Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 35, Number 10, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 April 1889 — Page 2

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THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1859.

THE DISASTER AT SAMOA.

FRIGHTFUL WORK OF A HURRICANE. A Graphic Anat ( th Reeeat Storm Which TTrtcktd the American and German Men-of-War Anchored In the Little Harbor at Apia. Baji Francisco, April 13. The steamship Alameda of the Oceanic line, Commander IL J. Morse, arrived here at 9 o'clock this morning, haying bailed from Sydney March 20. 8he had one of the roughest trips in her experience, encountering gales and heavy seas until the reached Honolulu. She stopped at TutuHa, an island of the Samoan group, at 10 o'clock on the morning of March 29, where he found the American schooner Equator with American mails and tea cadets from the American warships wrecked at Apia. Commander Morse, upon learning of the disaster to the American 6hips, at once ailed for Apia. On the way he met the mail cutter and received the German mails at Apia. The Alameda took on board six wounded seamen; also Lieut. Ripley and twenty-nine wounded seamen to come upon the Honolulu steamer. The Alameda brought the following naval cadets from the man-of-war Trenton: It. Ftocker. F. W. Hebbs. B. C. Decker, B. W. Walls, W. S. Cloke, G. W. Losran and IL Jackson, and Naval Cadets R. A. Wiley, L. A. Stafford and J. A. Lejune of the Vandalia. DETAILS OF THE STORM. JL Graphic Description of the Awfnl II a rrirane and the Destruction It Wrought. APIA, Samoa, March SO, per steamer Alameda, fan Francisco, April 13. Copyright 1SS. The little group of Samoan or Navijrator islands, which a few months ago attracted the attention of the civilized world by a fierce civil combat between two native factions and consequent possibility of serious complications between the great powers of the Vnited States and Germany, have been visited by a disaster more appalling than all of the wars ever waged here. In attempting to effect a solution of the Samoan difficulty and to protect their respective interests on the inlands, the United States and Germany have lost nearly 150 lives and $.'l,000,(iuO worth of property. The most violent and destructive hurricane ever known in the South Faritic ocean passed over these islands on the J.Uh and 17th of March, and as a result a feet of six war-ships and ten other vessels were ground to atoms on the coral reefs in the harbor, or thrown on the beach in front of the little city of Apia: and 142 officers and men of the American and German navies sleep under the reefs, or lie buried in unmarked graves, thousands of miles from their native land. The U. S. frigate Trenton, flagship of the Facilic squadron, which arrived here from Panama, March 11, lies within a stone's throw of the American consulate, a total wreck. The great hull of the magnificent vessel which steamed into the harbor a few weeks fro, rest on the bottom, fast going to pieces. The U. S. steamer Vandalia, which arrived from San Francisco Feb. 23, is buried out of sight between the Trenton and the shore. Her shattered foremast and smokestack rise from the water to mark the spot where the gallant vessel struck and lay for twelve hours before the awful torrent of water which swept four officers and thirty-nine men from her decks and rigging. Her commander. Capt C. M. Shoonmaker, was among the first who perished in the waves. The other ofliceri who met their deaths were Paymaster Frank IL Arms, Lieut Frank Sutton of the marine corps and Pay-clerk John Poach. The I. S, steamer Nipsic lay for several days alongside the Vandalia, with her bow high on the beach and within five feet of the water's edge. The vessel, though badly damaged, was hauled off a few davs alter the storm, and is the only war-ship at! oat in the harbor. Several of the c.flicers and crew are living aboard. All of the .Nipsic's officers are safe, but ehe lost five men by the swamping of a boat and two others who jumped overbosrd were also drowned. The three Americr n men-of-war were swept ashore almost at the name point. It w w on the little German gunboat Eber that the greatest loss of life occurred. The Eber had a complement of six officers and seventy-six men. Five men were ashore during the storm. When the vessel struck the reef she sank completely out of sight, and a minute later there was not a vestige of her to been, and all on board were lost, except one officer, Lieut, (iaedke, and four sailors. The other five officers and sixty-six men were either instantly killed when the vessel crashed, to pieces or were drowned in the roaring torrent of water that broke upon the reef. A small part of the Eberls prow was afterward washed ashore near an American vessel. This and a few pieces of broken wreckage near the point where she struck are the only portions of her that have even been seen since the moniert she went down. Juit on the edge of the reef, about 500 yards west of Trenton, is all that remains of the Adler, the flag-ship of the German squadron in Samoan waters. The Adler was washed on top of the reef and turned completely over on her side. She has remained in that position since and is almost entirely out of water. Nearly every man aboard was thrown into the water when the Adler struck, but only twenty sailors were drowned and all her officers were saved. The Oerman corvette, Olga, is fast upon a wind-fiat about a quarter of a mile east ot the American vessel. While the storm was raging and the vessels were fighting for their lives, the Olga came into collision with nearly every other man-of-war in the harbor, and was badly damaged above her water-line. It is thought that she can be towed ofi. No lives were lost on the Olga. The only other man-of-war in the harbor was ite British corvette Calliope, which arrived here in February and relieved the Itoyaliet Her machinery was very powerful, and 6he was capable of steaming at the rate of sixteen knots an hour, but she narrowly escaped going ashore at the am place with the Adler. Just as she was lbout to strike the reef she let go her anchors and in the face of a terrible wind steamed out of the harbor and put to sea. The merchant vessels which were wrecked were principally small craft. Nearly all of them were thrown on the reef near the wreck of the Adler, but Dee or two of them escaped with slight d.traige. One of these was a schooner belonging to the German trading company and she was made ready at once to send to Tutuila to meet the Oeeanic steamship company's steamer Mariposa, from San Francisco, 60 that news of the disaster could be forwarded to Auckland aud from there cabled to Europe and America. The beach is strewn with wreckage from one end of the town to the other. Over nine hundred American and German sailors are quartered in Apia, and for a few days after the storm subsided the greatest confusion existed everywhere. A large number of men on the Vandalia and several on the other vessels were badly injured by falling from the rigging and being thrown about the decks by the terrible seas, and it was necessary to provide a temporary hospital tor their accommodation. A great many men from the wrecked vessels became intoxicated as soon as they reached the hore. "v The force of the storm was never equalled in this part of the world betöre. The barometer bad been falling steadily for several days previous to the storm and the wind commenced to blow Friday afternoon, March 15 and continued until Sunday morning. The rain fell in torrents during the whole time and great clouds of sand swept over the town. Hundreds of people stood on the beach and watched the awsul spectacle in the harbor. The vessels all had a full head of steam on and three or four anchors out. Their yards and topmasts were down, and every precaution was taken to insure the safety of the ships, but the wind constantly shifted from northeast to northwest. The force was so great that the vessels dragged their anchors all over from one side of the bay to the other, and came into collision a dozen times. Tremendous seas broke over the decks and torrents of water rushed down the hatchways and put out the fires. There was treat confusion among the men on several of the vessels early Saturday morning, but the officers did noble work, and the men became orderly and attended to their duties bravely in the face of danger. Persons on shore were powerless to render assistance to the ships. Hundreds ran to the water's edge and stood in the blinding storm watching the great vessels pitch about on the waves or drift on to total destruction against the reefs. The sea broke upon the reef with a roaring sound and washed far upon the beach, carrying with it great quantities of wreckaee. The watchers on shore were submerged time after time and many were injured by the floating wreckage. Great clouds of sand filled the tir and out face and body like t knife. Every

one was drenched with rain, but stood shivering in the storm, prepared to render whatever assistance might be possible. The natives waded far out into the surf where a white man could not live, and many a life was saved through their efforts. Americans and Germans were treated alike; no thought was given to the state of war existing between the Germans and themselves and the men who fought the Germans at Vailele a few months before now battled with the waves and risked their own lives to save their enemies from a watery grave. The storm raged furiously for nearly two days, and when the wind finally abated the scene of destruction was awful. On the shore houses were nnroofed and blown down, and trees and fences were thrown across the streets o that passage was almost blocked. Oat of seventeen vessels which were moored in the harbor, only two small vessels remained afloat, and these were badly damaged. The survivors of the disaster seemed dazed. They had seen friends and comrades swept away from their grasp and go down to their death, and had expected to follow them as every wave broke over the ill-fated vessels. Long exposure had rendered them weak and exhausted. Very few bad tasted food for thirty-six hours. Many had clung to the rigging without a particle of clothing, and all bore marks of terrible suffering. The houses of Apia were thrown open and both native and foreign residents did all in their power to accommodate the shipwrecked sailors. Apia harbor, where the frightful disaster occurred, is a little semi-circular bay situated on the northern side of the island of I'paln. The distance across the entrance to the bay is about three miles. A coral reef, most of which is risible at low water, extends in front of the harbor, but is broken for a distance of threefourths of a mile about half way between Matalu point on the east and Milinua point on the west. This break in the reef forms a gateway for ships to enter the harbor. The spare within this reef where ships can lie at anchor is very small, as there is a shoal of large dimensions in the eastern part of the bay, and the western portion is obstructed by another coral reef, which is located from two hundred to four hundred yards offshore and extends almost from the western extremity of the hay to a point directly in front of the American consulate, which is situated near the middle of the crescent-shaped town. It was on this inner reef that most of the vessels were wrecked, as the wind blew into the harbor from the open sea and forced them back against it. The water in the open space between the outer reef on the north and the inner reef and shoals on the west, south and cast, is very deep, but the space is not capable of accommodating with safety the number of large vessels which were lying in the harbor when the storm commenced. There is no holding ground at the bottom of the bay and it has been no uncommon thing for vessels to drag their anchors whenever a stiff breeze would spring np. Another great disadvantage which the harbor posseses is the rapid currents which shoot about in several direotions, the velocity of which was greatly increased by the immense volume of water emptying into the bay from several rivers. The principal one of these currents rushed along shore, past the point where the American vessels struck. One hundred yards further west it was met by a roaring torrent of water pouring out of the mouth of the Vaisitrano river. The consequence was that a whirlpool was formed at the mouth of the river and a dozen men, who were tossed overboard from the Vandalia, were swept down to this point, only to be whirled round in the water for a moment and then be forced out into the bay. The meu-of-war which were anchored in the harbor were necessarily very close together. The vessels nearest to the shore were the Eber and Nipsic. The Eber was directly in front of the American consulate about a quarter of a mile from thore, and the Nipsic was about two hundred yards east of the Eber. The Adler was ahead of the Nipsic, and the Olga and Calliope were ahead of the Eher. The Vandalia was beyond the Calliope, a mile A shore. The Trenton was the last of the war-ships to arrive here, and being much larger than any other men-of-war in the bay, there was no room for her near shore, so she was obliged to drop anchor beyond the Vandalia, just within the outer reef. The sailing crafts were in shallow water, west of the men-of-war. The Trenton and Vandalia had the most dangerous berths in the harbor, while the position of the Nipsic was considered the safest For a few days preceding the hurricane the weather was cloudy and the barometer had been steadily falling, but no one anticipated the storm which commenced to set in Friday afternoon, March 15. Ky 11 o'clock that night, the wind increased to a gale, and nearly all the war-ships had their engines working to relieve the strain upon the anchors. The crews on most of the sailing vessels threw out extra anchors and then went ashore. The rain commenced to fall at midnight and the wind increased in fury. Great waves were rolling in froia the open ocean and the pitching of the vessels was fearful. Every man was kept at work. The Eber commenced to drag her anchors at midnight and an hour later the Vandalia's were also dragging. However, by using full steam power they both succeeded in keeping well ofi' the reef and away from the other vessels. The wind blew stronger and stronger and the rain fell in torrents, 15y 3 o'clock the situation had become alarming. Nearly every vessel in the harbor was dragging its anchors and there was imminent dangerof a collision. A panic began to break out among the men on several of the vessels and they were kept at their posts with great difficulty. On the shore the howling of the wind among the trees and houses and the crash of falling roofs had aroused many persons from their beds, and figures were seen groping the streets looking for some spot of shelter from the tempest. The tide was coming in rapidly and waves were washing all over the street, a hundred feet above the usual high watermark. The spray was thrown high in the air and beat into the windows of houses nearest shore. Ilain fell like sleet and men and women who were wanderiutr about in the storm shielded their faces with small pieces of board or any other article that could be used as a protection against the wind and sand. The natives seemed to realize more than anyone else that the storm would result in awful destruction. People gathered in little groups and peered out into the darkness across the sea of foaming water. Through the blackness of the night could be seen the lights of the men-of-war, and even above the rushing and roaring of the wind and waves the shouting of officers and men on board came faintly across the water and struck terror to the hearts of all who listened. It could be seen that the vessels were drasrzing, as the lights were movinir slowly in dilicrent directions and apparently crossing and recrossine each other. Every moment it seemed aa though two or more of the great war ships were about to come together, and the watchers on the beach waited in breathless anxiety to hear the crash of the collision and see the vessels go down to destruction. A little after " o'clock the first rays of dawn broke upon the scene and revealed a spectacle not often witnessed. The position of the vessels was entirely changed. The wind, which was blowing from the northeast, had swept them from their former moorings and they were all bearing down in direction of the reef. Black smoke was pourine from their funnels, showing that desperate efforts were being made to keep them up against the winds. The decks were swarming with men clinging to roasts or any other object on which a hold could be obtained. The hulls of the war-ships were tossing about like corks. One moment the vessels seemed to stand almost upon their beam-ends, and the next instant their sterns would rise out of the water and expose to view the rudders and rapidly-revolving propellers. Then the prows would be lilted high in the air only to piunire into the next wave and deluge the ships with a torrent of water. Several small sailing vessels had already gone a.-ho re in the western part of the bay. The Trenton and Vandalia, being further out from shore than the other ships, were almost obscured by the blinding mist. The vessels most plainly visible were the Eber and Adler and the Nipsic They were very close together and only a few yards off from the reef. The little gunboat F.ber was making a desperate struggle for life, but every moment she was being drawn nearer and nearer the reef. Her doom was certain. Suddenly she shot forward as if making a last struggle to escape destruction. The current, however, bore her oil' to the rieht and her prow struck the port quarter of the Nipsic. The shock carried away several feet of the Npsic's rails and one boat. The 1.1 er then fell back and fouled with the Olga, but neither vessel sustained much damage by the collision. The two collisions, however, had checked the Eber's progress and she seemed unable to make any further effort to save herself. She swung around broadside to the wind and drifted slowly toward the reef; awful seas broke over the little vessel and forced her on to destruction. In a moment a great wave rolled in toward shore; the Eber was lifted high on its crest and carried broadside on the reef. She came down with awful force, and in an instant there was not a vestige to be seen. She struck fairly upon her bottom, rolled over toward the open sea and disappeared from view. Every timber of the gun-boat must have been shattered and hall the joor wretches aboard of aer

crushed to death before they felt the waters closing about their heads. Hundreds of people were on the beach by this time and the work of destruction had occurred in full view of them all. They stood for a moment appalled by the awful scene and then a cry of horror arose from the lips of every man who had seen nearly a hundred of his fellowcreatures perish in an instant. Then, with one accord, they all rushed to the water' edge nearest the point where the Eber had foundered. The natives ran into the surf far beJond the point where a white man could have ived ana stood waiting to save any poor creature who might rise from the water. Ihere was no thought of the war between Germany and Samoa. There was no sign of enmity against the people who had carried off their king and banished him on a lonely isle a thousand miles from his native land. The savage forgot the oppression which a civilized people placed upon him, and he now held out his hand to save a human life, caring little whether it was that of a friend or a foe. At first it seemed as if every man on the ill-fated steamer had gone to his death; not even a hand appeared from the place where the Eber sank. But the breakers on the reef had hidden a few struggling men who had come to the surface and struck feebly lor the shore. Presently a man, who had not been noticed before, was seen clinging to the piling under a small wharf near by. Willing hands soon grasped him and drew him npon the shore. He was a young man with a handsome, boyish face and wore the uniform of an officer. He proved to be Lieut. Gaedeke, and he was the only officer of the Eber who was saved. He was in a dazed condition and unable to realize his escape. Lieut. T. G. Fillette, the marine officer of the Nipsic, who has been in charge of the guard at the American consulate for several months, took the German officer by the arm, led him to the consulate and provided him with dry clothing. Four sailors from the Eber were seen struggling in the water near shore about the same time. They were quickly rescued by the natives and also taken to the American consulate. None of them seemed to know how they escaped. They felt themselves at the surface of the water and were soon grasped by natives and taken ashore. There were six officers and seventy men on the Eber when she struck the reef, and of these, live officers and sixty-six men were lost. Lieut Gaedeke, the surviving officer, was almost heart-broken over the sad fate of his fellow officers and men. He stated that he was officer of the watch, and was on the bridge when the Kber went down. The other officers were below and were probably crushed to death. Soon after the ship sank, he found himself floating on the water and, without being aware of any effort on his part, drifted ashore and was saved. It was about 6 o'clock in the morning when the Eber foundered. During the excitement attending the calamity, the other vessels had been, for the moment, forgotten; but it was soon noticed that the position of several of them had become more alarming. The Adler had been swept across the bay, being for a moment in collision with the Olga, and was now close to the reef, about two hundred yards west of the point where the Eber struck. Like the Eber, she Avas approaching her doom broadside on. In half an hour she was lifted on top of the reef and turned completely over on her side. Nearly every man was thrown into the water. Fortunately, however, the Adler was thrown so far up on the reef that, when she turned over on her side, nearly the entire hull was out of the water, lie deck was at right angles with the water, and was facing the shore, consequently that portion of the vessel was well protected from the storm. Most of the men M ho were struggling in the water had but a few feet to swim to reach the deck, where they clung to the guns and masts in safety. Of the 130 officers and men aboard twenty men were drowned or killed when the steamer was capsized. All of the officers, including Capt. Fritz, who was in command of the German squadron, were saved. Many of the Adler were badly injured, amon; them being Capt. Fritz, who received a severe shock and a number of cuts and bruises. The natives stretched a rope from the shore to the deck of the Adler during the day, and a number of sailors escaped in that way. But the ropo parted before all had left the vessel and the others were not taken off till the next day. They clung to the wreck during the long, weary hours of the day and night and were greatly exhausted when the storm subsided and boat; Could lie sent to take them off. The bottom of the Adler, however, formed such a protection against the storm that the men aboard were com paratively safe. Just after the Adler struck, the attention of every one was directed toward the Nipsic. She was stauding off the reef with her head to the wind, but the three anchors which she had out at the time were not holding. The steamer was beating back toward the point where the Kber went down. It was only by the most skillful management that her officers and crew were saved from the same fate that befell the Eber. The Nipsic also narrowly escaped destruction by being run into by the Olga, and it was the blow which she received from that vessel that finally sent her ashore. The Nipsic had on all the steam it was possible for her to carry, and had just succeeded in getting clear of the reef when the little schooner Lily got in her track and was cut down. The Olga was bearing down on the Nipsio at the time, and that vessel was trying to avoid collision with the Kber when she struck the Lily. The schooner sank in a moment. There were three men ,on her Capt. Douglas, a pilot living in Apia, Anthony Ormsby, a trader, and a Hawaiian native. All three struck out for the Olga, but only one was saved. Douglas sank underneath the Olga twice, but finally succeeded in grasping one of the anchor-chains and drew himself up on the steamer. Ormsby almost reached the chain, but was washed away and drowned. The Hawaiian was swept out to sea. Life-buoys were thrown to him from the Calliope and Vandalia, but he was not able to save himself. The Nipsic got well away from the reef after she struck the Lily, and her men had attached a hawser to a heavy eight-inch rifle on the forward deck and were preparing to hoist the gun overboard to assist her anchors, when the Olga again bore down upou her. The Olga struck the Nipsic amidships; her bowsprit passed over the port side of the Nipsic, and, after carrying away a boat and splintering the rail, come in contact with the smokestack. The smokestack was struck fairly. in the center and fell to the deck with a crash like thunder. It was difficult to realize for a moment what had happened. Great confusion occurred; the crew believed that the steamer was going down and the men ran up the rigging for safety. The officers allayed their fears as well as they were able. The iron smokestack rolled from side to side with every movement of the vessel and the men ran to keep clear of its track. Heavy blocks were placed under it, but by that time it was found that the Nipsic had swung around and was again approaching the reef. It was an nxious moment for all on board. They had seen the Kber strike on the same spot, and it seemed certain that they would go down in the same way. Having lost her smokestack, the Nipsio was unable to keep her steam power up and it was useless to attempt to steam out from the reef in the face of the wind. Capt. Mullane was npon the bridge at the time and remained cool and collected during the dangerous moments. Several men stood by their posts nobly but many were demoralized and refused to listen to order. It was plain that in another moment the Nipsic would be upon the reefs and probably every man on board would be lost. Capt. Mullane sr.w that any further attempt to save his vessel would be useless, so he gave the order to beach her. One anchor was slipped and the few pounds of steam which could still be used, kept the vessel in deep water until she had cleared the end of the reef. Boxes of salt pork and other inflammable material were thrown into the furnaces to keep up the fires. Her head was put around to the shore and she had a straight course of 100 yards to the sandy beach in front of the American consulate. Her engines worked as hard as the limited amount of steam would permit. When the Nipsic struck, her engineers did not take time to stop her engines, and her propeller continued to revolve for an hour while her bow stuck fast in the sand about fifteen yards from the water's edge, and the vessel swucg around forming an acute angle with the line of the shore. Orders were given to lower two boats. Five sailors jumped into one boat, but the faltz did not work properly and before the boat was lowered one end dropped. The men were thrown into the water and drowned. The other boat, containing Dr. 11 Z. Derr, the ship's surgeon, and half a dozen sick men, was lowered in safety, but it capsized before it reached the shore. All of the men half swam, half floated until they came within reach of the natives who were standing waist deep in the surf, when they were pulled out on the beach. Several of the sick men were much exhausted, but they were quickly removed to the consulate and revived in a few hours. Several men on the Nipsic ran to the rail and jumped overboard, among them being Lieut H. Davenport, They all reached the shore in safety except two sailors, who were unable to swim through the current and were swept out into the bay and drowned. By this time every man aboard had crowded on the forecastle. The natives rushed down near the bow of the steamer and shouted to those on

deck above to thro w a line. Double howsers were soon made fast from deck to shore and the natives gathered around the lines to assist the men off. Sen men Taea, chief of the Apia district, and Sala Ana, King Mataafa's secretary, directed the men in their work. The scene was one of intense excitement. The sea broke upon the stem of the Nipsio with awful force and it seemed as if the vessel would be shattered to pieces before the men on her decks could be saved. The waves were rolling high on the beach and the under tow was so strong that the natives narrowly escaped being washed out into the bay. The terrible force of the wind can hardly be imagined. The rain continued to pour and clouds of flying sand grew thicker. Above the roar of the wind and waves could be heard the voices of officers shouting to the men on deck, mingled with the cries and singing of the Samoans as they stood battling against the surf, risking their lives to save the American sailors. Nearly all the American and Knglish residents of Apia were on the shore in front of the consulate, and there seemed to be a willingnes on the part of every man to render whatever assistance was in his power. Ensign J. L. Purcell.of the Nipsic, who had been on shore during the night, was up to his waist in water helping to rescue his comrades from their perilous position. On board the Nipsio the excitement which had prevailed among the men just after the fall of the smoke-stack, had subsided, and there was no attempt to leave the vessel in disorder. Capt. Mullane and several other officers stood by the rail, where the hawsers were made fast, and directed the movements of the men. All who were in any way sick or injured were allowed to to leave first and after that the men came down the ropes quickly. The seas were rolling so high under the bows of the steamer that when the men had advanced ten feet down the ropes they would often be submerged and nothing but the noble efforts of the natives prevented them from being washed off and carried away by the current. As soon as each man would come within reach he would be grasped in the strong arms of half a dozen Samoans and carried to the consulate. Most of the men had but scant clothing; a few had tied some articles in their handkerchiefs, which they held onto firmly. Capt. Mullane insisted upou being the last man to leave the ship. He finally found himself on deck with Lieut. John A. Shearman an J two sailors by his side. He ordered the sailors to leave, which they did. The captain beinir unable to swim did not care to trust to descending the rope by means of his hands and legs, as all the others had done, 60 he procured an empty water cask, which he attached to the hawser. When he was seated in the cask Shearman 6tood alone on the deck and started his brave commander down the rope. The plucky lieutenant then climbed down the rope in the usual way, and the Nipsic was left alone to battle with the waves. Lieut. Fillette of the marine corps, who was in charge of the consulate, had anticipated the destitute condition in which the men would be and had ordered a quantity of dry clothing from another neighboring store. As the men were taken into the consulate he provided them dry clothes and did everything possible to make them as comfortable as circumstances would permit. Vice-Consul Blacklock and several other persons also assisted in relieving the men, and Dr. Dren and his apothecary were busy for several hours in administering restoratives to those who were exhausted. The Nipsic, Adler and Eber were the smallest war ships of war in the harbor The four large men-of-war, the Trenton, Calliope, Vandalia and Olga, were still alloat and were well off to the reef. Nearly all the sailing craft had gone ashore. The Trenton stood well out into the bay, her steam and anchor barely holding her head up to the wind. The Olea was rolling terribly. The Vandalia and Calliope were close together, nearer the reef than the other vessels. Meanwhile much trouble was being experienced ashore with the sailors who had been rescued from the Nipsic. There was no place of shelter for the men to go to. The dry clothing with which they had been provided was soon drenched. They had been at work all night without food, and it was impossible to give them breakfast on 6hore for some time. A great number of them visited saloons, and it was not long before many were intoxicated and looking for an opportunity to cause trouble. Lieut Fillette bent all his energy toward the work, and during the whole day, and part of the following night, did everything in his power to relieve the men who were taken to the consulate and also to preserve order among the sailors in the street. His guard of marines was very smail, and they were all needed at the consulate, but he used his men to the best advantage and they attended to their duty well Several times during the day a number of drunken sailors went to the consulate and demanded dry clothing and a hundred other things which it was iuiossible to give them. It became necessary to :eep them away from u building altogether to protect the gove-nent property there. Fillette talked to the men quietly, but firmly, and it is due to his efforts that serious trouble was prevented. The hardful of marines stood by their officer and carried out his instructions faithfully. They were obliged to use force with the sailors several times during the day, and one or two unruly men were put in irons. About 10 o'clock in the morning the excitement on shore, which had quieted a little, commenced to grow more intense as the Vandalia and Calliope were seen in a most dangerous position and a collision between the two vessels seemed inevitable. They were both bearing back against the reef near a point where the wreck of the Adler lay. The Calliope was nearest shore and her bow was close to the stem of the Vandalia. Great waves were tossing the two vessels about and they were coming closer together every minute. The paoe between the men-of-war was next seen to close altogether, when suddenly the great iron prow of the Euglishman arose high in the air on the crest of an enormous wave and came down with full force upon the port quarter of the Vandalia. The crash was awful. The jibboom of the Calliope was carried away and heavy limbers of the Vandalia were shivered. Every man who stood on the poop-deck of the Vandalia was thrown to his feet by the shock. A hole had been torn below the rail and the water rushed into the cabin, it was impossible to ascertain the extent of the damage in a moment but at the time it seemed that the Vandalia had received her death blow. The men rushed up the hatches in the belief that the steamer was sinking, and it was only after great effort that the officers persuaded them to return to their post. Just after this collision Capt. J. Kane of the Calliope, determined to make an effort to steam out of the harbor, as he saw that to remain in his present position would lead to another collision with the Vandalia or throw his vessel on the reef. He accordingly cave orders to let go all anchors. The Calliope's head was swung around to thi wind and her powerful engines were worked to their utmost capacity. It was an anxious moment on board the Corvette, as with her anchors gone 6he had nothing but her engines to depend upon to keep her off the reef. The steamer seemed to stand still for a moment and then the rapidly revolving propeller had its eflect for the vessel moved up slowly against the great waves which broke over her bows and flooded her decks from stem to stern. Clouds of black smoke poured from her funnels md fresh coal was thrown into her furnaces. Every tension was strained in the desperate struggle against the storm. Mie seemed to make her headway at first inch by inch, but her speed gradually increased until it became evident that she could clear the harbor. As she passed the breast of the Trenton, a great shout went up from over 400 men aboard the Hag-ship, and three hearty cheers were given for the Calliope; three cheers for the Trenton, aud the American flag was the answer that came back across the waters. Tho Calliope passed safely out of the harbor and teamed far out to the sea, returning after the storm abated. She sustained little injury outside the loss of all her boats. When the excitement on the Vandalia which followed the collision with the Calliope had subsided a little, it was found necessary to act quickly to save the ship. Lieut J. W. Carlin, executive officer, was practically in charge of the vessel, as Capt Schoonmaker had been thrown across the cabin the night before and severely injured. His head had been badly cut and one ear almost torn away by striking violently against a chain. Notwithstanding his injuries, ne faced the storm like a hero and stood by the side of his first officer until the sea finally swept him off to his death. He was in such a dazed and weakened condition that he was able to do but little toward directing the movements of the ship. Of all the officers who stood by their posts and did their duty nobly in the face of danger none have received more commendation than Lieut Carlin. Officers and men alike speak of his conduct in the highest terms of praise, and say bis cool and calm demeanor kept the men at work when the panic was almost breaking out among them. Lieut Carlin had been on duty since the morning before and bad not tasted food in all that time, but, weak and exhausted, he kept his position by the side of Capt Schoonmaker and Lieut. J. C. Wilson, the navigating officer, and encouraged every one around him. .The Vandalia was cow fast bearing down

npon the reef along side of the wreck of the Eber, and hundreds of people who were watching her from the shore, expected to see her strike and go to pieces every minute, but she was seen to move away from the reef and make slieht headway toward the point where the Nipsic lay. Capt Schoonmaker and Lieut Carlin saw that it was useless to make any further attempt to save the ship, and, as her engines were not powerful enough to steam out to sea, as the Calliope bad done, they determined to beach the vessel. Two of her anchor chains were slipped and a full head of steam put on, more than she had ever dared to carry before. Past Asst. Engineer Webster wa in charge of the engine room and he required his whole force of men to exert themselves to their utmost to keep the fires up and engines going. The Vandalia was a quarter of a mile from the Nipsic and she was obliged to run along the edge of the reef the whole distance in order to reach the sandy beach beyond. Every one on shore crowded down near the point where it was expected she would strike and watched the vessel steam across theiharbor. The Vandalia's draught was much greater than that of the Nipsic and it was known that she would not be able to get very close to the shore. She came on until her bow struck in the soft sand about a hundred yards offshore, and probably fifty yards from the stem of the Nipsic. The engines were stopped at once, and every man who was below rushed on deck. The Vandalia swung around broadside to the beach, and at first it was thought that her position was comparatively safe, as it was hoped that the storm would abate in a few hours and that the 230 men aboard could be rescued then. It was nearly 11 o'clock when the ship struck, and, notwithstanding her easy position, it soon became apparent that her officers and crew were in great danger. Nearly all of the officers were on deck in sight of everyone on shore. The men were scattered about on the gun deck and forecastle, holding on to the masts and the sides of the ship. In half an hour it wasnoticed that the vessel was tilling with water and set tling dowji. Lying as she did, almost broadside to the wind, the 6eas broke over her furiously and water poured down her hatches. By noon the whole of the gun deck was under water and from that time on the condition of the men was as pitiable as could be imagined. The torrents that swept over the rails knocked the men from their feet and threw them violently against the sides. Several were badly injured. Most of the men sought refuge in the rigging and to those on shore it seemed as if all available space on the railings and yards and in the tops was occupied. A few officers still remained upon the poop-deck, but a number of them had gone aloft. The wind seemed to increase in fury. People on shore shuddered as they saw the sea break across the stem of the vessel. The force of the water would break the grasp of the officers on deck and throw them against the rail. Nearly every one on be&rd had cast away most of his clothing and some were entirely naked. A few had provided themselves with life preservers but those could not be obtained for all, as the vessel had filled so rapidly. As the hull of the steamer sank lower in the water the force of the waves was more violent. The men ou shore were willing to render assistance but were powerless. No boat could have lived a moment iu the surf; it was impossible to get a line across to the steamer as there was no firing apparatus on shore. Lieut Shearman, Ensigns Purcell and Jones, and Consul Blacklock, procured a large hawser, to which they attached a small cord. Three natives were found who were willing to venture out in the surf with the cord and attempt to reach the Vandalia. The men entered the water about a quarter of a mile above the spot where the steamer lay. waded as far as they could, and then struck out into the current with the cord tied to their bodies. Shouts of encouragement went up from the shore, and the Samoans struggled bravely to reach the sinking ship. But, expert swimmers as they were, they were unable to overcome the force of the current which rushed down on them like a cataract between the Vandalia and the shore, and they were thrown upon the beach without being able to get within fifty yards of the vessel. Senman Tafa, their chief, went aoiontr the men and urged them to try again. Several other attempts were made without success. The cord fouled with pieces of wreckage, which were floating everywhere. Once it became fastened around a break of spar under a small wharf. Knsign Jones jumped into the water, and just as he succeeded in freeing the cord, the 6ea struck him and threw him under the piling. He was drawn out by a sailor just in time to prevent serious injury. Finding it was impossible to reach the vessel, there was nothing to do but to remain near the shore and wait for an opportunity to render any assistance that might be possible. It was evident that many of the men aboard would not be able to stand the waves much longer and would be swept into the sea. The natives waded into the water and stood just on the edge of the current, readv to grasp anyone who should float near to them. The seas continued Jo break over the vessel and it was rot long before several men were swept over her side. As soon as they touched the water they swam to the Nipsic, which was the nearest object to the Vandalia. Most of them reached the Nipsic. when they grasped ropes hanging over side and attempted to draw themselves up on deck. A number succeeded in doing this, but others were so weak that after hanging to the ropes a few minutes their grasp was broken by the awful seas which crashed against the vessel, and they would fall back into the current The first man who came ashore was Chief Engineer A. S. Greene. He was standing on the f oop deck and was among the first washed off. Ie was swept from the deck three times but twice he succeeded in catching a rope as he fell and drew himself back on the steamer. He had not removed any of his clothing but had put on a life-preserver. The third time he was washed from the deck he was swept so far from the sides of the vessel that he was not able to reach her again. He then swam to the side of the Nipsic and caught hold of a rope. He hung here for several minntes and tried in vain to draw himself up. Finding himself failing ha let go of the rope and drifted back near the Vandalia. A piece of floating wreckage passed by, which he caught and clun? to with all the strength he had left He soon drifted into the current and was swept down along the shore. The natives saw his head above the water and they clasped each other's hands and formed a long line stretching out into the current and as Lieut. Greene swept bythe native furthest out clutched him by las arms and brought him to shore. Just before the engineer was rescued, another man who had been washed overboard from the Vandalia was seen clinging to a rope by the side of the Nipsic. He had no clothing on hira at all. There were several of the Vandalia's sailors aboard the Nipsic by this time, and he shouted to them to draw him up, but his voice was lost in the roar of the wind, and after clinging to the rope a while longer he let go and grasped the gangway ladder, which was floating past. He was also drawn into the current and commenced to sweep along the shore. The ladder turned over several times and he almost lost his hold of it. He was further out in the current than Greene had been, but the natives were endeavoring to reach him and had advanced so far into the surf that they were almost carried away themselves. Just as the drowning man was within a few feet of the Vaisigano river where another current would have swept him far out into the bay, the natives caught him and drew him ashore. He was Naval Cadet II. A. Wiley. The chief engineer, who had already been taken to the consulate, had revived sufficient to give an account of his experience in the water, and a dozen persons crowded around him and aked questions in regard to the safety of others aboard. It was not long after Greene and Wiley were washed over that four officers who were drowned were swept from the deck. Capt Schoonmaker was clinging to the rail on the poop deck. Lieut Carlin was standing by him and w as doing his best to hold the captain on, as the latter was becoming weaker every miuute. Everyone on deck saw that the captain could not stand against the rush of water much longer; no one knew it better than he himself, and he remarked to thoce about hira that he would have to go soon. Lieut Carlin tried to get the captain up ia the rigging, but the latter said he was too weak to cliuib up and would have to remain where he was as long as possible. The captain had no life-preserver. He had been ofiered several, but had refused them. At last a great wave struck the Vandalia on her port quarter and submerged the deck. Capt Schoonmaker held on to the rail with all the strength he had left but the torrent of water was so strong that a machine gun standing near by was washed from its fastenings and sent whirling across the deck. The captain was struck on the head by the gun and either killed outright or knocked insensible, for a wave swept him off the deck. He sank without a struggle and was seen no more. Paymaster Arms and Pay Clerk Roach were lying upon the deck exhausted, but clinging to everything which came within their grasp. They were swept off together. Arms sank in a moment but a few persons who were on the deck say they saw his body floating around the stem of the Vandalia for half an hour after he was drowned. I loach drifted over to the stein of the Nipsic, where he grasped a rope. He was a large, fleshy man and, being greatly exhausted, could cot possi-

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bly draw himself up. His hold upon the rope was soon broken, but he continued to float under the stem of the Nipsio several times, throwing out his arms weakly in vain attempts to catch somethins. Once or twice his hand caught a roDe, but his grasp was broken and he finally sank under the vessel. Lieut. Sutton, a marine oflicer of the Vandtdia, died iu much the same way. Weakened by Ions exposure and the terrible strain to which he was subjected he was unable to retain his hold longer and was finally washed overboard and drowned. During the remainder of the afternoon there followed a succession of awful scenes of death and sufierine. The storm had not abated in the least. The wind continued to blow with terrible force. Waves that seemed like mountains of water rolled in from the ocean and broke upou the reef and over the ill-fated Vandalia. Sheets of water which fell from the clouds w ere beaten up from the shore, were beaten up against the houses like hail, while men who stood out in the storm were obliged to 6eek shelter often to escape the deluge of rain and sand which cut their flesh like a knife, and even the natives would occasionally run for safety behind an upturned boat or pile of wreckage. The Vandalia continued to settle and the few men who had not already taken to the ringing stood up on the poop deck, as the vessel was almost entirely under water amidships. So many had crowded into the roizen rigging that there was no more room there, and a number of officers and men, who had selected the poop deck on account of its elevation, rushed across the gun deck to take refuge in the main and foremasts, owing to the volume of water which was pouring over the wreck. This was a most Eerilous undertaking. Almost twenty-four ours had elapsed since any man aboard had tasted food, and all were weak and faint from hunger and exposure. Men were now being swept from the docks and rigging half a dozen at a time, and a few who felt themselves fTowing too weak to hold on much onger, jumped into the water, determined to make one last effort to saye themselves. Nearly every man who jumped or who was washed into the water succeeded in reaching the side of the Nipsic, and a number of them climbed up on deck with the aid of ropes. Those who reached the deck assisted the others who were struggling in the water, and many lives were saved in this way, but many a poor fellow who reached the Nipsic's side was unable to hold on to the rope long enough to be drawn up, and the sea would wash him away and sweep hira out into the current None ot them came near enouzh to the shore to be reached by the natives, and those who once got into the current were carried out and drowned. The people on shore saw the men sink before their eyes and were powerless to save them. The brave Samoans, urged by their chief, redoubled their efforts to save the drowning men, and as a consequence, two natives who got too far out in the surf were drowned. By 3 o'clock the Vandalia was resting her whole length on the bottom. The only part of her hull which 6tood out of the water was the after-part of the poop deck and the forward part of the forecastle. Every man was in the rigging. As many as could be accommodated there had climbed into the tons and sunk down exhausted on the small platforms. Others clunif to the ratlines and yards with the desperation of dyinc men expecting every momeut to be their last. Their arms and limbs were bruised and swollen by holding on to the rough ropes. A number had been badly injured by falling about the decks and many a poor creature was so numbed with cold and exposure to the biting rain and so weak from want of food that he sank almost into a state of insensibility and cared not whether he lived or died. Lieut Culven.Dr. Harvey, Ir. Cordeiro and Engineer Webster were the officers in the foretop. In the maintop were Lieuts. Wilson and Heath and Ensigns Uitibons and ltipley. Lieut Carlin, who was the last mar to leave the deck, had climbed into the mizzen-top, where he sank utterly exhausted. His legs hung down through the opening to the phtform, and a sailor, who was sitting underneath, appreciating the noble work of his officer, took the lieutenant's less in his hands and rubbed them until the blood circulated freely. More than one man who was climbing to the ratlines gave way under the terrible strain and fell to the deck, only to be washed over the side of the ship and drowned. Several persons on shore succeeded in making a hawser fast from the deck of the Nipsic to the shore, and the Vandalia men who had escaped to the Nipsic reached the shore in that way. The stem of the Nipsic had by this time swung out straight from tne shore, so that the distance between the two vessels was not more than twenty yards. A white man named Vickering, who had been watching the scene from the shore, went aboard the Nipsic and threw a line to the Vandalia. A sailor caught it and a small rope was made from the foremast of the Vandalia to the stem of the Nipsic, a few men escaping in that way, but before all on the foremast could be taken off the line parted. The Nipsic's stem then swung back to tho shore and it was impossible to get another line across. This was the only connection the Vandalia had with the shore during the whole day. As the sailors from the Vandalia came ashore and went to the consulate for dry clothing they were surrounded by people making anxious inquiries in regard to the safety of friends aboard. The rain and sand were o blinding that it was impossible to distinguish faces from tho shore, though the ship was lying within a Ptone's throw of the beach. The sailors were very much coufused in regard to who had been lost The terrible scenes attending the sinking of the Vandalia had detracted attention from the other two men-of-war which still remained

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afloat, but about 4 o'clock in the afternoon the position of the Trenton and the Olga had changed and they were almost on the reet Dear the point where the Eber struck. The Trenton was coming down upou the Olga and a collision seemed inevitable. The condition of the ilag ship was moft pitiable, as at 10 o'clock in the morning her rudder and propeller had been carried away by fouliut; with a piece of wreckage. When the rudder came in contact with the wreckage the shock was so great that the pilot wheel on the deck was whirled around like lightnin-i and every spoke in it was broken. Two men who were at the whe 1 at the time w ere thrown violently to the deck and one had his lesi broken. To add to the discomfiture of the steamer the water poured iu throuh h hawser pipes and flooded the decks. The hawser pipes, which are large openings in the bowthrough which the anchor rhains pas-i, were unfortunately located on the berth deck, instead of on the gun deck above, as is usually the case. Efforts were made to close the pines but the force of the water was so strong that the coverings were blown off prematurely. The water rushed in on the berth decks, found its way to the hatches and poured down into the fire room. ( All attempts to keep it out failed, and in a snort time tne nrenien were up to tneir waists in water, and all the fires were extinguished. From 10 o'clock in the morning until o'clock in the evening, when she grounded, the Trenton held out against the storm without steam or rudder, and her escape from total destruction on the reef was miraculous. The ckillfnl management of her navigating officer, Lieut. K. M. a. Brown, was all that saved the lives of every man on board. A few days after the stortu Capt. Farquhar uiade an ciheial report to Admiral Kimberly, in which he paid a high tribute to the skill with which the navigating; officer maneuvered the vessel, and declared that Lieut. Ikown had, on one occasion st Ieast,kept the Trenton ofl'the reef and saved all of the 4X) lives. Admiral Kimberly, Capt Farquhar, and Lieut Brown, stood upon the bridge the whole day and directed the movements of the ship. As soon as the storm gave out the roizzen 6torm eail was set with the greatest difficulty. Oil was also poured overboard, but it had no effect in stilling the waves. The Trenton was maneuvered in this way all the time and succeeded in keeping clear of the reef until the middle of the afternoon, when the force of the wind and wave bore her down almost upon it. She came broadside on toward the reef, und it seemed as if the ereat vessel j with her 4.VJ men were lost. Lieut. Prown orucica every man into uie port niviuR, so uui a compact mass of humanity could be used a siils and at the same time keep the weight of the vessel on the side next to the 6torm. This novel experiment wa3 all that saved the Trenton from destruction. The wind struck against the men in the rigging and forced the vessel out into the bay again. She remained there only for a short timef however, and soon commenced to drift back agsinst the Olga, which was still standing ofi from the reef aDd holding up against the storm bettet than any other 'vessel in the harbor had done. The Trenton came down slowly on the Olpa, and this time it seemed as if both vessels would be swept to pieces. The crowds on shore rushed down to watch the led.-e and peered through the blinding storm to hear the crash which would send both men-of-war and their loads of human frcicht to the bottom. Suddenly the stars and siripes were teen float ins from the sutff of the Trenton. Previous to this no vessel in the harbor l.sd r.vlsed a flag, as the storm was racing so furiously at sunri.that that ceremony was neglected. It seemed now as if the gallant ship knew she wa doomed and had determined to go down with the flag of hercountry floating above the 6tonu. The 6tern of the Trenton was wearing the Olga bow and Capt. Von Erhard, believing that sure destruction was upon him, let eo his anchors and attempted to steam away, lie was too late, however, for just as the Olga commenced to move up ssrainst the wind her bow came int contact with the star board quarter of the flas!iip. The Oica's bowsprit and fitrure-head were carried away aud the heavy timbers on the Trenton's quarter were shivered; several boats were torn from their davitics. and the American flag, which had floated from the Trenton was carried away and fell to the deck of the Olga. Fortunately, the vessels drifted apart after the collision, and the Olea steamed ahead toward the mud flats in the eastern part of the harbor. Capt. -n jlrbat Lad determined to run her aground; her engines were working to their fullest capacity, and it was only a moment before theO.gaa prow struck and the steamer lay imbedded in the soft mud in the safest part of the bsy. No life was lost The w aters beat over her all during the night, but the only damage they did was to flood her decks with water, and carry away several boats. The Trenton was not able to get out into the bay again after her collision with the Olga. She was now about 200 feet from te wreck cf the Vandalia, and was slowly drifting from the shoaL A new daneer now arose. The Trenton was sure to strike the Vandalia, and to those on shore it seemed that the huge hull of the flag-ship would crush the Vandalia to pieces, and throw the hundred men still clinging to the rigging into the wuter. It was no after 5 o'clock, and the light was beginning to fade away. In half an hour the Trenton, had drifted on to within a few yards f thsj Vandalia's bow, and the men who were in the rigging of the latter vessel trembled -4 ith fear as they saw the Trenton approach. Feelincs hrd to describe came over the hundreds who watched the vessels from the shore. Presently the last faint ray of daylight failed away and nicht came down upon the awful scene. TL Continued on Third Tage.