New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
JOY At NEVIS OF PONCE.
Captain's Wife Had almost Gi0en
Up Al Hope.

When the overdue Trinidad liner Maracas
came into port early yesterday. announcing tha1
she had seen nothing OF the missing steamer
Ponce the hopes OF the officials OF the New iork
and Porto Rico Steamship Company ana the
friends and relatives of persons on the Ponce
dropped with thud. The tardiness or the MAT
acas gave rise to the belief that she had picked
nm the Ponce and was towing her to some port
apd n was on either a report from tho Maracas
or her appearance in this port that much nope
for the Ponce's safety was hung The Maracas
had hardly started on her way up from @uaren-
tine when the New York and Porto RICO company
received a cable message from Bermuda an
nouncing that the Ponce had dropped anchor
in St Georges Harbor. Bermuda after having
been towed by a German steamer
Mrs William Harvey wife of the Ponce's mas
ter, overcome by the suspense or eleven days was
SHARED the shocl, of learning that the Maracas
had not seen the Ponce. Before the news or the
arrival of the Maracas reached her she learned
from the company that the Ponce was safe at
Rarnouda and that her husband and all aboard
were we'll Any news from the Ponce, Whether
favorable or otherwise. would nave uhherVeu
Mrs Harvey if told to her suddenly so tr'enu
who answered the telephone. paved the way 10
the glad tidings before announcing that the
Ponce and all on board were safe. AS II was
Mrs Harvey was deeply affected by the news.
Franklin B. Mooney, general Hidli'ht'ci VI INC
line sent telegrams to the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Secretary OF the Navy an
noupcino the Ponce's arrival and thanking them
for the courtesies extended by their respective
departments in sending out government vessels
TO search for her. Mr. Mooney said that ar
rangements would be made to-day 10 dispatch
tugboats to bermuda tow the Ponce to New
York.
The picking up Of the Ponce by the Elizabeth
Ricl1mers a new steamer recalls the long tow
of the Fabre liner America 10 bermuda nearly
year ago, when picked up LOU miles 10 the
southeastward by the Italian steamer Dlnna-
mare The America about twelve days
overdue at New York from Gibraltar Possibly
the fate of the steamer Athos which broke down
after leaving Port Antonio on July oV' i9Oo anu
was sixteen days overdue nj New York. is the
closest parallel to the case of the Ponce
,rba Atbos broke an eccentric rod three hours
Inc i Atiios p5 pt 80 An+onio Jamaica and drift
ed to the northeastward. She was picked up
after drifting several days and towed to port
hy the steamer Altai arriving here August 81.
! The Maracas had trouble with her circulating
nump on January !, and after stopping Tor
| thirty-si hours for repairs proceeded for New
| York at reduced speed. arriving here yesterday
five days overdue.
Il am the happiest woman In New York TO-
night" said Mrs Ella Griffith mother of Will
lam F Griffith first officer of the Ponce. For
| days and days have lived in dread and anxiety.
| There were times when my hopes would rise
and T would feel that the Ponce must surely be
| safe somewhere. But at other times became
very Respondent and felt that all was lost, and
only chlIQ nau gone uoNu WIN t'o
| The days seemed very long. At nights coulo
! not sleep, fearing that message or some KIND
would be sent and 1 would miss it In the
| DAYTIME I sat by the window watching for a
| messenger boy. Every moment | felt that
| rnrst surely learn something the next moment.
| I would fall asleep at night feeling that to-mor-
| row could not possibly pass without me getting
| word from my son; but the days passed and l l
| feared that I would go insane. But 1t is all
over now This morning l received two tele-
grams that the ship had reached Bermuda" yes
| I am the happiest woman in New York to-
night"