The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-04-26
MANKATO L Rec / RESS
FRIDAY. APRIL 90. 1850.
SAFE IN THE HARBOR.
The Missouri Arrives at Her
Dock with the Danmark's
Passengers.
Cheer After Cheer Rends the Air a.
the Good Ship Comes
Into Port.
An Authentic Account OF the Wrecking
Of the Danmark-Tribute to
Capt. Murrell.

souri, with her precious cargo, which she
had so calamity rescued from the ill.
fated Danmark, arrived safely at her
dock at Washington street wharf at 5:3O
p. m. The passengers on board the Mis-
souri, returned the greeting with no less
Handkerchiefs fluttered in
the still breeze; happy smiles Lit up the
faces of the more than 300 immigrants
who had been SO providentially rescued
from watery grave, and in every way
the scene was one that indelibly fixed it
self upon the minds of those who wit
messed it. Cheers of joy continued with
out much interruption until the Missouri
had been swung around and made her
mooring at the wharf. Then a ladder
was thrown off, and the custom house
officers, followed closely by the press
made their way up the
side of the vessel and lighted on her
decks. Brave Capt. Murrell, who stood
on the bridge Of the steamer, surrounded
by c. w. Davis and other representa-
tives of Peter Wright & Sons, was the
synosure of all eyes. He was at once
surrounded by the reporters and his
many friends, all bent in paying trib-
ute to his gallant service in saving so
many lives. The passengers united in
praising the noble work of Capt. Murrell
and his brave crew.
DR.. Jesperson, one of the passengers
taken from the Danmark, who was on
his way to New York, spoke in the high
est praise of Capt. Murrell's action in be-
half of himself and his fellow passengers
in relating his experience to a reporter
of the United Press. DR.. Jesperson
stated that he never had seen before
such clear-headed work under the trying
circumstances. sit is Capt. MurrelPs
perfect self-control," said the doctor, "to
which we are in q great measure indebt-
ed for our lives at the present time"
"But our experience for time was
certainly most thrilling, and one which
hope never to have to pass through
again. Up to the 4th instant our trip
on the Danmark had been a pleasant
one. On the latter date, however, we
encountered severe storm. We would
have weathered it all right, / suppose,
had our engines held out, but the shaft
broke near the aft end of "A" section.
As a result a hole was cut through the
bottom of the vessel. 1t appears that
simultaneously with the breaking of the
shaft an engine pipe burst, and Engineer
Kass was instantly killed. Another leak
was caused by the bursting of the pipe
in the side of the vessel. Thus matters
grew very serious, and our vessel was
left at the mercy of the waves. Captain
Knudson endeavored to keep her in the
path of ocean steamers. We sought
vainly that day for the sight of sail, but
night fell and we still remained in our
perilous position. The dawning of the
following day-the 9Th, however, was
designed to bring US relief. A sail was
sighted by the outlooks and we at once
put up signal of distress. The sails
proved to be those of the Missouri. When
in speaking distance Capt. Knudson
asked if the Missouri could take our pas
sengers on board. The commander OF
the latter steamer said that it would be
impossible, as he had no where to put
them. He promptly agreed to take us
in tow. We got along well
enough for a few hours, when
it was discovered that the wafer was
fast pouring into the steamer through
the big hole iu her stem. The pumps
were going without intermission, but
they proved almost useless so far az
saving the vessel was concerned. We
kept at it, however, until the 9th and
then it was seen we could no longer hope
to save our ship. As noon approached
the danger grew more imminent. Capt
Knudson boarded the Missouri and asked
that his passengers be received on hel
deck. At o'clock the work of trans
ferring the hundreds of souls from the
Danmark to the Missouri was begun
First the women and children were taker
aboard the latter boat, then the men, ant
lastly Capt. Knudson and his crew. You
may imagine that during this time tn,
excitement was intense, but any semb
lance of panic was averted by the cool
ness of both Captains Murrell and Knud
son, and the prompt manner IN which
the crews obeyed their every order
After six hours work, at 8 o'clock on tn,
night of the 9th, all the passengers of tn,
Danmark had been safely landed on tn,
Missouri. OF course large part of tn,
latter steamers cargo had to be jetti
soned before accommodations could b,
found for 721 souls. Many of these hat
to abandon their valuable effects, as tn,
amount of goods which each passenge
was allowed to retain was necessaril,
limited to what was absolutely in dispen
sible. The Missouri was then headed TO
the Azores, the nearest land, where w
arrived without any further incident, OF
the 10th. There all the young unmarriet
men, to the number of 356 and including
Capt. Knudson, and the largest part o
his crew were landed. On tn
18th we again set sail at
ter having laid in a stock o
of provisions, which added to those W
took from the Danmark before desertinl
her, proved amply sufficient. Capt
Murrell deserves the highest praise TO
the manner in which he has treated u
during the entire passage. de gave u
| all the best accommodations possible, an,
did all that lay in his power to make tn
trip pleasant one."
Shortly after the vessel had made fas
to the wharf beautiful floral design
representing ship at sea, was carries
up the gangway and handed over :
Capt. Murrell with few appropriate re
marks. The captain was taken com
pletely by surprise, but in clear, dis
tinct voice. made few fitting remark
in accepting the tribute to his bravery
Rev. Mr.. Holm then brought to the hur
cry passengers the welcome news that
lunch, consisting of bread, butter, meats
salads and coffee, had been prepared 10
them on the wharf. The 265 immigrant
were not long in accepting this invita-
ton, and soon they forgot for the me
ment their recent ordeal while they sal
isfied the cravings of their appetites
The lunch was provided by the Thing
valla line through its representative
John Roth. Mr.. Roth made arrange
ments for the transportation of the i'm
migrants who were going west. and the,
all left on a special train over the Penn
sylvania road at midnight. Many o
them expect to locate in the far West
while others will go but few hundre
miles. The immigrants who will locat
in the West will be carefully provides
for until they reach their destination.
Bond Offerings.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-Bond Offer
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