Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-23
Steamer Athos Has Tenn
pestuous Voyage.
Twenty Days Of Accidents and
II Days Overdue.
Vessel Arrives in New York Disabled
Cargo is Ruined.

New York, Aug. 22.-The steamer
Athos. Il days late with eight passen-
gers and Il cargo Of rotted bananas ana
with the bones of hall eaten sharks on
board to indicate the perls of her voy-
age, arrived off Scotland lightship las
night.
On July 80, the Donald Steamship
Company'S steamer .Athos left Port
Athos abandoned the attempt to make
days voyage, with provisions in plenty
for this short period. Three hours out
Of port an eccentric ROD on the engine
broke and from that hour until last
Sunday, proceeding sometimes only an
hour Il day under hei' cwn steam the
Athos dIiftcd ut the mercy of storms
i'll constant danger of famine, once
without drinking water and receiving
supplies from time TO time of passing
vessels until on Aug. 20 the disabled
steamer gave up ana signalled the
steamer Altai for Il tow. This steamer
brought the Athos to New York.
The trouble was in the engine all tn"
time. From July 80 to Aug. :, one to
two breaks daily in the engine We're re-
corded. The log chronicles the fact that
the daily delry WAS only so minutes
long on Aug. ).
Two days later the catching Of the
sharks is recorded. Chinamen on board
attempted to eat the sharks blu, the
meat made them i'll ANA the fish were
thrown into the sea. During the next
two days boats We're lowered from the
AthoS in search of food fish. On Aug.
8 the disabled steamer sighted the
steamship Adirondack and bravely
signalled al well on board. But on the
tenth the last tank of water was open
ed ana WAS found 10 De tainted with
the juice of rotting bahamas.
Some dolphin We're caught two days
later and ON Aug. Is The incipient fam
inc was further relieved Is the steamer
Nontevideo which supplied provisions
For nearly Il week between Aug. 10
and Aug. II the engines shaft was use
less ana not only NaS The steamer
forced To drift about Will. repairs Were
under way hut for two days of this per-
iod 4 great storm ana high seas broka
over the helpless steamship. The log
meanwhile indicates that more then
dolphin were caught. Finally on Aug
Is the coupling flanga broke and TIE
Athos abandoned the attempt to make
Nrw York under her own steam, aftar
20 days of continuous acc idcnts. 1t was
decided to accept the first offer of Il
tow. This did not come for two days
during which Il second foo famine was
aVertcG by the steamer Vera, which
came alongside the AlhoG, supplying
eHtabltS and drinkablcS.
Worse even than .hr dangers of the
s"r, of the famine and of thirst the
passengers say was the C,lor of the de-
"aying bananas.
Al Scotland lightsiip last night the
tow line broke as ii last chapter in her
long series If aCcid antG M the Ath0s
cou'd not repair the broken lie in the
dalk but anchored tor tho night while
the Altai brought nor passengers to
quarantine. Today tugs ! ere sent GU:
to bring the Athos into port;
The passengers were John Douglass
Donald. son Of the owner q the AthoS:
Miss Julie Anna Danshcr, the boys
aunt. Mr.. ana Mrs. Morriss Lunn of
RosebInk. S. l., ana Keith and Frc1
Saunders. of Bay Ridge. boy friends Of
Young Donald. and Henry Tamke. The
whole party We're guests Of John A
y. Dcnald. president Of the Donald
steamship 60. who sent them on the
.tthos for 4 summer vacation trip.
The banana cargo probably will b
thrown into the sea.
The Altai lowed the Athos o67 miles.
Passengers Of the Athos on landing.
today. reported that the famine caused
small mrnies among the ships crew
Of is Cinnamon. Trouble first started
among the collics over the dearth of to-
hacco and rice. A negro helper was
stabbed during one of the fights of the
hungry crew, but the officers and pas
s"ngcrS Were not seriously meanaced.
At one time the only water to be had
was ocean brine. which had been boiled
and condensed. One swallow n day to
each person was all that this process
furnished