Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-22
Missing Fruit Steamer Towed
into New York Harbor.
WAS IL DAYS OVERDUE
BROUGHT s PASSENGERS AND
CARGO OF ROTTEN BANANAS.
Bones of Half-Eaten Sharks on Board
Indicate the Perils of Be-
lated Voyage.

NEW YORK. August 22.-The steamer
Athos, seventeen days late with eight pas
sengers and a cargo of rotted bananas and
with the bones of half-eaten sharks on
board to indicate the perils of her voyage,
arrived off Scotland lightship last night.
On July 80 the Donald Steamship Com
pany's steamer Athos left Port Antonio,
Jamaica. for New York. six days voyage,
with provisions in plenty for this short
period. Three hours out of port an eccen-
trio rod on the engine broke. and from that
hour until last Sunday, proceeding some
times only an hour a day under her own
steam, the Athos drifted at the mercy Of
storms, in constant danger Of famine. once
without drinking water and receiving sup
plies from time to time off passing vessels,
until on August 20 the disabled steamer
gave up and signaled the steamer Altai for
a tow. This steamer brought the Athos to
New York.
Trouble With the Engine.
The trouble was in the engine all the time
From July 80 to August Z. 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 s.
Two days later the catching of the sharks
is recorded. Cinnamon on board attempted
to eat the sharks, but the meat made them
i'll and the fish were thrown into the sea
During the next two days boats were low
cred from the Athos in search Of food fish.
On August the disabled steamer sighted
the teamship Adirondack and signaled 'All
we'll on board" but on the 10th the last
tank of water was opened and was found
to be tainted with the juice OF rotting
bananas.
Incipient Famine Relieved.
Some dolphin were caught two days later.
and on August 13 the incipient famine was
further relieved by the steamer Montevfdeo,
which supplied provisions.
For nearly a week between August 10 and
II the engine shaft was useless: but not
only was the steamer forced to drift about
while repairs were under way, but for two
days of this period a great storm and high
seas broke over the helpless steamship.
The log meanwhile indicates that more
dolphin were caught. Finally, on August
18, the coupling iange broke. and the
Athos abandoned the attempt to make New
York under her own steam. After twenty
days of continuous accidents 1t was de-
cided to accept the first offer of tow.
This did not come for two days, during
which second food famine was averted
by the steamer Vera, which came alongside
the Athos, supplying eatables and drink
ables.
odor Of Decaying Fruit.
Worse even than the danger of the sea.
of famine and of thirst the passengers
say, was the odor Of the decaying banana
cargo.
At Scotland lightship last night the tow
line broke, as a 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. To-
day tugs were sent out to bring the Athos
into port.
The passengers were John Douglas Don
aid, son Of the owner of the Athos; Miss
Julie Anna Damshee the boys aunt; Mr..
and Mrs. Morris Lunn of Rosebank, S. l.,
and Keith and Fred Saunders of Bay Ridge
boy friends of young Donald, and Henry
Tamke.
The whole party were guests of John A
Donald, president Of the Donald Steamship
Company, who sent them on the Athos for
a summer vacation trip. The Altai towed
the Athos 267 miles.
Famine Causes Small Mutinies,
Passengers of the Athos. on landing to-
day, 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.
negro helper was stabbed during one OF
the fights of the hungry crew, but the Off
GERS 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 day to each per-
oil hot biC f,rrr, ichn