Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-11

hF'St otAiVdo Out- VIII
the ship going into dry dock. When
the tail-end shaft snapped the engines
began to race at fearful rate, and
this was what caused the connecting
rod to break. The work of towing the
big vessel to Halifax was not very
easy task for the Warren liner Ro-
man, Notwithstanding that she is also
Of immense proportions. Three times
the towing cables were parted by the
heavy pitching of the ships, and each
time 1t took considerable trouble to
pass others. Finally two large steel
lines and n massive manila one were
connected and with them the helpless
ship was brought safely into port.
The Roman. which has large cargo
on board. but no passengers. Is bound
to Boston from Liverpool. Soon after
anchoring his prize, Capt. Roberts
paid visit to Capt. Polrot on board
the French steamer. As soon as his
presence on board became known in
the saloon, he was surrounded and had
thanks and congratulations showered
on him from all sides. He made a
little speech before leaving to return
to his own ship. saying that he had
only done his duty, but remember.
ladies' and gentlemen, said he, 1T was
my steel rope that got you here" He
then babe them adieu, saying he wished
TO proceed on his way to Boston as
quickly as possible. La Champagne's
mails. consisting OF $50 bags. were
landed at Halifax last night and given
In charge of the postoffice authorities.
and they. with the saloon passengers,
Will be forwarded to New York, leav-
ing Halifax at O'Clock this morning.
Capt. Piorot was busy man for two
hours after his arrival in port. con-
sulting with his agents. S. Cunard &
Co. and transacting necessary BUSH
ness, but he found time TO make the
fnl M hYstn CT. tstN ant N a a.
ISOLATED Press: I'm a severe gale on
the banks our tail-shaft was broken
and we were unable to do anything to
repair the ship with the heavy seas
rolling. We drifted around the banks
from Friday night TN Wednesday
Warren steamer Roman In latitude
1927. longitude 5i.23. sent life
boat out on the track Of passing steam
ers, and 1 am sincerely glad to hear
you say that the crew was picked up
and landed safely in New York. We
have not yet decided what shall be
done with the Champagne. 1 had
no fears for the ultimate safety Of the
ship, but this voyage will always be
memorable to me. as well as to my
passengers"
The Holland American line steamer
Rotterdam from Rotterdam, arrived at
New York quarantine Saturday night
and nine seamen of La Champagne.
who were picked up from llfeboat
Thursday, the Path. in latitude 43.10
north, longitude 81 west. The men
when taken aboard the Rotterdam
We're in a helpless condition, having
been in the ships lifeboat FOR six days
and nights. The men suffered terribly
from the effects of the weather and
were all more or less frost-bitten.
unsworth could hardly stand. for his
feet had been frozen. He considered
that 1t was matter Of little moment
that anything should be told about
him. The vessel was in distress. 1t
was necessary for some one to go for
help, and he volunteered. Nine other
brave men followed him. and the boat
was launched into the fog-covered sea.
They were going they knew not whore.
They might fall in with some liner
and they knew they might never see
walk. and the other two can barely
stand upon their swollen feet.
Third officer Unsworth volunteered
to go for help for the Champagne.
The crew We're called on deck on the
morning after the accident, and the
captain asked for volunteers. Nine
men stepped forward. A 30-foot life
boat had been provisioned for fifteen
days. Sail was hoisted as soon as the
boat got well clear of the Champagne.
There was a heavy rolling sea and 1t
took skilful navigation to keep the
craft from being swamped 1t was an
intensely cold day. The biting north
west wind chilled the men through and
through. With benumbed fingers they
balled out the water which at inter-
walls leaped over the gunwales. At 5
O'Clock that afternoon (the 1sth) they
heard the whistle of u steamer. They
shouted at the tops of their voices, but
no answering signal came back from
the fog. The vessel passed close to
them. only a few cable lengths away.
There came then a night of chill and
rain. The boat was stocked with
timed meats and biscuits. and there
was plenty to eat. but the legs and
arms of the men were stirening with
the chill and they were drenched to
the skin by the seas.
As the night advanced the gale grew
stronger There was no chance to
sleep oil was poured from the bows,
which Gained the seas in some measure.
of the days which followed. The boat
shipped water almost as fast as the
men could bail at times. The pro-
visions were kept from being drenched
with brine and the water was not
fouled. Second Officer Van der Goot
the lifeboat with her frozen crew.
He said: ~ was on watch on the
bridge while the captain was at his
lunch below. 1t was about o'clock
in the afternoon when I made out a
small boat tossing about among the
waves, probably two miles of the star
board bow Taking glass / could see
that she had two flags up-a signal OF
distress-and that men were lying In
her bottom. They appeared to be COM
pleteiy exhausted. at once notified
the captain and he brought the ship
about and steered for the boat. When
we were almost alongside we could
hear the men giving feeble shouts.
They were frozen almost stiff, and after
we had thrown a line to man In the
bow the boats crew could hardly close
their stiffened fingers around 1t. The
man in the bow was Third Mate Uns-
worth of the Champagne. and he finally
made the line fast"
Boatswain John Cupido OF the Rot
terdam cast line to the lifeboat, when
the Rotterdam steamed alongside the
boat, and assisted the half-frozen
sailors TO mount the rope ladder which
was let down the ships side for them.
",The men were scarcely able to stand"
he said. land had to be helped up by
means of ropes passed under their
shoulders" Getting them aboard the
Rotterdam was a slow and tedious task,