The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-08-25

New York, August 22.-The steamer
Athos, seventeen days late, with eight
passengers and cargo of rotten ba-
nanas, and with the bones of half eaten
sharks on boa1C to indicate the perils
of her voyage, arrived off Scotland
lightship last night.
On July 80, the Donald Steamship
Company's steamer Athos left Fort
Antonio, Jamaica, for New York, SIX
days voyage, with provisions in plenty
for this short period Three hours out
Of port an eccentric rod Of the engine
broke, and from that hour until last
Sunday, proceeding sometimes only al
hour day under her own steam, the
Athos drifted at the mercy of storms.
in constant danger of famine, once
without drinking water, and receiving
supplies from time to time Off passing
vessels until on August 20 the disabled
steamer gave up and signalled the
steamer Altai for tow This steamer
brought the Athos to New York.
The trouble was in the engine all be
time. From July 80 to August 7th one
to two breaks daily in the engine were
recorded.
The log chronicles the fact that the
daily delay was only thirty minutes
long on August 5.
Two days later the catching of the
sharks is recorded. Men on board at
tempted to eat the sharks, but the next
two days boats were lowered from the
Athos in search of food fish.
On August 9Th the disabled steamer
sighted the steamship Adirondack and
signalled "alI well ON board" Bus On
the tenth the last tank Of water was
opened and was found to be tainted
with the juice Of the rotting bananas.
Some Dolphin were caught two days
later, and on August Is the inciplenJ
famine was further relieved by the
steamer Montevideo, which supplies
provisions.
For nearly a week between August
10 and II the engines shaft was use
less, but not only was the steamer
forced to drift about while repairs were
under way, but for two days Of this pc
riod great storm and high seas broke
meanwhile indicates that more dolphin
were caught Finally on August Is the
coupling fiange broke and the Athos
abandoned the attempt to make New
York under her own steam, after TWEEN
ty days of continuous accidents. 1t
was decided to accept the first offer Ol
a tow. This did not come for two
days, during which a second food fam
inc was averted by the steamer Vera,
which came alongide the Athos, sup
plying eatables and drinkables.
Worse even than the dangers OF The
sea, of famine and Of thirst, the pas
sengers say was the odor of the drying
banana cargo.
a good days work and are contented
At Scotland lightship last night the
tow line broke, as last chapter in her
long series of accidents and the A:hos
could not repair the broken line in the
dark. but anchored for the night while
the Altai brought her passengers TO
quarantine Today tugs were sent out
to bring the Athos into port.
Passengers of the Athos, on landing
today, reported that the famine caused
small mutinies among the ships crew
of eighteen Cinnamon. Trouble first
started among the coolies over tle
dearth of tobacco and rice. A negro
helper was stabbed during one of the
fights of the hungry crew, but the cffl
GERS and passengers were not seci-
ously menaced
At one time the only water to be had
was ocean brine which had been Boiled
and condensed. One swallow a day .
each person was all that this process
furnished