New-York tribune., 1908-03-22
ANDES SHOWS HER AGE.

Tho Andes was being renovated for the second
time at Norse's Docks. Brooklyn. when The
Tribune reporter saw he-. She seemed to the
la,- eve fully entitled the respect that ac-
companies venerability. The black heads OF new
r!vets on the bow above the wateTline contrast
Cd with scaly and pitted plates which were said
10 be rather thin in spots. The railing bars
were twisted and rJsted, the tirIIbers of the teak
deck worn and PATCHED like crazy quilt, the
x,enttIator Iips chipped in teeth formation, and
.,vo s-urnrv yellow n1asts without much rigging
ii gave the effect Of badness not premature. One
could well believe that the ship was built 81
Glasgow in 1850
She was then called the Lagos, and, being
provided with screw, was considered very
smart craft that put sidewheelers in the shade
She was IN the ocean greyhound class when the
Atlas Line acquired her, and her twenty-four
cabin passengers felt more than proud TO cross
she Atlantic q twelve day boat. The Andes
Vas q progressive craft. and felt the need of
being heightened 10 3o1 feet in the mid f0s-
About the same time she received new boilers
and engines and her owners thought she would
last for another decade. She reached voting age
and surprised everybody by continuing TO exist.
They put her in the South American cattle
trade covering the forward deck with COW
sheds The hoofs of many animals made the
surface Of the teak planks rough and uneven
but could not wear them out After the cows
and other cargo work came the fruit trade be-
tween New York and West Indian ports. The
owners Of the Andes then despaired Of her
dvTns 2 natural death. They sold her TO the
5unknlan after her last fruit trip from Havana,
about three months ago.
Come aboard sir" said Captain Alees cor
siiaIIy to the Tribune reporter, pausing in his
directions regarding fhe-repair Of the starboard
but she'll be glad to tell you anything you
Wish 20 know
The international iunkman had frank if
sss-ly face and the blue eyes of the inhabitants
cr Northern Italy He spoke with little ac-
cent. which not noticeable IN the talk of his
EroEIl-up son, named ItaIo- There were two
other sons. two daughters. q cousin and the
ekipper's wife aboard. Escorting the visitor
into the cabin where the women. sitting around
q somewhat smoky coal stove; large eat
md black dog that growled gave domestic
atmosphere, Captain Aleesi ordered hospitable
bottle OF red wine. He was willing TO tell about
his trade. but felt that the exhumation of the
body OF his daughter-in-law from q Jersey City
cemetery and its transportation aboard the
Andes was personal matter. The body will be
reburied in Italy.
Il an twenty-three years at sea-" he said
1T is not correct that we return because NE
leak The hull OF this ship is very soIjd-she Is
BETTER than a new ship. because the plates are
fastened every two feet the sections instead
Of four five feet, like modern ships II was
bilge pump gave out and, though we could
keep the water out with the other purnp nv
chief engineer say. Captain. if anything hap
pens you will be responsible SO we turn back
IT was very bad weather Also and we could NOT
keep ner bow TO the wind: We lack steam be-
oS riy hefo he
wind. Ny engineer say first. Captain. the star
board pump good / say, What difference?
Go ahead Then he tell me again, You Will be
responsible So think of the others on board
snd I come back for q new pump We are all
right now. and viii be in Genoa in eighteen
days"
Where do you look principally for old
ssisc"
Anywhere they tell she is sale. /