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

freighter Roman, from Liverpool, came
into Halifax without further mshap
Great was the joy on board the French
steamer when the cloudy sunday
morning broke the shores of Nova
Scotia In sight and the word was
passed that Halifax harbor would be
reached before dark. Port was reached
In good time. Three or four hours
more would have found the two steam
trs still at sea, caught in dark and
stormy night with thick snow falling.
and they might have been compelled
to turn about and put off shore to keep
clear of the coast until another day
broke.
Press boarded the Champagne just as
the anchor was dropped. The saloon
presented an animated scene as the
passengers were eager to learn what
anxious friends in New York had
thought of the detention of the steam
err. All were eager to tell the story of
the fateful experiences which had be-
fallen them adrift in the middle of
the ocean. Now that they We're safe
in port they disclaimed any fear. but
some of them could not conceal that
they had passed through a trying and
anxious time. Not since the Gas
cogne's experience had transatlantic
perlence as La Champagne adrift In
mid-ocean for five days without sight
Ing Il sail OF any kind.
La Champagne sailed from Havre on
the 18th with fine clear weather which
continued for two days. Then the
wind freshened and a gale sprung up
blowing with moderate force. All went
well until the 18th. The passengers
had settled down and We're passing
the time pleasantly The ship was
steaminE fast against the head seas,
when suddenly about o'clock a ire
mendous crashing sound was heard In
the engine rooms. In an instant
panic seized upon the passengers and
great excitement reigned in the so-
looms and among the occupants of the
steerage. The ships progress was
stayed and heavy poundings shook the
whole craft. Capt. Poirot quickly
Gained the passengers and soon after
1t was discovered that the tail screw
shaft had broken. The steamer was
running at high speed and the engines
flew around like lightning when the re-
sistance of the screw was removed, and
before they could stop them consider
able damage was done In the engine
room. The wild racing of the big en-
gines made an awful noise and the
panic stricken passengers thought that
the ship would be smashed to pieces.
Finally the engines stopped their
pounding after the piston and connect
ing rods had snapped and other dam
age was done.
Capt. Poirot announced that the
damage could be repaired end the ship
would proceed at / O'Clock next day.
She was put about, but after further
examination 1t was found that the
damage was irreparable. Nothing re-
mained to be done but anchor. She
was then in latitude 452S, longitude
ittat In this. track Of nilt ward
bound steamers. 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 n continual fire of
guns and discharge of rockets, but no
answer came to their signals, and on
Friday the captain dispatched n boat
containing eight men, a coxswain and
lieutenant. 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 Saturday morning the anchor
hawser parted with n snap and the
ship drifted southwark.
The situation was critical in the ex-
treme. The passengers were terrified
at the thought of their helpless con-
dition adrift on n disabled steamer In
mid-ocean. The current drove them
southwark at the rate of so miles
daily, veering again to the southwest.
All the while the steamer kept show
ing her signals OF distress. but no an
swering signal came. La Champagne
drifted In this helpless condition from
Saturday, the 18th. until the 23rd. All
through the long day the ship steadily
drifted and into the night until the pas
sengers who had bravely withstood
the experience had almost abandoned
hope. Most of them had retired to
their state-rooms when near mid
night the welcome cry sail ahoy" was
heard. 1t re-echoed from lookout
tower to cabin and steerage, and every
soul on that big ship rejoiced. Two
steamers were sighted ten miles away.
one directly before La Champagne and
the other on the port bow.
La Champagne's guns doomed forth
and her rockets fiared up and her red
fires burned lur!dly. The steamer in
front gave answering signals and bore
down rapidly upon the Champagne.
Roman. Capt. Roberts. bound from
Liverpool to Boston. The Roman
stood by La Champagne and at
o'clock Capt. Poirot went aboard and
made arrangements with Capt. Rob-
erts to tow him to the nearest port.
which proved to be Halifax. The Ro-
man passed steel cable to La Cham
payne at noon Thursday. and the two
steamers started for Halifax. The
first day the towing hawser parted
three times, but little delay was ex-
perienced. and start was finally made
at 1 o'clock. La Champagne was
picked up In latitude 45.2s, longitude
5i.23, and from that point onward no
trouble was experienced. Fine weather
was experienced until yesterday, when
a snow furry sprung UP and the
steamers had to proceed slowly. A
subscription was made up on board for
the men who so bravely manned the
llfeboat and left in search OF help. and
the sum of 5000 Tiancs was quickly
raised.
When Ia Champagne was entering
Halifax harbor, Capt. Poirot was pre-.
scented with an address signed by all
the passengers, to which he made a
suitable and modest reply. SO thank
f,t ,para enrna nf the messengers TO feel