The morning news., 1889-04-24
A HERO FROM THE OCEAN
PHILADELPHIA GOES WILD OVER
CAPT. MURRELL.

OAPI. M ~ hit blI1S.
The Maritime Exchange Gives Him a
Reception and Presents Him with
a Gold Medal-A Report That King
Christian VIII Confer a Decoration
on Him-Thousands at the Reception.
PHILADELPHIA, April 23--"Oh, don't
call it noble, it was only my duty, Pm
sure" said Capt. Hamilton Murrell, as he
was welcomed and congratulated at the
maritime exchange by President William
Brockie this afternoon.
Capt Murrell has been lionized TO an ex
tent that is simply amazing. Long before
the hour of noon, which had been set for
the public reception, the spacious rooms of
the maritime exchange, and the still
more spacious street in front of it con-
tanned thousands of people of all ages
and both sexes, who had, in some instances,
travelled many miles to pay homage to the
young captain. The cheers which greeted
the good-natured aud humane master as he
entered the exchange were deafening,
and several minutes elapsed before voice
could be heard. 1t was ex-
actly noon when Capt. Murrell was escorted
to commanding position IN the main hall
OF the exchange, had when the enthusiastic
demonstrations and subsidized for a moment,
he was introduced by President Brockie to
the immense throng present
GIVEN A GOLD MEDAL.
District Attorney George s. Graham
then stepped to the captains side and pre-
sented him with the only gold medal over
given by the Pennsylvania Humane So
ciety. 1t was handsome specimen Of the
goldsmth's handiwork, and its presentation
10y Mr.. Graham, on behalf Of the society,
was one of the most pleasing feat atures of the
| occasion. I'm all my public life"
said the district attorney, moth
ing has ever given me so much
pleasure as TO stand by the hero of the sea,
the saviour of 100 lives" Mr. Graham re-
| called the thrilling scenes in the storm
| swept harbor Of Samoa, the pathetic scenes
attending the loss, many years ago, OF tho
English man-of-war Birkenhead, aud COM
pared the heroism of Capt Murrell with
them. Wherever the wires have carried
this message, he said, "the world has paused
for n moment to honor a man who is
world of ours, seltlshness Is prominent
feature, aud it docs mo proud, sir, TO gra sp
the hand Of the man who Is so unseltlsh.
THE CAPTAINS REPLY.
~ do not know how to fad words" re-
piled the captain, Ito tell you how feel
| want to give my officers and men credit
for an act which was only duty. There was
nothing heroic about it. 1t was only an
Englishman's duty, and / might be in the
same plight myself some day. There
was nothing heroic on my part.
| ONLY considered the cargo
and " hen human lives were to be saved
the cargo was nothing, therefore, it had to
go.n
When the captain had spoken his few
words, and the cheering had subsidized, there
was a ush to grasp his hand, and for nearly
an hour he shook the hands Of all who were
| fortunate enough to get near him.
THANKED BY THE VICE CONSUL.
Vice Consul Lars Westergaard of Sweden
and Norway was introduced to the captain
| and said, in a voice full of emotion: "As
| vice consul of Sweden and Norway at this
| port, | feel very deeply impressed with the
great and glorious fact that under provi-
dence you were the happy medium that
saved several hundred Scandinavians and
Danes from the ill-fated steamship Dan
| mark as we'll as her captain and crew and
| it is very pleasant for all of us here assem-
bled to welcome you to know that you, sir
proved the right man in the right place.
! A nd now allow me, as treasurer of this ex-
! change, and on behalf and in the name of
| the directors of the Maritime Exchange Of
| Iullhuelpulu, W btIlUtT you hu uOuUThTI
| membership of this exchange, which please
ac cspt, and rest assured that we shall be
| glad to see you on this floor as often as it
NAV suit your convenience to call" "
After a few words OF thanks Capt Muir
| rell was presented with "A sprig Of ivy which
came from Westminster Abbey, and a
| beautifully bound miniature copy Of the
constitution Of the United States.
FUNCH, EDGE AND COMPANY TELEGRAPH.
A telegram from Funch Edge 81 Co. Of
New York, as representatives of the
Thingvalla line, addressed to Peter Wright
& Sons, was read by President Brockie,
and was cheered unstintingly IL ran as
follows: "Kindly convey, on the occasion Of
his reception at the Maritime exchange, to
Capt. Murrell, on behalf of the Thingvalla
company, our heartfelt thanks for all he
has done for the passengers and crew
OF the Inflated Danmark Better than all
acknowledgement that Capt. Murrel will
receive, and SO abundantly is entitled TO,
may be considered the feeling he can enter
tain of having with Gods holp been the
medium Of saving so much life and nobly
10 have done his duty TO suffering humanity.
It is no disparagement OF Capt Murrel's
deserts, il we beg leave to include in our
thanks tho entire crew of the Missouri,
who have from first to last all assisted their
commander in his work Of charity and love.
May God speed them in their proceedings
and protect them from similar disaster,
even though they should in time of need
meet such noble friends az the Danmark
found.'
WELCOMED BY THE MAYOR.
Afler the reception at the exchange had
been concluded the captain was taken 90
the mayors office and was, by Mayor Fit
Ier, in neat and fitting speech
welcomed 10 the city lie was in
troduced 10 the city officials and from
all of them received unstinted words OF
praise, but through IL all he was the same
bushing, modest, unassuming young aud
plain Capt. Murrel. Between now and
Thursday, when the captain expects 10 have
his boat discharged and proceed 70 Bati-
more, he Will be "A social lion. Already he
has been compelled 20 decline many kind
offers of entertainment and enjoyment.
Tonight he attended the annual dinner Of
the Sons OF ~. George and was the guest Of
the evening.
Capt. G. p. Clipperton, the British consul
at this port, and George Crump, the British
vice consul, called upon tho captain at the
Maritime exchange and had few pleasant
words with him, thanking him OH behalf Of
her majesty's government for the service
he had rendered the Danmark's passengers
and crew.
CAPT. MURRELL INDoRsED.
The Atlantic Transport Line, to which
the steamer Missouri belongs, has
promptly released the consignees of tho
cargo by said steamer Of any contributions
arising from the jettisoning Of part of the
cargo OF tho Missouri in order TO make