The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-10
THREATENED TO SHOOT
WIRELESS OPERATOR
Arriving Crew of ThcssaloDiki Tell of
Demand Made BY Officers That
Aid BE Gotten.
CAPTAIN BECAME FURIOUS.
Eircmcn worked In Icy Water Throat
Deep To Keep Engines Going-Cap-
tain Denies Sensational Features of
story

tain IBSFtb- SS'IfS<attpEItt ItAtHItN w
story.
New York. Jan. "a story of
mutiny OH the seas that might have
come from the pen of Stevenson.
was told this morning when the crew
OF the abandoned Greek liner Thessa-
ioHiki reached port on the resCuing
British steamer Perusia. There were
ninety in all They told of a captain
ovcrruled by his officers. deserted by
his men. forced to scuttle and desert
his first command because the fire.
men. lahoring throat-deep in icy water
tl the boiler rooms. refused 'onger to
keep She engines going. They told,
too, how Tho officers of the ship order
q distress call sent in violation OF the
captains Instructions, and how the
captain threatened 30 shoot his wire-
less operator and first officer unless
they ceased their INSTRUMENTATION.
The revolt oC the men and officers
against CAPTAIN John Gnulandis reach
ed its height after four hurricanes had
battered the ancient hull OF the Thess-
aionikj uutIl 1t was flooding water
Through MANY holes in tile plates
Crew and passengers worked furiously
la boring al the pumps, and shifting
the ,0oo tons of tobacco cargo In the
hold. when tho water below the decks
caused the ship 10 list so far II seemed
she would roll over. The, food ran
short For eighteen days there was
no meat and for three days there was
only half "A cup OF water for each man.
And all the time there was no sun
and the officers could not tell their
position while the shin drifted
Stanpaiin rendered Aid.
After the first storm the Italian
liner Stampaiia came TO help, but her
aid WAS refused the ship seemed
I'm good shape Tho second storm. on
( Christmas Day. Vas worse. The
FlarizoE came after that, but could
not tow the T'hcssa loniki. and her Of
fcrs to take the passengers were re-
fused Finally. on the night of De-
Cemher - First Officer Orloff. Cap
tain Commands and the other officers
went 10 the wireless room. where
Ar.stoteiis Nrancis chic operator was
CA duty Nranrls' story OF what hap
.pened told Yesterday before witnesses
on the Pcruria, was as follows:
d. ''Aho't1 o'clock, when we were he-
ing thrown about like a toy in the
waves, Captain Goulandis and OfTlcer
+ Grluff came 90 the wireless room.
0rloff handed mo 4 message signed by
the officers, saying we we're In des-
/ perate condition and needed help.
CouIandis Enragcd.
"Goulandis became enraEed. lie
whirlcd his hand toward his back
( pocket and shouted: IF you send that
message I'll kin you.' We argued
p bout fftcen minutes was afraid
he'd shoot hut I was also afraid we'd
sink unless we got help. Finally
C;uulandis }eft and l scnt the massage.
He Camc 70 rne the next day and asked
me, Did you send that cali" ] said
had. I'm glad ynu did he answer
Cd We arc IN n bad condition after
all Send out another message.
FranCis also declared that orion
told him later that the captain had
Threatened TO shoot him II he per
sisted in his conduct Captain Gou-
lands however. denied the entire
story lie demanded that the wire
less operator he made 10 confront him
with il. Nrancis. who was then eating
. in the cabin. refused to come to the
captain. saying he was too busy. Gou
tandts vert In where he sat and the
two argued violently until VranCis ex-
claimed I'm English You did make
that threat" Orion refused To talk
on the subject, saying he would enter
a report to his line later in the day.
1t was a misunderstanding" ex
.platned Captain GouIandis to the
spa t4erfnen. Il knew of-tf,e mes
sage The passengers came and asked
me ia send it. and did SO. | had no
trouble The crew worked we'll and
cheerfnlly"
Ou New Years Eve. when the PATHS
came along and took the passengers
.of. the firemen refused to work longer
lat the engines They said today that
zone Of the officers brought them n
statement which they signed, saying
that they ouit because their task was
hopeless. The Perugia heard their
faint radio calls for help on January
4. and was alongside the next after
noon Being short of coal. the Perugia
advised abandoning ship. as she could
not tow the Thessa loniki The ex-
change was made in four bnatIoads
one boat went under the counter and
was badly smashed. but no one was
hurt The ninety men and officers left
everything behind Only twenty-nine
sacks of soaked mail we're saved.
Captain Goulands was the last man
80 leave his shin. and men on the
Ferueia said that when he left he
I stopped and kissed tho bridge CRYING
vsho, he ,,Ii,,,bed ,,u onto Tho parugi4,s