The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-03-09
ADRIFT FOR FIVE DAYS.
TIE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF an
OCEAN STEAMER.


OCEAN STEAMER.
Ocd Passengers Cannot bs Describsd-
She is az Last Rescued by Another
Steamer.
For Eve days and nights the large
ocean steamship Is Champagne, run
ming between New York and Bavre,
drifte6 about on the ocean St the
mercy of the waves. La Champagne
sailed from Bavre on February II
with fine. clear weather, which con.
tinued for two days. Then the wind
freshened and gale sprang up. blow
ing with moderate force All went
well until the 17th. The passengers
had settled down and were passing
the time pleasantly. The ship was
stearning fast sgainst the head seas,
when suddenly. about I o'clock, s
tremendous crashing sound was heard
IN ths engine rooms. In an instant q
panic seized the passengers, and great
excitement prevailed in the saloous
and among the occupants OF the stser.
age. The ships passage was stayed
and heavy poundings shook the whole
craft. Capt. Poirot quickly Gained
the passengers, ano soon after 1t was
discovered that the tail screw shaft
had broken. The steamer was run
ming at high speed. and the engines
few around ike lightning when the
resistance Of the screw was removed,
and before they could be stopped much
damage was done in the engine room.
The wild racing Of the big engines
made a greaE noise, and the terrified
passengers thought the ship would be
smashed to pieces. finally the en-
gines stopped their pounding after the
piston and connecting rods had snap
ped. Capt Poirot announced that the
injury could be repaired and the ship
would procssd st o'clock next day.
She vas put about, but after further
examination it was found that the
damage was irreparable. Nothing
remained to be done but anchor. La
Champagne was then in Latitude
45 2S, longitude 81 %, just IN the
track of outward bound steamers. The
passengers and crew were hopeful OF
being sighted by some passing steamer
but 8 thick fog sprang up, ollghtlng
their hopes, The ship was shrouaed
in fog and nothing could be seen on
either side. The steamer kept up q
continual fire Of guns and discharge
of rockets, but no answer came to their
signals, and on Friday the captain
dispatched q boat containing eight men
and the third officer, either to make
land or sight passing steamer.
That night 8 fierce gale rose 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 ID
fury and at o'clock Saturday morn
ing the anchor hawser parted with a
snap and the ship driftsd southwark.
The situation was critical in the ex.
treme. The passengers were terrified
st the thought of their helpless cc ndi-
ton a6rifs on s disabled steamer N
mid ocean. The current drove them
southwark at the rate of so miles daily
veering again to the southwest. AL
the while the steamer kept showing
her signals of distress, bat IN vain.
La Champagne drilted in this condi
ton from Saturday morning Februs
~ II, until Wednesday, the 2Sd.
All through the long day the ship
steadily drifted and into the night
until the passengers who had bravely
wisnstood 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. It re echoed from
lookout to cabin and steerage, and
every soul on that big ship rejoiced.
Two steamers were sighted ten miles
away, one directly before La Cham
pagne and the other on the port bow.
La Champagne's guns doomed forth
and her rockets 6sred up and her red
fire burned luridly. The steamer in
front gave answering signals and bore
down rapidly upon La Champagne.
She, proved to be the Warren Liner
Roman, bound from Liverpool to Bos
ton. The Roman stood by La Cham
pasne and at once Capt. Poirot went
aboard and made arrangements with
Capt. Roberts to tow him to the near-
est port, Halifax.
The Roman passed steel cable to
La Champagne st noon on Thursday
and the two steamers started for Hall
fax. The first day the towing hawser
parted three times. but little Delay re
suited and start was finally made at
lo'clock. Ls Champagne was picked
up In latitude 1928, ngitude 5l.23
and from that point onward no trou-
bic was experienced. The weather
was fine until today when q snow
durry started and the steamers had to
proceed slowly. a subscription was
made up on board for the men whose
bravely manned the life boat and left
in search of help, and 5000 francs
were quickly realized. When La
Cham pagne was entering Halifax har
Dor an address signed by all the
passengers was presented to Captain
Poirot, to which he made a suitable
and modest reply. So thankful were
some Of the passengers to be IN port
that several of them were anxious to
have some Of the clergynen on board
hold service OF thanksgiving. The
accident to Is Champasne is most
serious one and will necessitate the
ship going into the dry dock. La
Champagne's mails, consisting Of ESQ
bags, were landed here to night AID
given in charge of the postoffice au-
thorities, and they with the saloon
passengers will be forwarded to New
York, leaving here at S o'clock to.
morrow morning.
Would Help the spania-ds,
Rev. D a. Gaddie, Pastor OF a
colored Baptist Church in Louisville,