The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-23
Saved The Lives Of The People on the
Wrecked Danmark
Graphic Account Of Their Rescue BY
the Steamer Missouri
Atlanta Missouri Linnie Born On the
Voyage to st. hiehaels
While The Rescuing Vessel Was Bat
tIing With a HEAVY Gale
The Danlnark's officers the Last to
Leave Their Sinking Ship
Young Captain Murrell Given An OVa'
tiOn in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 22.-Steamship
Missouri with S65 people from the wrecked
Danmark arrived at the American line
steamship dock at this evening. All but
three of the persons ON board are well and
the three sick ones are doing nicely. The
rescued passengers look hardy and bright.
and show no signs of hardships endured.
Among those on board from the Danmark,
were:
Purser Hempel.
Ships Physician Jespersen.
Cook, Albert johnson.
Stewardess, Mrs. Nielsen.
Baker, John Lunchrist.
Butcher, Peter Benson.
Emigrant Stewardess, Mrs. Christensen.
Waiter, VIM. Durral.
General Passenger Agent John Roth, of
the Thingvalla line came from New York to
make provisions for the comfort of the peo-
pie from the unfortunate Danmark. He
stated that all would be forwarded to their
detinations from this city If satisfactory ar
rangements could be made. Nearly all the
immigrants are bound for points in the
West. Capt. Hamilton Murrell, commander
OF the Missouri, makes the following state
ment:
"We left London with general cargo for
our first trip to Philadelphia, March 2Sth.
We had fair passage up to 1.2O p. m.
April {, when we sighted the steamship
Danmark flying signal of distress. The
wind was blowing strong from the West.
We bore down on the steamer and found her
disabled. Capt. Knudsen, her commander,
reported that the tail end of the steamers
SHAFT WAS BROKEN,
and he wished me to take the passengers to
New York. Owing to the state of the wea-
ther, and because of the fact that was not
prepared to accommodate such number of
people, l declined to accede to the request,
but offered to tow his vessel to the nearest
port. This offer was accepted, and at 3.2O p.
m, we placed tow rope on board the yes
sci. We proceeded slowly, turning to the
sea and wind, and heading Northwest for
st. Johns, N. F.. which / considered the best
port to make under the circumstances. The
wind blew with tremendous force all night,
and progress was most difficult. On April 6,
at $50 a. m, finding we could make no head
way in a westerly direction, rand seeing ice
to windward, / decided to abandon the hope
of reaching St. Johns, and determined to
Islands. l signalled this determination to
the captain of the Danmark, and he agreed
that this was the best course to pursue. One
hour later we squared away for st. Michaels.
AT a. m, the Danmark signalled, we
are leaking considerably. There are now
three feet Of water in the aft hold and gain
ing rapidly l asked what I should do, and
the signal came, Keep on towing At
920 a. M, the Danmark again signalled us.
THE DANMARK is SINKING.
We must abandon the ship. Win you
take the passengers?' Without moments
hesitation / signalled back: Yes. VIII
take all on board and do the best cam /
then cut the tow line and we dropped down
to the Danmark. Chief Officer Glen Of that
vessel came on board the Missouri and in
formed me of the condition of the ship. He
said that although the weather was fine,
Capt. Knudsen had decided for the best in
terests of those on the ship it was better to
abandon her and get all her people on board
the Missouri while there was plenty Of time.
At $50 a. m. we launched two life boats in
charge Of Second Officer Lucas and Third
Officer Forsyth and these two boats proceed
ed to the Danmark. In the meantime, seven
of the sinking steamers boats were manned
by the crew Of that steamer and the work of
transferring the passengers began. A heavy
swell was running all day, making the work
Vi lCuOfiuB tuC pCOpic Olt Ol great QllUCutby.
Only by the hardest kind of work we were
able to avoid accidents both to people and to
boats. The women and children were re-
moved first, and after them them the male
passengers and crew.
"The officers of the Denmark remained on
board that vessel. at a. m. we finished the
work of transferring the passengers, having
consumed nearly five hours getting every
body, with the exception of the officers,
SAFELY ON THE MISSOURI
without single accident of any kind. About
one hour later the barometer began falling,
the weather coming in thick and dirty. l
sent ord to Capt. Knudsen and his faithful
officers to leave their ship and come on beard
the Missouri. After getting some provisions
from the Danmark, which had now settled
very percertibly in the water, that vessel
was, finally abandoned, Capt Knudsen being
the last to leave the ship. We had on board
IN addition to our own crew of 45 men and
four pas Ssengers, Cos cabin and steerage pas
sengers and SO officers and crew of the i'll
fated steamer. After we had taken every
body from the Danmark we pulled the plugs
out OF the bottoms of that vessels boats
which we had used, and left them
to sink to the bottom of the Atlantic. i can
not understand how the Minnesota picked
up one of these boats six days later. Our last
view of the Danmark showed that vessel
rapidly going down, her stern being almost
even with the sea and the water breaki ng
over her. We threw overheard most of our
cargo between decks, consisting principally
of baled rags in order to make room for the
accommodation of the large additions to our
passenger list.
ON LOOKING OVER OUR PROVISIONS,
we found after careful estimate of the
number of mouths we had to feed, we had
only enough food on board to last three days.
We decided to make all possible haste to
reach Port st. Michaels, 72O miles away. The
cabin passengers of the Danmark were CIV
en- accommodations in the Missouri's pas.en-
ger cabins and the officers gave up their cab
ins for the use of the women and children,
"On April 7th at 1.20 a. M, about 10 hours
after the transfer. Mrs. Linnie, aged is. a
American to meet her husband, gave birth
to girl in my cabin. The little stranger
was chrstened Atlanta Missouri. The child
was born during bowling storm
which racked the vessel and caused
Started sta for for St. Michaesl at p m. on M the stb M
The weather was very threatening and the
wind increased in violence as the night wore
on. Everything possible, was done to make
the passengers comfortable. Awnings and
sails were brought out ana used as partial
who for the first time showed signs of fear,
All through the trying times which had pre-
ceded this storm. they acted admirably. The
gale kept increasing in fury and
TREMENDOUS SEA WAS RUNNING,
continually breaking over the vessel. Taken
altogether things looked dubious. By day
light on April Sth. the gale had materially de-
creased and we were able to make fine
progress. The 9th went by without Incl
dent, and at 8. 80 a. N. on April 10th, we ar
rived at ST. Michaels. On April 1lth at II a.
m we landed $40 passengers and the crew