New-York tribune., 1905-08-23
ATH0S A HUNGER SHIP.
SHARKS USED FOR FOOD.
Passengers Blame Captain Dobson
for Not accepting Tosc.

The steamer Athos. of the Donald Steamship
Company which had been drifting around the
Atlantic Ocean for thirteen days was towed
into port yesterday by the steamer Altai, of the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Atlas Line service
From distance the steamer showed no signs
OF her trying experience. but the story of want
and suffering was written on the faces of the
passengers who were brought ashore Yesterday
by the Altai. The Athos was wreck within
Her machinery was completely disabled. and
the stencil from the rotting cargo of bananas
was sickening
After foundering around in the ocean about
tve hundred miles southeast of the Florida coast
Tor four days, the "hoodoo ship ran short OF
provisions and until food put aboard by
passing craft those on board were forced TO
subsist on decaying fruit and the unsavory
flesh OF sharks which soon became tainted un-
der the scorchng tropical sun.
The passengers on the Athos were Henry
Tamke, nineteen the stenographer of the line
Fred Saunders and Keith Saunders. ten years
Old twins, and Donald Saunders, nine years
old. sons of H. B. Saunders, of No. 10 whitehall
ST.; Mr.. and Mrs Morris A. Lund, Mrs James
A Dunschie sister of Mrs, Donald. of the
! steamship line and Douglas Donald, eight years
DID, son Of President Donald
The Athos left Port Antonio Jamaica, July
e. That same day she went ashore near Port
Antonio, but got off without much damage. and
lhe surveyor Of the Port allowed her to pro-
| ceed at a. m. July 80. Two days later
the high pressure cylinder broke band was
snrunk around the cylinder, this task occupy
ing several days. August she started
at fair rate of speed. but the crankshaft broke
IN few hours putting the boat completely
out OF commission.
The steamer Taft was sighted shortly after
ward. Captain Dobson reported that the crank
smart was broken, but all were we'll on board
and he did not need assistance. The boat
dr1fted along toward New York while the crew
tried their best TO rig some cOntrivance to gain
greater headway
The Adirondack was sighted on August s
ana on August IL the Dutch steamer Prins
was refused. August ii the Athos sighted
the Monte Video and the passengers begged
Captain Dobson to ask for tow. Captain Dob
son only borrowed quantity Of supplies from
the Monte VideO.
August II the food gave out The water
lasted until August 90 The crew and passen-
gers began to act bananas, but these were in
such bad shape that they could eat but few,
into a fishing boat and caught sharks and tar
pons, which they cooked and ate.
The Altai was sighted at IL a. m Sunday.
The Athos was then about one hundred and
fifty miles from New-York, in latitude 1901 and
longitude I4:21. Captain Cards was informed
Of the trouble and passed hawser to the Athos
The passengers meanwhile had been transferred
TO the Altai and given food and water The
boats proceeded safely until 1:30 o'clock Sun
day night, when high seas broke the hawSer. "A
second hawser was passed in safety. 1t held
only about five hours. AS il was pitch dark
there was trouble getting third hawser aboard
This one held until Sandy Hook was reached
Young Douglas Donald is now with his mother
in Rosebank Staten Island. Word sent to
her the steamer arrived, and the
customs officers hurried the boy through.