and the
third officer. either TO make land or sight a
passing steamer.
That night fierce gale sprang up and heavy
seas dashed against the big steamer on the
banks. The anchor chains strained and swung
and the ship was tossed about like feather
After midnight the gale increased in fury and
about o'clock on Saturday morning the anchor
hawser parted with a snap and the ship drifted
southwark The situation was critical In the
extreme. The passengers were terrified at the
thought Of their helpless condition adrift on
disabled steamer in midocean. The current
drove them southwark at the rate Of fifty miles
daily veerlng again to the southwest.
All the while the steamer kept showing her
signals Of distress, but no answering signal
came. La Champagne drifted In this helpless
condition from Saturday morning. February 49,
until Wednesday morning. the 23d. Fear seized
upon the passengers. and many almost aban-
doned hope
HELP COMES AT LAST.
Most OF them had retired 10 their staterooms
when near midnight the welcome cry. sail
ahoy" was heard. II echoed from lookout
tower TO cabin and steerage. and every person
on the big ship reJoiced. Two steamers were
sighted ten miles away. one directly before La
Champagne and the other on the port bow. La
Champagnes guns doomed forth, her rockets
fared up and her red fires burned.
The steamer IN front gave answering signals
and bore down rapidly upon La Champagne
She proved 10. be the Warren Liner Roman.