The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-23
SHE ARRIVES.
The Steamer Missouri Gets Into Port
With the Rescued Passengers Of the
Abandoned Danmark.
Great Excitement Along tho Wharf
to See the Noted Vessel
Which Saved so Many Human Souls
Under Adverse Circumstances.
Tho Missourl's Commander Made q
Toast and Lionlzed BY the Admir-
ers of His Courage and Nobility
OF Characteristic Story.

| steamship Missouri, with 800 of the people
from the wrecked steamer Danmark, ar
rived at the American Line steamships
dock AT O'Clock this evening.
CAPT. HAMILTON MURRELI,
the commander Of tho Missouri, makes the
following statement "Wo left London
with general cargo for our first trip TO
Philadelphia on March %. We had q
fair passage up TO O'Clock April 8, when
we sighted the steamship Danmark living
n distress signal. The wind at the time
was blowing strong from the West. We
bore down on the steamer and found her
disabled. Capt. Knudsen, her COM
mander, reported that the tail end Of his
shalt was broken aud he wished me 10
take his passengers TO New York Owing
TO the state OF the weather and because Of
the fact that was not prepared 10 uccom-
modate such q number OF people de-
clined TO accede to his request, but
offered instead TO tow his vessel to the
nearest port. This otior Capt. Knudsen
accepted, and at 2; 80 o'clock p m, or two
hours after we first sighted the steamer
Danmark, We placed tow rope on
board that vessel and proceeded slowly,
turning 10 the sea and wind and heading
northwest for st. Johns, n. f., which I
|
circumstances. The wind blew with tre-
mendous force all night and progress was
most difficult. On April q, at $50 o'clock
am, finding that could make no head-
way in westerly direction, and seeing ice
10 windward, Il decided TO abandon my hope
OF reaching ~. Johns aud determined 10
make Tor 81. Michaels, one OF the Azores
Islands. slgnaled my determination to
the Captain Of the Dnnmark, and no
agreed that this was the best course TO
pursue and one hour later We squared
away for s. Michaels. At o'clock am.
the Danmark signaled TO us: I'VE arc
leaking considerably; there Is now thrco
feet OF water in the aft hold and II is gain
ing rapidly"
asked what should do and the signal
came: Keep ON towing"
At go o clock I'm. the Danmark again
again signaled us. This time the signal
read. "lhe DanmaIk ~ sinking. We must
, abandon the ship. Win you tako our pas
!. sengcrsG'
Without a moments hesitation sig
/ nailed back; "Nes, | will take al on
board and do the best can"
then cut the tow line and we dropped
down 10 the Danmark. Chief Onicor
Galen of that vessel came ON board the
Missouri aud informed mo Of the condition
Of his ship. lie said that although tho
weather nj the time was fnc, Capt.
Knudsen had decided that for the best in-
lerosts OF those on his ship Il would DO
best TO abandon her, and get oil the peo-
pie on board the Missouri while there was
plenty Of Time. At $50 a. m., we lnunchcd
our two life boats in charge OF second
Officer Lucas and Third Officer Forsyth
aud these two boats proceeded 10 the Dane
| L.. L. 4 All. a
sinking steamers boats were manned by
the crew OF that steamer and the work OF
transferring the passengers began. A
heavy swell was running during all of this
memorable day, making the work Of re-
moving the people from tho sinking ship
one Of great difficulty and II was only by tho
hardest kind OF work that we were able 10
avoid accidents both 10 the people and tho
boats. The women and children wcro
removed hst, and after them the male
passengers aud crew. The officers of the
Danmark remained on board their vessel.
Al O'Clock y m. We finished the work Of
transferring tho passengers, having cons
sumed nearly i've hours and getting ey-
crybody, with the exception OF the officers,
safely ON the Missouri without a. single
accident Of any kind. About one hour
later the barometer began falling tho
| MNAAlNNl MNH ANAAAlhk ~ AAANAA anu NWNhNhA
dirty, and sent word TO Capt knudscn
and his faithful officers 10 leave the ship
and come ON board the Missouri, aud after
getting some provisions from the Danmark,
which had now settled very pcrceptibly in
tho water, that vessel was finally aban-
donod, Capt knudson being tho last 10
leave his ship.
then counted heads, and found that
we had on board In addition 10 our own
crew Of iorty.fiyc men and four passengers,
600 cabin and steemgc passengers and
sixty-nino Of the officers and crew Of tho
illiiied steamer. After wo had taken
everybody from the Dannark, We pulled
the plugs out OF the bottom Of that vessels
boats, which We had used and left them
10 sink 10 the bottom OF the Atlantic. and
can't understand how the Minnesota
pickcd up ono Of these boats six days later.
Our last view Of tho Danmark showed
that vessel 30 bo rapidly going down, her
stern being almost even with thc sca aud
tho water was breaking over her. Wo
threw overheard most Of our cargo between
decks. consisting principallyoi bailcd rags,
In order 10 make room for the accOmmoda-
ton Of the large additions 10 our passen-
ger list
"On looking over our provisions wo
found after careful estimate OF the num-
Der Of mouths We had TO feed We hal only
enough food on board 10 last three days
and decided 10 make all possible haste
70 reach the port Of 81 Michacls Which
was 40 miles away. The cabin passcn-
gers OF the Danmark we're given accommo-
dations In the Missouri's passenger cabins
and the officers gave up their cabins Tor
the use Of the women and children.
"On April 7, at 20 o'clock am, about
ten hours after the iransior was made,
Mrs. Linnie. aged eighteen ycars, Dam
ish woman who was ON her way to Amer
lea 10 meet her husband, gave birth TO q
child, a girl, In my cabin. The littlo
stranger was chris,cncd Atlantic Missouri.
Tho child was born during bowling
storm, which rocked the vessel and caused
the sea 10 break over us. We had started
for 81 Michael's with all ON board at .
o'clock - m. Of the 9th. The weather wa!
very threatening at the time, aud the wind
increased In violence ,u the night woro ON.
Everything OF iblc Vas done 10 make inc
passengers eOnorlabla'