The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-28

them southwark fifty miles daily, veerlng
again to the southwest. The steamer
kept showing her signals of Distress puo
| no relief came. The ship drifted IN TINS
helpless condition from Saturday q. IN
February 1s until Wednesday the 23rd. A
dread fear seized upon the saloon and the
hours were passed wearily. All through
the long day the ship steadily drifted and
into the night, until the passengers who
had bravely withstood the experience mad
almost abandoned hopes. Most of them
had retired to their state rooms when near
midnight the cry ''Sail ahoy' was heard.
Two steamers were sighted ten miles
away, one directly abaft and the other on
the port bow.
The La Champagne's guns doomed up
and her fires burned. The steaI"er in
front gave answering signals and bore
down rapidly upon the La Champagne.
She proved to be the Warren liner Ro-
man, Captain Roberts, bound from Liver
pool to Boston.
The Roman stood by the La Champagne
and at one O'Clock Captain Poirot went
Captain Roberts to tow him to the nearest
port, which proved to be Halifax. The
Roman passed steel cable to the 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 was expert.
enced and start was finally made at one
O'Clock. The La Champagne was picked
up in latitude 1928 longitude 5l.23 and
from that point onward no trouble was
expelienced.
| A subscription was made up on board
for the men who so bravely manned the
life boat and left in search of help and
the sum of five thousand francs was
| quickly raised.
When the La Champagne was entering
Halifax harbor Captain Poirot was pre-
sented with an address signed by all the
passengers to which he made suitable
and modest reply.
| The accident is most serious one and
will necessitte the ship going into dry
dock.
The Roman which has large cargo on
hoard but no passengers, is bound to Bos-
ton from Liverpool.
| The La Chanipagne's mails, consisting
of $50 bags were landed here tonight and
given in charge of post office authorities.
Captain Poirot made arrangement with
his agents here to forward the passengers
tomorrow. They will be taken off the
steamer early tomorrow in tenders and
sent by special train at O'Clock to New
York.
The Canadian customs officials have
agreed to facilitate their transportation and
their baggage will be passed through
quickly. Some of the passengers will
not leave until tomorrow afternoon.
The La Champagne mails will be for
warded by special train.
FEARS SET AT REST.
New York, February 27.-The news of
the safety of the La Champagne has set
at rest the anxiety and fears for the safe
ty of her passengers and crew. at the
office of the company today there were
only few callers Third Officer Unsworth,
reported that of the ten men who manned
the life boat and were picked up six days
later by the steamer Rotterdam only he
and Conrad were able to leave their
hunks aboard the Rotterdam at Hoboken
this forenoon. Officer Unsworth showed
little of the effects of his fearful exposure
except that the skin was peeling of his
face.
| Ouartermnster Comrad's hands were
blue and swollen from frost bite, but they
were not bandaged. He walked with
difficulty as his feet were badly swoolen.
He made no complaint, however, and said
ne was grateful to be alive after such an
experience. He praised ths captain and
officers and crew of the Rotterdam and
said they were very kind to the men. The
remainder of the boats crew are Still be-
| ing cared for on the Rotterdam but with
the exception of Seaman Creur and Tan
guy they will be able to leave their bunks
this afternoon. AS soon as they are able
they will be transferred to the Labretagne
and the others who are still suffering will
be sent to the French hospital IN this city,
where arrangements have been made for
| their reception.
LA CHAMPAGNE AWAITING AID.
New York, February 26.-The Holland.
American line steamer Rotterdam from
Rotterdam, arrived at quarantine to-
night with third officer George Unsworth
and nine seamen of the overdue French
liner La Champagne, who were picked
up from lifsboat on Thursday, February
25 in lat. 43.10N.; lon. 57W. The men
when taken aboard the Rotterdam were
in helpless condition, having been in
the ships lifeboat for six days and
nights. The men suffered terribly from
the effects of the weather and were al
more or less frost bitten. Third Officer
Unsworth stated that the La Champagne
broke her tail end shaft on Thur sday
February II, at 5p. m, in lat. 45.s7
long. 51.52. The steamer being in &
helpless condition Capt. Poirot anchored
The steamer was on the Newfoundland
bapks and there being posi- bility o.