The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-06
RESCUED IN MID.OCEAN.
The Steamer Abyssinia Burned,
But All Hands Saved.
Spontaneous Combustion of Cot
ton Caused the Disaster.

Great excitement was caused in London.
England, when the news vas published to
/! the effect that the Guion Line steamship
Abyssinia, Captain Murray, had been
burned at sea five days after sailing from
New York for Liverpool. The passengers
and crew were rescued by the steamer Spree
Of the North German Lloyd's, bound from
New York for Bremen.
At midnight, three days after the acct
delft, the Spree landed the passengers and
crew OF the Abyssinla at Southampton,
England. They were all in fair condition,
having recovered from the shock which
their rough experience had given many Of
them, especially the women passengers.
The Abyssinia's voyage was without
| especial incident until the fifth day out. It
was about noon when the signs of a fire were
discovered by the crew. Care was taken
not to alarm the passengers, and Captain
Murray made every effort to smother the
fire, which had evidently been smolderingln
the cargo for some time.
When an attempt was made to ascertain
its extent, a volume Of smoke, thick and
suffocating, drove back the explorers. It
soon became evident that the vessel was be-
You'd saving. and the passengers were quiet
~ told to make preparations to leave, the
crew laboring. meantime, to keep back the
flames, which threatened to burst from the
hold.
The passengers behaved well, even the
women showing wonderful courage under the
circumstances AL eyes were strained for a
sail. while the growing heat OF the deck told
of increasing danger. The flag Of distress
was hoisted, and the horizon anxiously
scanned. At length the Spree came in sight,
and immediately directed her course toward
the burning vessel.
Captain Willigerod, of the Spree, lost no
time in questions. He asked Captain
Murray the condition Of his ship, and on re-
ceiving a reply, instantly caused his boats to
be lowered. The German sailors quickly
manned them, and made for the burning
; vessel. The sea was not running high, and
transshipment was accomplished without
mucn danger.
The first let down into the boats were the
womep, no distinction being made between
saloon and Storage passengers. A sturdy
sailor carried down each Of the children,
their mothers following. Then came the
male passengers, and the crew last Of all,
Captain Murray going in the last boat. All
were safely put on board the Spree.
An hours delay and all would nave been
lost. The Abyssinia was a sheet OF flames,
and as the Spree steamed on her way with
IL GSSuC 61OyS AAR SkO ASA~
A great swell was on at the time and the
passengers were drenched in their transit to
the Spree. The weather was not very cold
at the time, but just as the rescue was being
effected a snowstorm arose and ragged for a
short tina.
From the time the fire was discovered by
a man smelling smoke in the hold, until Cap
tain Murray left the the blazing boat, was
not two hours.
There were only six women on the Abys-
sinia and three infants. The crew numbered
lightweight, the steerage thirty-nlne
and the second cabin twenty.
The passengers were permitted 70 ta9e
with them such belongings as they could
carry about their persons, other baggage be-
ing sacrificed with the cargo. Captain Wilt
gerod gave Captain Murray accommodations
In his own quarters, and the crew OF the
Spree were equally hospitable to their fell
low seamen, while both cabin and Storage
passengers found sufficient accommodations,
the passenger list Of the Spree not being
large. :,
After the Abyssinia had been abandoned
the fire gained rapid Roadway, as could De
seen from the Spree, and the vessel must
have gone down soon after. The Spree pro-
ceeded on its course without delay. Captain
Murray thinks that the fire originated spon-
taneously in the cargo OF cotton, OF which
there were over a thousand bales, destined
for LIVERPOOL. The passengers were taken in
charge by the agents OF the Guion Line.
The burnei vessel was an iron, bark
rugged, screw steamer, Of 234G tons net AMI
1851 tons gross. She was built at Govan,
Scotland, in 1870. She was 1913 feat long by
forty-uwo feet seven inches beam and thirty.
four feet depth OF hold. She had compound
engines OF $40 horse power. :