The herald., 1898-02-28
SAFE IN PORT
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cred that the tall screw shaft had broken.
The steamer was running at high speed,
and the engine few round like lightning
when the resistance of the screw was re-
| moved, and before they could be stopped
much damage was done in the engine
rooms. The wild racing of the big engines
made a great noise, and the terrified pas
sengers thought that the ship would be
smashed to pieces. Finally the engines
stopped their poundings, after the piston
and connecting rods had stopped. Capt.
Poirot announced that the injury could
be repaired and the ship would proceed at
l o'clock next day. She was put about,
but after further examination it was found
that the damage was irreparable. Nothing
remained to be done but anchor. La Cham
pagne was in latitude As deg. % min. west,
longitude Al deg. 2s min. north, in the track
of outward-bound steamers. The passen-
gers and crew were hopeful of being sight
cd by some passing steamer, but thick
fog sprang up. blighting their hopes. The
ship was shrouded in fog and nothing could
be seen on either side. The steamer kept
up continual firing of guns and discharg-
ing of rockets, but no answer came to their
signals, and on Friday the captain dis
patched boat, containing eight men and
the third officer. to make land or to sight
a passing steamer. That night fierce
sale arose. and heavy seas dashed against
the big steamer ON the banks. The anchor
chains strained and swung the ship, which
tossed about like feather. After mid
night the gale increased in fury. and at
o'clock Saturday morning the anchor chains
parted with snap and the ship drifted
southwark The situation was critical in
the extreme. Passengers were terrified at
the thought of their helpless condition,
adrift on a disabled steamer in midocean.
The current drove them southwark at the
r.sat lntlx -itaer n
the southwest. All the while the steamer
kept showing signals of distress, but in
vain.
La Champagne drifted in this condition
from Saturday morning. February 10th, un-
til Wednesday, the 2Sd.
All through the long day the ship stead
lily drifted and into the night until the
passengers who had bravely withstood the
experience had almost abandoned hope.
Most of them had retired to their state
rooms when, near midnight, the welcome
cry Sail ahoy!' was heard. 1t re-echoed
from the lookout to cabin and steerage and
every soul on that big ship rejoiced. Two
steamers were sighted, ten miles away. one
directed before the La Champagne and the
other on the port bow. La Champa gne's
guns belched forth and her rockets fisred
and her red fires burned luridly. The
steamer in front gave answering signals
anu JULIE CoWH rapluiy upon La NHali-
'pagne.
She proved to be the Warren liner Ro-
man, bound from Liverpool to Boston. The
Roman stood by La Champagne and at
once Captain Poirot went aboard and made
arrangements with Captain Roberts to tow
him to the nearest port. Halifax.
The Roman passed a steel cable to La
Champagne at noon Thursday and the two
steamers started for this port.
The first day the towing hawser parted
three times, but little delay resulted and
the start was finally made at o'clock. La
Champagne was picked up in latitude 1928.
longitude 4l2S, and from that point onward
no trouble was experienced.
The weather was fine until today. when
a snow furry started and the steamers had
to proceed slowly.
A subscription was made up on board for
lifeboat and left in search of help. and
5000 francs was quickly realized.
When La Champagne was entering Hall
fax harbor an address, signed by all the
passengers. was presented to Captain Poi
rot, to which he made suitable and mod
est reply. So thankful were the passengers
to be in port that several of them were
anxious to have some of the clergy on
board hold a service of Thanksgiving
The accident to La Champagne is a most
serious one and will necessitate the ship
going into dry dock.
La Champagne's mails were landed here
tonight and they, together with the saloon
passengers. will be forwarded to New York
tomorrow morning