Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-24
THE A8YSSINlA RESCUE.
Cool Nerve shown by Everybody Under
Trying Circumstances.

Cool Nerve shown by Everybody Under
Trying Circumstances.
LONDON, Dec. H.-In an interview yeS-
terday with Mr.. Brandt, the purser of the
burned Guion line steamship Abyssinia,
that officer, referring to the escape of the
Abyssinia's passengers by being taken off
the burning vessel to the North German
Lloyd steamship Spree, said that it was
impossible for the crew and passengers to
behave better, under such trying circum-
stances, than they did. The women, Pur-
ser Brandt added, showed wonderful nerve
and GOODNESS. When the alarm of fire was
given, at about noon on Friday, Dec is,
Mr. Brandt continued, the officers of the
Abyssinia piped the crew to fire quarters
and in so doing were careful to assure the
passengers that there was no danger and
that the fire was only trifling affair.
The Flames Break from the Hold.
At 4:30 p, m, the flames burst forth in
spite of the work of the crew, who, stimu-
lated by the example of their officers, did
everything possible in the emergency. From
first to last there was no sign of panic,
perfect discipline being preserved every
where. When the flames finally broke
from the hold and began leaping up
the beacon lights every boat on the
Abyssinia was watered and provisioned.
From noon until 4:30 p. m, was the battle
with the fire continued in the hope of sue
ces, but when the flames finally forced
their way through the deck it was seen
that the vessel was doomed.
A Welcome ship in Sight.
Captain Murray, of the burning ship,
showed the utmost Judgment and GOODNESS
in the hour of danger. He was constantly
to the front when the most desperate eff
forts were being made to fight the flames.
He assured the passengers, when the flames
broke out, that under the circumstances
they were almost to be congratulated upon
that fact, rs the fire would attract the at
tention OF some passing steamer Finally
the hull of steamship was seen making
toward the burning ship. Half an hour or
so later Captain Murray YEAS able to an
nounce that the steamer coming to their
rescue was the Spree, of the North German
Lloyd line.
Saved from Dreadful Peril.
The Spree, upon nearing the burning
Abyssinia, slowed up and then stopped her
engines. Shortly afterward the two com
manders had communicated with each
other, and two lifeboats We're lowered from
the Spree. The Abyssinia had, in the
meantime, lowered three of her boats and
commenced the transfer of the doomed
ships passengers to the rescuing vessel
The crew and passengers of the Spree gave
hearty cheers as each boatload of the Abys-
sinia's passengers and crew was brought
safely alongside the German steamship,
and as the rescued people reached the
Spree's decks they received an ovation
rarely witnessed afioat or ashore.
The Last of the Abyssinia.
The last seen of the unfortunate Abys-
sinia was as she slowly disappeared from
view, a mass of flames, upon the horizon
astern of the North German Lloyd steamer
which had so luckily come upon the scene
in time to take off her passengers and
crew. The Abyssinia was about 1,5OO
miles from the nearest land when she was
discovered to be on fire, and in the opinion