New-York tribune., 1891-12-24
THE LOSS OF THE ABYSSINIA.
oppoRrUNE APPEARANCE OF THE SPREE.
SIGHTED COON AFTER THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED
THE EXCITEMENT on THE ABYSsINIA-
ACCOUNTS OF THE RESCUE.

THE EXCITEMENT on THE ABYSSINIA-
ACCOUNTS OF THE RESCUE.
London, Dec a3.-The North German Lloyd steamer
Spree Captain wiligerod. from NcwYork having out
board the passengers and of tile burned GuiOn
Line steamer Abyssnla did not arrive at southampton
until o'clock last night and II was not until after
midnight that the people from the Alyssina all
ashore. The third officer says that at three bells Il 80
ococO on Friday smoke was noticed issuing from be-
meath the matches OF the third hold in which the cotton
was slowed. An investigation revealed The fact that
the cotton was on fire. The flames had gained such
beadway that all the efforts made to sibdue them.
even 10 hold them in check, were of no avail The FIRE
was fought long as single chance OF saving the
steamer remained, but finally Captain Murray decided
that the passengers and would have to leave the
vessel to her fate. lie therefore ordered the life
boats 10 be made ready and water and provisions
placed in them. The passengers and entered the
boats assigned TO them and the small craft with their
human freight were lowered away. Captain Murray
thought the burning steamer might be sighted by some
pa,sing vessel and he therefore gave orders TO the
captains OF the lfeboats 10 lie the Abyssinla.
The beats had drifting long before the Spree
hove In sight and in short time az lands In tie boats
reached the decks of the Spree in safety
passenger the AbysSinia tells story that does
not agree in some OF its minor details with the fore
going This passenger says that the flames spread with
such rapidity that every one knew that the steamer
was doomed. When il became known that there
no possible hope Of saving the vessel the most intense
excitement prevailed A number of the crew became
panic stricken two OF them jumping into the One
Of these rescued, but the other one was
drowned. Captain Murray preserved his calm de-
meanor throughout the whole exciting scene and he
soon restored the terrified members of his crew
10 & state OF perfect discipline DuIng the excite
ment the passengers story continues, the Spree
seen In the distance and her and the fact that
she was heading for the Abyssina tended greatly to
calm the people on the burning steamer The Spree
sent two of her boats 10 help take off the people OF the
Abyssnia Some of the latters boats were utilized In
This service. All the passengers luggage and tho
whole cargo were lost.
II was O'Clock this morning when the first Of
the Abyssinias people, comprising thiryfour pas
sengers and eightyeigh of her crew, reached Water
loo Station by rail from Southampton. The party,
who were conducted by Purscr Brandt, were met
the railway station by the agent OF the Guion Line
who sent them Immediately TO Liverpool Purser
Brandt said that the AbysSinla had fair passage
until O'Clock in the afternoon of December 1s
At that time he was told that the ship on fire.
lie smoke coming from the hold. He added :
ave got the hose stretched and the donkey engines
started. We worked hard possibly could TO get
at the FIRE. but almost Immediately the flames burst
through where We were working and drove us off.
At the time the watch reported that the Spree
was standing up in the onng., We signalled TO her.
assistance. Before two hours and half had
elapsed the Ably s>inla seetlng mass of flames"
The purser said that when the fire first discOv
cred great excitement prevailed. The alarm speedily
snbdded, however, and the passengers ana crew
afteTward behaV Ved admirably.
Captain Murray reported II the owners Of the Abys
sina Immediately his arrival In Live! pool. Ills
account OF the disaster adds little 70 the facts already
known. He SAYS that the fire was first discovered
at 12 40 o'clock p. Alarm was alayed by the
knowledge that the spree was Visible and was being
signalled. Meanwhile the captain directed vigorous
efforts to cope with the flames Finding these efforts
hopeless he took steps 10 transfer the passengers and
crew. The weather fine, and the transfer was
accomplished without difficulty, being finished at 10
D. m, when the spree Immediately steamed away
The Abyssinia was tren ablaze from stem TO stern,
and before she lost 10 sight her manmast had
by the board. The steamer carried general cargo,
but ii is not known whether te fire broke out in the
cotton or not.
The owners desire to deny the statement TINT two
Of the jumped overheard and that one
was drowned. There no loss of life. The mistake
I'm the previous accounts from the fact that the
Spree picked up boat containing two men, who mad
nut ont from the steamer Iona 10 ask assistance ono
OF whom drowned. g., ,
The first report that the spree fell in with the
Abyssinia in latitude 40 north longitude 20 west,
was erroneous. 1t ascertaned by an cXamna-
tion OF the log book OF the spree that she took OF
the Abyssinias passenger and crew in latitude AZ
north. longitude ~ west. which makes the scene
OF the burning OF the ship about 12O miles further
south and long distance further west than at hrSt