Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-03-03
FRENCH STEAMER LA CHAMPAIGN
W fsTo HALIFAX.
After Drifting for Five Days ON INC
Newfoundland Banks Win O'
abI~d Engines and . Broke"
screw shaft She u Picked Up by
n. u.r,. .,d lowed to Hail.
f~ax-TerrfbIe Experience Of Pas
s~ngers on Board q Dsrsiee
S,s sn er In Mid

Halifax. March 1.-The three hundred
odd passengers on board the freoch
liner la Champagne rested more
soundly last night than they have Tor
ten days
Since Thursday. two weeks ago, naIf
OF which time they have drifteo Oh une
Atlantic. three days and nights nave
been flles with anxiety for their per
sonsl safety. but last night they slept
In peace and comfort. safe IN the mar
Dor Of halifax. their tears 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 i've
DAYS on The Newfoundland banks
with her engines disabled and the
screw shaft shattered. the great Bos-
fou-bound freigh,er Roman, from Liv-
erpo0L came along. picked her up and
brought her into Halifax without fur
Their mishap Of consequence.
la Champagne sailed from Havre OF
Feb. - with me clear weather. which
continued for two days Then d
wind freshened and a gale sprung VI.
blowing with moderate force All went
well until the 18th. The ship was
sieaming fast against the head seas
when. suddenly. about 4 O'clock, a
tremendous crashing sound was heard
in the engine rooms. In an instant d
panic seized the passengers n
Great Excitement Prevailed
in the saloons and among the oceu-
pantS Of the s1eerage. The ships
passage was stayed and the heavy
pounSipgs shook the whole craft
Capt. Pcirot quickly Gained the PAS
senggrs and soon after il WAS dis
! covered that the tail screw shaft a
broken.
The CAPTAIN announced that the In
Jury could be repaired and the ship
would proceed ST j O'Clock next day.
She was put about. but after further
examination il was found that the
damage was irrcparabie. Nothing
remained 10 te dcne but anchor. La
Champagne was then in latitude 45-2S.
longitude 3I2. just in the track of
outward-tr9und steamers The passen-
gers Snd crew were hopeful Of being
sighted hy Sonie sng steamer. but
a thick fog spraDg up, blighting their
| hopes. The steamer KEEP UP a contfn-
nal fire of guns and discharge OF rock
| cts. bit no answer anne 10 their sig
mails and on FRIDAY the captain dis
patched a boat containing eight men
and third officer, either 10 make laud
| or TO sight 9 passing steamer
That night q fierce gale arose and
| heavy seas dashed against the big
/ steamer oH the banks. The anchor
| chains strained and swung and the
ship tossed about Ike a feather. AZ
ter midnight the gale increased in
fury and al 4 O'Clock Saturday morn
ing the anchor hawser parted with a
snap and the ship drifted southwark.
Tine situation was critical in the ex-
rreme. She driftea in this condition
from Saturday Morning. Feb. IS, 10
"Wednesday. the sd.
New York. March 1. - The Holland
American line steamer Rotterdam.
from Rotterdam, arrived al quarantine
Saturday night with Third orscer
George TnsworIh and eight seamen Of
the overdue French line la Cham
payne. who were picked up from a
life beat On Thursday. Feb ~. in lati-
tndc al north. longitude so west The
men when taken aboard the Rotfer-
dam. Were in a helpless condition.
having been in the ships lifeboat for
SIX days and nights. The men vert
I al more ar }eSS frgSshifrep