Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-23
RESCUED FROM
DEADLY PERIL
VOYAGE OF ATH0S FULL OF
TRAGEDY
FAMINE BEGETS MUTINIES
Steamer Reaches New York After Ter
rlble Experiences From Weather,
Broken Machinery and
Failure Of Supplies
FAMINE BEeETs MUTINIEs
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-The steamer
Athos, seventeen days late, with eight
passengers, a cargo Of rotten bananas,
and the bones of half eaten sharks on
board to Indicate the perils Of her
voyage, arrived off Scotland lightship
last night.
On July the Donald Steamship com.
pany's steamer Athos left Port An
tonic, Jamaica, for New York, six
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 day under her own steam, the
Athos drifted at the mercy Of storms,
in constant danger of famine, without
drinking water and receiving supplies
from time to time off passing vessels
until, on August 20, the disabled
steamer gave up and signaled the
steamer Altai for tow. This steamer
brought the Athos to New York.
The trouble was with the engine.
From July 30 to August one to two
breaks daily were recorded The log
shows that the delay was only thirty
minutes long on August s. Two days
corded. Cinnamon on board attempted
to eat the sharks, but the meat made
them i'll and the fish were thrown into
the sea.
On August the disabled steamer
sighted the Adirondack and signaled
"All well on board" but on the 10th
the last tank of water was opened and
was found to be tainted with the Juice
of rottlng bananas. Some dolphin were
caught two days later, and on August
13 the incipient famine was further re-
lieved by the steamer Montevideo,
which supplied provisions.
For nearly week, between August
10 and August II, the engines shaft
was useless and not only was the
steamer forced to drift about while re-
pairs were under way, but for two days
of this period a great storm and high
seas broke over the helpless steamship.
flange broke and the Athos abandoned
an attempt to reach New York under
her own steam, after twenty days of
continuous accidents. 1t was decided
to accept the offer of tow. This did
not come for two days, during which a
second food famine was averted by the
steamer Vera, which came alongside
the Athos, supplying eatables and
drinkables. Worse though even than
the dangers Of the sea and famine, the
passengers say, was the odor Of the
decayed banana cargo.
At Scotland lightship last night the
tow line broke, as 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 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 the
dearth Of tobacco and rice. A negro
helper was stabbed during one of the
fights but the officers 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 this process furnished.