The Delta independent., 1889-04-30
a STORY OF THE SEA.

A STORY OF THE SEA.
Graphic Account Of the Rescue Of the
Passengers Of the Danmark.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 22.-The
steamship Missouri with 365 people from
the wrecked steamer DanmarK arrived at
the American Line Company's dock this
evening. All Of the Danmark's s passengers
look hearty and bright and show no signs
Of the hardship which they must have
| necessarily endured. The General Pas
senger Agent of the Thingvalla line stated
that all would be forwarded to their destin-
alton from this city II satisfactory arrange
| ments could be made. Nearly all the emil
grants are bound for points in the West
Captain Hamilton Murrill, commander,
furnishes the following statement:
"Welef London with . general cargo
for the first trip TO Philadelphia on March
%. On April5 we sighted the steamer
Danmark flying . signal of distress. We
bore down on the steamer and found her
disabled. Captain Knudson, her COM
| mander, reported that the tail end Of his
| shaft was broken and he wished to take
his passengers to New York. Owing to
the state Of the weather and because Of the
fact / was not prepared to accommodate
such number Of people declined to &C
cede TO his request, but offered instead to
tow his vessel to the nearest port This
| offer Captain Knudson accepted
"The vessel proceeded slowly northwest
for ST. Johns, Newfoundland, which was
considered the best port to make under the
circumstances The wind blew with tre-
mendous force all night and progress was
most difncult
ION April 5, at 5 80 Q. NJ, finding could
make no headway in . westerly direction
and seeing Ice to the windward, decided
| to abandon any hope Of reaching St. Johns
Islands- signaled my determination to
the Captain Of the Danmark and he agreed
that this was the best course to pursue.
"At .. m. the Danmark signaled, We
are leaking considerably. There is now
three feet of water in the aft hold and
gaining rapidly asked what 1 should do,
and the signal came, Keep on towing
1.-TWO hours later the Danmark again
signaled US that the .Danmark il sinking
| We must abandon the ship. viii you take
the possengersr Without moments hes
itation signaled back, Yes, will take all
on board and do the best can
81 then cut the tow line and we dropped
down to the Danmark Chief Ofacer Glen
of that vessel came on board the Missouri
and informed me Of the condition Of his
ship. He said Captain Knudson had de-
cided that for the best interests Of those
| on the ship 1t would be better to abandon
her and get all the people on board the
Mis- souri, while there was plenty of time.
"A heavy swell was running during all OF
this terrible day, making the work of re-
moving the people from the sinking ship
one Of great difnculty, and 1t was only by
the hardest kind OF work that we were able
TO avoid accidents both to the people and to
| the boats.
"At 9 p. m. we finished the work Of
transferring the passengers, having con-
| sumed nearly I'VE hours. and getting
everybody with the exception Of the officers
safely on the Missouri without q single ac-
cident of any kind. An hour later the
barometer began falling, and I sent word
to Captain Knudson and his officers to
leave the ship and come aboard the Mis-
souri, and after getting some provisions
from the Danmark, which had now settled
very perceptbly in the water, that vessel
was finally abandoned, Captain Knudson
being the last to leave the ship.
~ then counted heads, and found we had,
in addition to our own crew (45 men and
four passengers), 6ss cabin and steerase
passengers and 90 Of the officers and crew
of the Inflated steamer. Our last view Of
the Danmark showed the vessel to be rap
idly going down, her stern being almost
even with the sea and the water breaking
| over her. We threw overheard most Of
our cargo on the decks, consisting princi-
pally Of bales of rags, in order to make room
for the accommodations Of large additions
to our passenger list.
''Ou looking over our provisions we found
after . careful estimate Of the number of
mouths to feed that we only had enough
food on board to last three days, and de-
cided to make all possible haste to reach
the port Of St. Michael, which was 10 miles
away.
ION April at p. m, about 10 hours
after the transfer was made, Mrs. Linney,
aged IS years, = Danish woman who was
on her way to America to meet her hus-
band gave birth to . girl in my cabin. The
little stranger was christened Atlanta Mis-
souri,. The child was born during howl
ing storm, which rocked the vessel and
caused the sea to break over us.
Everything possible was done to make
the passengers comfortable. Awnings and
sails were brought out and used as q par,
tial protection to the panic stricken emi-
grants. Tho gale kept increasing In fury
and there was . tremendous sea running
which was continually breaking over the
vessel and taken altogether things looked
dubious.
at must be remembered that wo were
very short Of provisions, and this storm at
tho very outset Of our journey towards St
Michae's made US fearful Of reaching that
port safely. By daylight Of April s, how
ever, the gale materially decreased and We
were able to mako fair progrcss, and on
April 10 We arrived At St, Michaels. On
April II We landed $40 Of the passengers
and crew Of tho Danmark, including Cap
tain Knudson, at ST. Michaels, and on the
same day We sailed from St. Michael's
with $50 people from the DanmArk, includ.
Sr~ ~luhN - NJ 5000, . that ~~-.~y Wy.