Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-23
Athos Towed into New York
With Rotten Cargo and Dis.
abIed Machinery.
ATE SHARKS AND DoLplIlNs
Famine Conditions and Lack of Water
Prevailed on Board Fruit Steamer.
Provisions Received From Ships
Spoken on Way-Final Break in
Chapter of Accidents.
(ny Associated prcss.)

NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-Thc steamer
Athos. seventeen days late with eight
passengers AMI cargo If rottcd ba-
nanas and with the bones Of half eaten
sharks OH board to Indicate the perils
OF her voyage, arrived off Scotland
lightship last night.
On July 30, the Donald Steamship
Company's steamer Athos left Port
Antonio, Jamaica for New York, q six
days voyage, with provisions in plenty
for this short period. Three hours ont
of port al eccentric rod on the engine
broke and from that hour until las,
Sunday, proceeding some times only
an hour day under her own steam.
the Athos driftcd Mt tho mercy of
storms, in constant danger of famine.
once without drinking water. and 70.
ccivng supplies from time To time
from passing vessels until on August
20, the disabled steamer gave ND and
Signallcd the steamer Altai for Il tow.
This steamer brought the Athos to
Now York.
me trouble was in the engine all
the time From July 20 to August Z,
one to two breaks daily in the engine
were recorded. The log chronicles tho
Fact that tho daily delay was only
thirty minutes long on August 3. Two
days later the catching of the sharks
is recorded Tho men on board Mt.
tempted to cat the sharks. but the
next two days boats were lowered
from the Athos in search Of food fish.
On August 3 tho disabled steamer
sighted the steamship Adirondack and
signalled all well on board. But on
the tenth the last tank Of water was
opened and was found to be tainted
with the juice of rotiing bananas.
Some dolphin We're caught two DAYS
later and on August II. the incipicnt
famine was further relieved hy the
steamer Montevidco, which supplied
provisions.
For nearly week between August
10 and Ii the engines shaft was nse.
less, but not only was the steamer
forced To drift about while repairs
were under way, hut for two DAYS Of
this period Il great storm and high
seas broke over the helpless steam
ship The log meanwhile Indicate:
that moro dolphin were caught Final
ly on August Is the coupling llangc
broke and the Athos abandoned the
attempt to make New York under her
own steam. after twenty days of con.
tin,iouS accidents. IT. was decided 10
accept the first offer of tow. This
did not come for two days, during
which second fool famine was avert
ell by the steamer Vera. which came
alongside the Athos, supplying cat
ahlcs AMI turntables.
Worse even than tho dangers of the
sea, of famine and of thirst, the pas
scngers say was the odor of the decay
Ing banana cargo.
at Scotland lightship last night the
tow line broke, Gs a last chapter in
her long series of accidents. and The
AthCs could not repair the broken line
IN. the dark, but anchored for tho night.
while the Altai brought her passengers
to quarantine. Today tngs were sent
out to bring the Athos into port
Passengers of the Athos. on landing
today, reported that the famine caus-
ed small mutinics among tho ships
crow of eighteen Cinnamon Trouble
first started among tho coolies over
the dearth Of tobacco and rice. a
negro helper was stabbed during ono
OF the fights of the hungry crew, bmt
the officers aud passengers were not
seriously monaced
At one time the only water TO he
had was ocean brine which had been
boiled and condensed Ono swallow
day to each person was all that this
process furnished.