Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-10
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN MuRRELL.

THE CASE OF CAPTAIN MURRELL.
A large fund was raised in Philadelphi;
as a testimonial to Captain Murrell anG
other officers Of the steamship Missouri
who rescued the passengers of the unfor
tunate ship Danmark. The purse was duly
delivered, but these gallant American sea
men, whose humanity had been SO signally
made manifest, Immediately distributed
the entire sum among the passengers o
the Danmark who had lost all the posses
sions they had on the steamer, which, il
fact, meant all they had in the world, a:
they were mainly emigrants, whose worldly
goods in Europe had been disposed Of
and turned into necessaries for the voyage
and clothing for their families, with a
small sum of money with which to start
anew in America. 1t is now telegraphed
that large purse has been raised in Lon
don for Captain MurreH. 1t is certain
that the purpose of the contributors in both
cases was not TO attempt to reward the
Captain with money for deed of human
ity, but by the purses to testify public APP
probation of heroism and charity, and to
stimulate other men to deserve commenda-
ton by relieving distress. Captain MUIR
rell is reported to have said that what he
did is not deserving of special recognition,
because his action was only in the line of
his duty. That is too modest a view to
take of it. For very often the discharge
of duty calls for as much of heroic sacri-
ice as the voluntary offering Of one in the
interest of another. OF course Captain
Murrell was bound to extend aid to the
sufferers of the Danmark, but he was not
bound to take the risk he assumed in rescu-
ing them. He was not bound to give up
his own voyage and sacrifice bis own cargo
as he did in order to bring the sufferers to
the nearest port. What he did do was to
lose two days in attempting to tow the
disabled ship. He then cast away large
part of his cargo to give his own vessel
capacity to carry the rescued, and thus
ladened he sailed far out of his course to
place the people with least delay in safety.
The whole thing was sacrifice of posses
sions and self-interest for philanthropy
without any legal right-or at least a
doubtful one-to recover the money value
of the property cast away. This one act
required courage that is of high order
in this day, when trade is so hard and
rigid in its demands and business so severe
N its discipline. Captain Murrell had be-
fore him his duty to his neighbor and his
duty to his employers, and they were in
conflict. He took advice of his sympathies
and his humanity, and they decided against
his employers and in favor of the call for
help. 1t Is creditable to the business
world that the owners of the Danmark
promptly came to the front of Murrells
humanity and paid the full value of the
cargo the Captain had destroyed to enable
him to save the lives of the ships passen.
gers. 1t was an act of integrity, prompt
and vigorous, and without the spur of pub
lie sentiment TO urge it, and hence deserves
record among the good deeds of men.
AN exchange says: "The French alliance
IN the revolutionary war was delicately re-
called at the centennial banquet. The
menus were printed in French If they
were printed in French for that purpose
alone it was weakness, since any acknowl-
edgment due should have been made with
that openness and fearlessness that is char.
&cteristic of the American method. We
we're deeply indebted to France in the rev.
oiutionary days; we had not only her
sympathy, but her material aid, and in the
celebration of the centennial it was right
and graceful to renew the acknowledgment
But to confne it TO the printing of dinner.
cards in the French tongue would hav,
been unworthy of both France and tn,
United States. They were so printed
probably, without any reference to tn,
friendship of France for US in the day
that tried mems souls.
IT is discreditable to the Government o.
The United States that with millions o
dollars surplus in the Treasury, the mea
ger salaries of the keepers of lighthouse
have TO be scaled down in order to keep W
the service, Congress having failed to APP
propriate the sum necessary to pay thes,
sservitors of the nation, upon whose watch
fulness and efficiency the lives of all VIII,
travel upon the deep in great measure
depend. Too much political activity, ant
too little attention to the necessary bust
ness of the people, are the causes of thi
humiliating condition Of affairs-the Gov
eminent Of the nation that has been re
joicing in It's hundred years, bulletined a
unable TO pay the pittance due the mel
and women who keep the lamps burnin
for lonely Jacks guidance from the storm
sea to the looked-for harbor.