The Washington times., 1905-08-22
STEAMER ATHOS
TONED INTO INTO PORT
Long Overdue Donald Liner
Safe at Last.
HAD AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE
Continued Accidents to Machinery
Necessitated Frequent Stoppages.
Ran Short of Provisions.

NEW YORK. Aug. 22-Twelve days
overdue from Jamaica the Donald
Steamship Company's ship Athos was
tewed into port this morning, her ma
chtnery disabled. and her passengers
and crew thankful to be ashore after
d voyage which threatened death by
storm and BY lack of food and water
The Athos was picked up on Saturday
by the Atlas line steamer Altai, and
towed here, but TO cap the climax of an
eventfuI trip the tow line parted last
night off the Scotland light ship, and
the Athos was forced to anchor for the
night. She was brought up this morn
ing by tugs The passengers were
taken off last night and brought up to
Quarantine on the Altai
The passage of the Athos met with
enough accidents % dub the vessel a
hoodoo. Leaving the harbor of Port
Antonio, Jamaica, on July IS. with a
cargo of bananas and eight passengers,
the AthOs ran her nose in the mud IN
the harbor and it was not until the
next day that she was pulled off by the
fruit steamer Brewster. The Athos
returned to her dock for coal and left
again in the morning for New YORK,
hut hardly had she been under wa,
three hours when the eccentric stud
broke. and the AJhOS lay by a whole
day. for repairs; Within the week Iol-
lowing the machinery broke down nine
times, and in the resulting delay TO
make repairs. the food and water supply
began to diminish rapidly.
Supplies Ran Low.
With only six days supplies on board
Captain Dobson gave orders to fish over
the side while the repairs were being
made Two steamers passed and the
Athos signaIed all well. but did not ask
aid. as all believed that repairs would
be quickly completed. so that the vessel
would soon make port.
on August 10. after vainly trying to
effect repairs. it was discovered that
the last tank of water had been tainted
with banana juice. The cargo of fruit
had by this time rotted in the old, and
gave forth an offensive odor. The sea
was high and the Athos rolled and
tossed III the sea way. The next day,
August II, the waves nattened down
and the mate and carpenters went
over The side in a small boat TO catch
fish. The passengers lined the rail and
awaited aHIuusly the result of the fish
ing. tor The supplies were now low.
The mate and carpenter fished all day.
but raught nothing. though fish were in
evidence everywhere. The next day the
sun arose burning hot, and the sea lay
like 4 glazed mirror. Three doIphins
were landed and they were deYoured by
the crew and passengers.
Starvation Stalked Decks.
On August 13 starvation stalked the
decks, for repairs were still uncom-
pleted- The carpenters caught five fish.
\ steamer and schooner passing on the
horizon failed to see the signals which
had been hoisted to the foremast. The
passengers became alarmed but said
nothing. 4 haze OF smoke was seen
late that afternoon on the horizon and
the signals were kept ffuttering from
the foremast. The signals We're seen.
and the Spanish steamer Montevide0
came clos to, and the Athos signaled
for provisions, which were supplied
Two days passed, and three more
dolphins were caught and added TO the
ships harder. 4 shark was caught and
came sick The shark was thrown over
board. 1t was not until the afternoon
of August il that the machinery was
finally repaired, and the Athos started
tlange broke into bits. and il was de-
Cided to signal at once for tow. The
next morning the Norwegian steamer
Vera was Signaled, but she declined 10
low, but sent provisions. Sunday last
the Altai picked up the Athes and
tOwed her here.
The Aliai brought the eight passen-
gers of The Athos to quarantine. All
We're well and glad To get home John
Douglas Donald, the owners son, was
one Of the passengers. He is a bright
lad whose eyes sparkled as he SPOKE
of the incidents of the voyage His only
regret was that his mother worried.