The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-07
Hunger, Thirst, Fright Suffered
by Rescued Passengers.
177 From Doomed Greek Liner
Reach n. Y. Today.
SOS. CALL SAVED Their LIVES
Last of Ships Meat Supply
Eaten on Christmas.
Repeated Gales Battered Vessel
Finally Abandoned.

New York, Jan. Hunger. thirst
and terror were among the hardships
suffered by the III passengers of the
abandoned Greek steamer TheSsalo-
Mkt during the five weeks she was
battered by Atlantic gales. They ar
rived here today on the PATHS. to
which steamer they were transferred,
leaving all baggage and personal be-
longings on the disabled vessel
On Christmas day, passengers said,
the supply of meat on the Thessaloniki
was exhausted. Only a few gallons
of water were left. The ships Off
GERS began to portion out the short
rations. The Thessaloniki first sprang
leak when she encountered a hur-
ricane December 81. The steamer
sent out calls for assistance, but the
hurricane subsidized and she proceeded.
December 26 the Thessaloniki ran
into a 90-mile hurricane. Fresh
leaks were opened up and the ship
was badly tossed about. 1t was then
that the Thessaloniki sent out numer-
Gus S. o. S. calls, which were heard by
the PATHS, the United States, FloriZel
and other steamers. The ThesSalo-
nikis passengers were transferred to
the PATHS with considerable difficulty
After the transfer. the PATHS shot
line to the Thessaloniki and took
her in tow on January l. The wind
increased. The tow line parted. The
Thessaloniki was driven rapidly to the
southeast before terrific hurricane.
The PATHS took up the search for the
lost vessel and was Joined by the
Scandinavian steamer, United States,
which had turned out of her course.
Captain Refused Aid.
The captain of the Thessaloniki re-
peatedly refused to send out wireless
calls for aid at the behest of both
crew and passengers, according to
William Villain, a naturalized citi-
zen of the United States, who was a
passenger. He said:
The first the passengers knew
there was anything amiss was on De-
cember 81, when all the crew was or
dered below to work on something
that had gone wrong. Many passen-
gers became alarmed. December %,
when the Italian liner Stampalia was
| sighted, several asked that they be
transferred. The captain assured
them everything was all right.
December &c another storm came
up. One of the Mfeboats was carried
away. Several passengers and mem
bers of the crew asked the captain
| to send wireless calls for aid He was
indignant and refused.
Later, all the officers and crew ex-
cept the first engineer and two sail
1 ors demanded that the captain send
4 out messages. He refused and the
| first officer then sent out the call
When the Florizel came in sight
on Friday we were living on short
rations and half a cup of water a day.
We had no meat for two weeks.
When the PATHS came up on De-
cember 81, the captain and a few
men went to the other ship. He
/ brought back ten casks of water and
| a supply of meat AN this time the
vessel was leaking badly, but the cap
tain seemed determined to take, his
ship and passengers to New York.
ION New Years day, however, he
gave up hope and the passengers were
transferred to the PATHS in about two
| hours