The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-28
IA CHAMPAGNE IN HALIFAX.
THE BIG LINER TOWED IN By THE
FREIGHT STEAMER ROMAN.
For Five Days She Had Been Aurii'
Mt the Mercy of the Waves. Her
Cable Chains Having Parted
When She Anchored ON the Banks.

HALIFAX. Feb. s7-The 500 and odd
passengers on board the French liner La
Champagne will rest more souncly imam
they have for ten days
Since Thursday. two weeks ago, they
have been at sea. and half OF that time
they have drifted on the Atlantic. ana
their DAYS and nights have been filled with
anxiety for their personal safety, but to-
night they sleep in peace and comfort,
safe in the harbor Of Halifax their fears
and cares on account OF the danger being
dlssipated by the happy knowledge that
they are no longer at the mercy o, the
stormy ocean.
After drifting for five days on the New
fouudland banks with her engines dis
abled and the screw shaft shattered. the
great Boston-bound freighter Roman,
from Liverpool, cana along. picked her
up and brought her into Halifax without
further mishap OF consequence.
Great was the JOY on board tina big
French steamer when the cloudy Sunday
morning broke with the shores or Nova
Scotia in sight. and the word was passed
that Halifax would be reached before
dark.
Port was reached just in good time.
Three or four hours more would have
found the two steamers still al sea, caught
IN a dark and stormy night. with thick
snow falling and they might have been
compelled 70 turn about and put on shore
TO keep clear OF the coast until daybreak.
The correspondent OF the Associated
Press boarded the Ia Champagne Just
as the anchor was dropped. The saloon
presented an animated scene as the pas
sengers were eager 20 learn what
anxious friends in New York had thought
Of the detention OF the steamer. All wish
I'd to tell the story OF their experiences
adrift in mid-ocean. Now that they were
safe in port they disclaIued any fear. but
some OF them could Tot conceal that they
had passed through a trying ordeal.
la Champagne sailed from HaVre on Feb
ruary i2 with fine. clear weather which
continued FOR two days. Then the wind
freshened and gale sprung up. blowing
with moderate force All went we'll I'M
I'll the 18th. The passengers had settled
down and We're passing the time pleas
antly.
The ship was steaming fast against the
head seas. when suddenly after 4 O'Clock.
tremendous crash was heard In the en-
CINE rooms. In an instant a panic seized
the passengers and great excitement pre-
vailed fin the saloons and among the oc-
cupauts OF the steerage. The ships pas
sage was stayed and heavy pounding shook
the craft Cept. P0irot quickly Gained
the passengers and soon after Il VAS Dis
covered that the tail screw saaft tad
broken The steamer was running at high
speed and the engines few around ike
lightning when the resistance OF the screw
was removed. and before they could be
stepped. much damage was done In the
ehs ne room. Tire wAd racing u the b <
engines made great foss- ard the terri
nea passengers tsoaght the ship would be
smashed u pieces. Finally the engines
stopped their pounding after the pisten
and connecting rods had snapped Capt
PolTof announced thaI the injury ccuia ne
re9a red and the ship would proceed 81
o'clock the mex. day. She was put alsynt.
b1i after f1rta@r ewam.rg alton 81 was
toou3 that tae damage usa4 5~~e-srsfss
Na.a-r. remained - fe 8aaa but arrsesr
la 'rssae vas tne1 III latitude
s s.. Dos ie II p just .u the track -
o. WAfa- I'd steamers TIE pa4sa- "a
aud cfew weTe hopsful OF besrx serhtas
oy =ar7e passing steamer hut a tack -
sprung ua- hiiEHtins their hopes The -hin
VS. saFo21ed ia tog and r3thlng could Re
seen 01 either EiNe. T'a. steamer kA-4 -
a continual fire ~ aags and .ffs-ssr.. -
Fe< H+ts bot no answer came to their xlx-
ha's, and on Friday tne captain dIsnatrh@s
t'sat containing eight man aud = thgra
oFaceF. either - mako Land or Ia sirbt
a gTassirg steamer
h4F Hi6nt a heavy gale arose. TIE
"4'.i'"F faAins strained and swung the
-NIl' "ccA tossed ataue like f.ass~
AfleH midnight the gale increased ln fs,.y
@t9 ar : O'Clock Saturday fnornf0r tsa
anchor oaNser parted wIth snap ara tss
sip dfif.sd southwas3- TIE situation vas
critical IN the extreme Tn. r,aus..o..-.~.
%~re Terrified ~ tire thought cf rnAs- h,f-.-
fees condition. adrtft on a dlsable steam
- II uiii-oe~s" The curr as drove tse-,
~s'-i1 "&Fd - the rate % rf,v miles gaffy
FeeFiag aEs4a lo tbs sgush~e=t All rs
@a~ ta~ steamer sept za0wsa her stg-
Hais CO distress. bnt Ia vain.
Ii tnarafar ne 0r.fted III this condition
rem saturday morning february ~ an
III "Wednesday. February e.
Al through .he l3ng aav ene shin sea-
- dFI1 81 and into the night. unfu "a.
Passengers wao had trzve3y wfFsssesga sse
txIsstissiee had alnost abandoned nope.
Ness OF them had retired 70 their state
F@0szAs. Hhs9 near midnight Tia ws.csfas