FMSAA
News From Fort Schuyler
November 6, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 52
GRADUATE MISSING IN STORM OFF HONDURAS - According to a note received earlier this morning from AXEL JEAN-FRANCOIS, his classmate, ONASSIS A. REYES, Class of 1995, is among the missing crew of the S/V FANTOME, which was lost during Hurricane Mitch. Axel writes:
"For those who don't know Onassis, he is Panamanian and was class of 1995 in SUNY Maritime College. He has been working for a year on the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises all around the Caribbean. He is currently a 2nd or Chief Mate on board S/V FANTOME which disappeared last Tuesday off the coast of Honduras. You can look at all the details in the " Barefoot Bulletin Board " at http://www.windjammer.com [which contains the comprehensive statement by Michael D. Burke, President of Operations, International Maritime Resources, made at a press conference on November 3.]
"His sister and his brother-in-law are leaving for Honduras on Saturday. They will go to the Roatan Island, were the Coast Police is located in Honduras. Conditions are really bad in Honduras right now. They have reported more than 10,000 dead people and a few thousands more are missing. There is no source of communication, no food or water. All of which will make the search for the vessel a lot more difficult since it might appear insignificant for a most of the people in Honduras."
"The most we can do right now is pray for Onassis and the crew of the S/V FANTOME. If you have another way to help for the search of the vessel; a source of information from the Coast Guard about the search of the vessel (which they might have stopped by this time); somebody you know in Honduras that could help Onassis's sister, or any other ideas, please let me know, or call me collect at (507) 236-6523."
"Thank you in advance, Axel"