Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-05-31
A TERRIBLE CRIME.
4 WRECKED SRIP'SPASSENGERS
CAST INTO THE SEA.

CAST INTO THE obd'
AUTHENTIC RECORD OF A DOOMED
SHIP OVER FORTY YEARS AGO
THE LAST APPEALS OF THE
DOOMED VICTIMS.
The story of the lost Danmark
and the rescue Of Its passengers
by the Missouri recalls an incident
of a far different termination.-
Little over 40 years ago occurred
an event that had never before and
has never since been exceeded
even by the most fictitious tale OF
the sea. March IL, 1S4l, there
sailed from Liverpool for Phila'
delphia the ship William Brown,
captained by George Il. Harris,
and having on board 66 passen'
gers and crew OF 1G men. On
April 10, during the night, when
on the banks Of Newfoundland,
the vessel struck an iceberg and
was stove in. The captain ordered
out the lfeboats. The fear-strlcken
passengers, many OF them awaken
ed from their sleep by the crash,
came rushing on deck in their
night clothes and anything they
could grab to hear the awful an
nouncement that some must be
left behind. In shipping the long
boat it was discovered that there
was a hole in her bottom, which
was hastily plugged. AS soon as
they were gotten into the water
the captain told the terrified pass
engers he would make no seiec-
tion, C no names, but as many
as could might get in. Then in the
night came the struggle to be
saved before the boats we're filled,
and then was introduced the
character of one Of the crew,
William Alexander Holmes, who,
after the rush of passengers into
the lite. boat had been stopped, or
dered two young women, Bridget
McGee and Bridget Nugent, who
had succeeded in reaching it be-
fore it was filed, to leave it and 60
back to the sinking ship. They
told him they would not. On the
ship was a Scotch family named
Edgar, who did some sewing for
Holmes and the sailors. They got
into the lifeboat all but a sick
daughter, label, and the mother,
missing her begged Holmes to res
cue her. notwithstanding he
had ordered the other girls out OF
the boat, he came back to the ship
and brought label Edgar down
into the llfebOat on his back
There we're only two boats at
tached to the yessel-the long
boat already mentioned and the
Jolly boat. Forty.tvo persons,
sailors aud passengers we're in the
long boat, while the jolly boat con.
tanned the captain, one passenger
and seven sailors. Thus 81 pass
engers were left to die on tho al
ready sinking vessel. AS the boats
swung astefn of the sinking ship,
attached TO her by lines, the cries
of the lost thlrty.One came to them
wildly and terribly. Now and then
the wailing stopped, and meu, wo.
men and children could be heard
making their peace With Cod
Then would come cries of rebellion
and terror drowning the sound OF
prayer. At ll:20 o'clock the cries
we're wilder than ever, then an
awful silence eDsued. The big
ship pitched her masts On. of her
and went down head FOREMOST
AS she was sinking the lines ~
the life boats were cut. The boats
cIung 10 each other that night but
the next morning separated, the
captains boat steering for New
foundland while that ruled bJ
Holmes kept a southern course.
Late that night the passengers
were disturbed by the sound of
struggle; the tragedy of hurting
them into the ocean had begun
Holmes and negro cook, Henrl
Murray, seized one OF the passen-
gers, Owen Riley, and cast hin
overheard. His last earthly ap
peal to Heaven for mercy wa
scarcely ended, when the pleading
voice of George Duffee was heard
"Men,' he cried, as he struggled
~ have a wife and three children
for the honor of God save me 70
their sakes.r But he never spok
more than that, save TO give al
awful cry as his body vent dow
between the ice cakes that wer'
grating the lifeboat's sides
, Holmes sighted Charles Colin next
and to his earnest appeal, "Holmes
dear, you will not put me OUT re
! piled, "Yes, Charley, you'll co." a
he picked him up aud hurled hiO
into the sea.
Holmes and the negro COO
we're reinforced in their work G
] death by Seauen Charles Smitl
l and John StetsOn. After Coli
r they reached for James McIvoJ
Q whose sister sat beside him stricke
} speechless. "Give ME five minute
. to pray" he said, bravely. "No
now;" replied the negro cook.
"Dear God, receive my soul an
save the rest" he prayed, and kis'
90 he