The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-28
LA CHAMPAGNE IS IN PORT
PICKED UP BY THE ROMAN AND
 TOWED TO HALIFAX.

Story of the yoyage-AccIdent to the Shaft
 Followed by Panic Among the Passen-
 gers-Damage Found to be Irreparable--
 The Dispatch of the Boat With Eight
 Men, Coxswain and Lieutenant-A
 Fierce Gale-Ship Tossed About Like
 Feather-Drifting- Sighting of the Ro-
 man Work of Towing.
 Halifax. N. S., Feb. 27.-The three hundred and odd passengers on board the palatial French liner La Cham pagne will rest more soundly tonight than they have done for ten days. Since Thursday two weeks ago, half of which time they drifted on the At lantic, three days and nights have been filled with anxiety for their personal safety, but tonight they sleep in peace and comfort, safe in the harbor of Hal flax, their fears and cares being dissi- pated by the happy knowledge that they are 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 Boston bound freighter Roman, from Liverpool, came along, picked her up and brought her into Halifax without further mishap of consequence.
 Shores of Nova Scotia.
 Great was the joy on board the big French steamer when the cloudy Sum day morning broke with the shores of Nova Scotia in sight and the word was passed that Halifax harbor would be reached before dark. Port was reach ed just in good time. Three or four hours more would have found the two steamers still at sea, caught in a dark and stormy night with thick snow fall- ing, and they might have been com pelled to turn about and put off shore to keep clear of the coast until another day broke. The correspondent of the Associated Press boarded the Cham pagne just as the anchor was dropped. The saloon presented an animated scene, as the passengers were eager to learn that their friends had thought of the detention of the steamer.
 Story of the Voyage.
 All were eager to tell the story of the Hateful experiences which had befell them adrift in mid-ocean. Now that they were safe in port they disclaimed any fear, but some of them could not conceal that they had passed through trying and anxious time. Not since the Gascogne's experience had trans atlantic liner undergone such a terrible experience as the La Champagne, adrift in mid-ocean for five days with out sighting sail of any kind. The Champagne sailed for Havre on Feb ruary 12 with fine, clear weather, which continued for two days. Then the wind freshened and gale sprung up, blowing with moderate force All went well until the 17th. The passengers had settled down and were passing the time pleasantly. The ship was steam ing fast against the head seas, when suddenly about four o'clock tremend- ous crashing sound was heard in the engine room.
 In an instant a panic seized upon the passengers and great excitement reign ed in the saloons and among the occu- pants of the steerage. The ships prog ress was stayed and heavy poundings shook the whole craft. Captain Poiro1 quickly calmed the passengers anc soon after it was discovered that the tail screw shaft had broken. The steamer was running at high speed an6 the engines flew around like lightning when the resistance of the screw was removed and before they could stor them considerable damage was done ir ] the engine room. The wild racing o1 the big engines made an awful noise and the panic stricken passengers thought that the ship would be smash.
 ed to pieces. Finally the engines stopped their pounding after the pistor
 and connecting rods had snapped and other damage was done. Captain Poi.
 rot announced that the damage could be repaired. and the ship would pro. ceed at o'clock next day.
 Damage Irreparable,
 She was put about, but after further examination it was found that the damage was irreparable. Nothing re- mained to be done but anchor Sht
 was then in latitude 452S, longitude 51.23, just in the track of outward
 bound steamers. The passengers were | hopeful of being sighted by some pass | ing steamer, but a thick fog sprung up
 blighting their hopes. The ship wa! shrouded in fog and nothing could bt | seen on either side. The steamer kep | a continual fire of guns and discharge of rockets, but no ansyer came to theil | signals and on Friday morning the cap | tain dispatched a boat containing eigh men, coxswain and lieutenant eithel | to land or sight passing steamer | That night fierce gale sprang up ant
 heavy seas dashed against the biz | steamer on the banks. The ancho | chains strained and swung and the shiI
 was tossed about like a feather. Aftel | midnight the gale increased in fur, | and about 4 o'clock Saturday morning I the anchor hawser parted with a snal and the ship drifted southward Tn, | situation was critical in the extreme | The passengers were terrified at tn, | thought of their helpless condition l adrift on a disabled steamer in mid
 ocean. The storm drove them south ward at the rate of fifty miles daily
 veering again to the southwest. Al 1 the while the tseamer kept showing he signals of distress, but no answering | signal came.
 Drifting.
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