Rescue of the SS Danmark

The rescue of the SS Danmark began on April 6, 1889, when the cargo ship, SS Missouri, came to the rescue of the sinking SS Danmark and saved all of the passengers and crew of the Danmark.

The Danmark was part of the Thingvalla Line and was a 3414-ton steamship. On this its last voyage, it carried 59 crew members and 665 passengers from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway who were on board for emigration to America. On March 20, 1889, the Danmark began its journey from Copenhagen to New York to deliver its passengers, most of whom were women who intended to go to the West to marry or seek work as domestics. There were also a large number of families with children. The bulk of the passengers were in the steerage, with only 26 passengers in cabins.

The Danmark had fought high winds and high seas from March 24, 1889. On April 4, 1889, the winds had become more violent, and the swells which the Danmark rode were mountainous. Most of the passengers became ill. By April 5, 1889, the Danmark was in terrible trouble and sinking, having survived high winds but with a severely damaged hull from a hole caused by her propeller shaft when it snapped. The ship was unable to make any headway because its engines were kept running so that the pumps could keep pumping the water to keep the ship from sinking. The Captain C.B. Knudsen had considered abandoning the ship but was concerned that the lifeboats would be overturned in the high seas.

On April 5, 1889, the SS Missouri came upon the disabled Danmark in bad weather and high seas. Fortunately, for the crew and the passengers of the Danmark, the Missouri happened upon the Danmark because it had taken on such a large cargo in London that she was ordered to proceed straight from London and Philadelphia and skip Swansea. The Missouri was one of four freighters built for the Atlantic Transport Line to carry cargo, cattle, and goods between London, Swansea, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The Missouri was 2,845 tons and manned by a crew of 37. Because it was a freighter and had insufficient quarters for people and supplies, it could only accommodate an additional 20 people. Because its cargo hold was built to haul cattle, it had a large fresh water condenser capable of condensing 8,000 gallons of water per day. Upon seeing the distress flags of the Danmark, its Captain, Hamilton Murrell, immediately ordered his crew to set a course for the Danmark, and he steered as close as possible to the disabled steamship.

Because of the bad weather and his inability to accommodate the passengers, Captain Murrell decided not to risk the open sea transfer and instead offered to tow the Danmark to St. John. It took several hours to attach the tow lines because of the strong winds and heavy seas, but eventually the process was completed. The Missouri was able to the tow the Danmark but, because of the gale, it was hard going. When the storm increased in intensity, the Danmark was carried away and the wire bridle of the tow line was ripped away. However, the tow line held, and the Danmark did not go adrift. Because the Missouri was making no progress, and Captain Murrell had seen ice ahead, he decided to change course for the Azores. Three hours later, Captain Knudsen signaled that the Danmark was continuing to sink and would not make the trip to the Azores.

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