Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-08
PASSENGERS FROM
LOST SHIP IN PORT
Greek Steamship Thessaloniki Buff
feted by Storms for Five
Weeks.
FOOD SUPPLY RUNS SHORT

NEW YORK, Jan. THE III pas
sengers, who we're forced to abandon
the sinking Greek steamship, Thes-
saloniki. at sea, arrived here today
on the steamship PATHS OF the same
line, and gave vivid descriptions Of
the hardships they suffered during
the five weeks that the Thessaloniki
was battered by series of terrific
gales.
On Christmas day, passengers said.
the supply of meat on the Thes-
ssloniki was entirely exhausted, only
few gallons of water we're left and
the ships officers began to portion
out short rations on the meager sup
Fly of food which remained.
The Thessaloniki first sprung a leak
when II encountered a hurricane which
ragged for twelve hours on December "a.
The boiler and engine rooms were partly
flooded, and the steamer sent out calls
for assistance, After the hurricane sub
sided, however, the flooded portions OF
the ship were pumped out ana It pro
ceeded on its voyage.
Rough seas and gales we're encountered
from December 90 to December 26. when
the Thessaloniki ran in,o a nlnety-mile
hurricane. which lasted for twenty-four
hours. Many of the passengers and crew
feared the steamer was sinking. as fresh
leaks opened up, the boiler and engine
rooms and coal bunkers rapidly filled
unit or nd fHn 4
about.
FIoriseI First to Arrive.
1t was then that the Thessaloniki sent
out numerous S. o. S. calls, which were
heard by the PATHS, United States, Flori-
eel and other steamers. The Florizel was
the first to reach the disabled vessel and
offered to take cff the passengers and
crew and carry them TO Bermuda. Cap
tain Goulandis, who was making his first
voyage as a master, declined this offer.
The Florizel stood by until the PATHS
came in sight
The Thessalonikis passengers were
transferred to the PATHS with consider
able difficulty and were forced to leave
all of their baggage and personal be-
longings on the disabled vessel. After the
transfer the PATHS shot line to the
Thessalonih and took it's sister ship in
tow on January l. The wind increased
greatly during the night and early the
following morning the tow line parted
That afternoon the PATHS succeeded in
getting another line to the Thessaloniki.
but the cable parted for the second
time early on the morning of Monday,
January 3, and the Thessaloniki was
driven rapidly to the southeast before
terrific hurricane accompanied by o
binding snow storm.
Wireless Plant Weakened,
Owing to the Thessalonikrs engines
being stopped by the water in its hold
1t was only able to send out infrequent
wireless calls which covered a small
area. The PATHS took up the search and
was Joined by the Scandinavian liner
United States. which had turned out OF
its course.
CAPTAIN Goulandis said he had been
unable to make solar observations by
reasons of the almost continuous storms
and 1t was for this reason. he added, -ths
he sent out six erroneous messages re-
garding the position of his vessel.
There was much trouble among the
steerage passengers when they learned
that the ship was leaking, but a Greek
z priest, Kallistratos Glavas of Cedar
Rapids Ia, went among them and stayed
until they were transferred. He quieted
them and held services much Of the time