The times., 1898-02-28

Halifax Y 8. Feb 2--The , 81,
steamer la Champagne roa are
2:@0 O'Clock This afternoon in JaF .l J.-
Warren Liner Roman. The Rose Jo-,
Ia Champagne in tow last T...rs.
morning sos miles cast 90 tins ~.
with only the slight misl.sp of ihe ,oN-
line swapping once in fine weasher,
reached the journeys end.
Ia Champagne left Havre February u
for New York with So souls on board.
all told. and had an uncveutful passage
Tor five days. taking northerly route in
order 10 get The benefit of the great
circle distances. This NAV possibly have
had something 10 do with the accident
TO The steamers shaft. which broke sud
denly just after clearing a field Of ice
on the edge OF The Banks Of Newround-
land on The afternoon OF February Il.
The steamer was in field of ice from
early morning until afternoon on Feb
ruary H. The ice extended rs far rs the
eye could see TO the north and there
seemed 10 be bergs in it. The field clear
cd about , O'Clock and between 4:3O and
s. while The ship was logging seventeen
knots an hour, there was a shock which
caused her 10 tremble from stem 10
stern Everybody en- board was sure
thar something serious had happened,
but there was no panic. The officers
were quickly apprised by the engineer
thar The machinery had broken down.
The mishap was accepted as something
trivial. and il was not until Friday
morning that il was generally known
that the shaft had broken in the tunnel
and that repairs were impossible The
ship was then al anchor in forty fathOms
OF water. The weather had been com
parauyely fair until this time when II
began 10 show signs Of a blow.
The captain and officers Of the ship did
everything IN their power TO make those
intrUsted 10 their care as comfortable
Is possible under the circumstances
After the accident the steamer drifted
10 The eastward little and then the
northeast gale springing mp carried her
more than 100 miles south and west,
straight for New York The Roman took
the disabled steamer III tow in latitude
43.O5 north longitude 55.l0 west. The six
DAYS Intervening between the mishap and
the rescue We're spent IN monoJonous
way. The steamer was several DAYS at
anchor during which 30 sight OF land
OF sail cheeTed the vision. and the anX-
ieJy increased daily as 10 what would
gerous position ia which the steamer was
placed
j was felt on Saturday that some at
tempt would have to be made 10 bring
help 20 the steamer. 0fncers resolved up
on sending out d boats crew. which
would try 10 reach land or speak some
ship. Nine sailors in charge Of the third
lieutenant embarked on that day in
search Of aid The passengers Of the ship.
moved by the heroism of the boats crew,
subscribed nearly 81 GOO Oh the spot for
1beir benefit, and they set out amid
cheers
The next incident Of interest was the
sending adTIft Of d well-ironed barrel in
side of which a letter Was placed with
fiaIuT Of La Champagne and her condi-
iton- Signals were shown every day and
rockets sent up al intervals al night
On Wednesday night about 1880. when
q steamers lights were on the starboard
bow. feeling Of JOY perVaded every
breast on board, and all rushed to the
ships side Rockets were discharged
more frequently and the small cannon
forward was fired every minute. The
steamers lights approached near enough
Tor the anxious watchers TO distinguish
the row Of brilliant lighted ports OF 4
large passenger steamer westward bound.
The distress signals were unnotsced. and
The steamer kept on her course uncheck-
cd, but about hall an hour later houcs
We're again raised by another steamer 5
lights appearing in the same direction.
About midnight "Wednesday the Roman
bore down on La Champagne and nailed
her The captain answered that his shaft
Was broken and that he wanted 10 be taxi
81 IN town HawseTs were got ready. and
al daylight the work of passing n, lines
commenced.
Twice the lines snapped. Finally So
cure connection Wa mace with "a wire
hawser and chain cable Ou TAursd..y
morning they started FOR Halifax. Nuth-
ing occurred 10 mar the progress. and
The ships mails were landed tonight.
The saloon and second cabin Messengers
VIII be landed tomorrow