The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-09-01
AFTER MANY DAYS.
A Fruit Laden Hteamer Has Peri
lous Voyage.
ALI on Board Forced to Eat shark
and Allowed Ono Swallow of
Water Day.

The steamer AthOs, II days late,
with eight passengers and cargo Of
rotten bananas and with the bones Of
half eaten sharks on board to Indicate
tho pcrils Of her voyage, arrived of
Scotland lightship last Monday night.
On July 80, tho Donald Steamship
company's steamer Athos left Port An
tonic, Jamaico, for New York, six
days voyage, with provisions in plenty
for this short period. Three hours Gus
of port an eccentric rod on the engine
broke, and from that hour until last
Sunday week, proceeding sometimes
only an hour a day under her own
steam, the Athos drifted at the mercy
Of tho storms, In constant danger Of
famine, once Without drinking water,
and receiving supplies from timo to
time Off passing vessels until on Aug
ust 20 the disabled steamer gave up
and signalled the steamer ALTA for a
tow. This steamer brought the Athos
TO New York.
The trouble was In the engine all
the time. From July 80 to August I,
one or two breaks daily we're recorded
In the engine. The log chronicles tho
fact that the daily delay was only 80
minutes long on August s.
Two days latter the catching Of the
sharks;ls recorded. Cinnamon on board
attempted to eat the sharks but the
meat made them Ill and the fish were
thrown into the sea. During the next
two days boats were lowered from the
AthOs to search for food fish.
On August 8 the disabled steam or
sighted the steamship Adirondack and
signalled "All we'll on bosrd," bnt on
the tenth the last tank of water was
opened and was found to be tainted
with the juice Of rotting bananas.
Some dolphin were caught two days
later and on August 18th the incipient
famine was further relieved by the
steamer Montevideo, which supplied
provisions.
For nearly week between August
10th and 17th the engines shaft was
useless, but not only was the steamer
| forced to drift about while repairs
were under way but for two days OF
this period great storm and high
seas broke over the helpless steamship,
The log indicates meanwhile that more
dolphin were caught. Finally ON Aug.
ust l8, the coupling flange broke and
the Athos abandoned the attempt to
make New York under her own steam
after 20 days Of continuous accidents.
1t was decided to accept the first offer
Of a tow. This did not come for two
days, during which a second food fam.
inc was averted by the steamer Vera,
which came alongside the Athos sup,
plying eatables and drinkables
At Scotland lightship last Monday
night the tow line broke, as a last
chapter In her long series Of accidents
and the Athos could not repair the
broken line in the dark, but anchored
for the night while the Altai brought
her passengens to quarantine. Tues
pay tugs were sent out to bring the
| Athos into port.
Passengers Of the Athos, on landing
Tuesday, reported THAI the famine
caused small mutinies among the
ships crew of 18 Chinamen. Trouble
| first started among the coolies over
the dearth Of tobacco and rice. A
negro helper was stabbed during one
Of the fights Of the hungry crew, but
the Ufticers and passengers were not
seriously menaced.
At one time the only water to be
had was ocean brine which had been
boiled and condensed. One swallow a
day to each person was all that this
process allowed.