WRECKS AT SAMOA. A FEARFUL HURRICANE. GBEAT LOSS OF LIFE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 357, 6 April 1889, Page 3

WRECKS AT SAMOA. A FEARFUL HURRICANE. GBEAT LOSS OF LIFE.

/ Apia, Samoa, Monday, March 18.*" .This place has been .the scene of the mostterrible naval disaster which has happened for many years, the hurricane of 16th inst being the culmination of a series of misfortunes, all occuring within a brief period of time. The war between Tamaseseand Mataafa ; the conflict between the latter's forces with the Germans ; marked by the repulse of the Germans with heavy loss ; the fire which destroyed a number of valuable buildings ; and the gale of last month resulting in the de struction of seven trading vessels, have been succeeded and eclipsed by the appalling catastrophe of last Saturday.

THE HURRICANE was not a severe one, in fact the term is scarcely applicable, for I have witnessed heavier gales even in Auckland harbour, bub the tremendous seas which broke over the coral reefs into Apia harbour in .combination with the gale accomplished- a ; \vork of terrible destruction. j On Friday the rapid fall of the barometer betokened the approach ot bad weather. In the afternoon the wind began to rise, and the rain to fall. I was at the British Consulate afc about four o'clock, and Colonel de Cotelogan, H.M. Consul, informed me that the j pilot had just told him the glass was lower than it had been for 25 years. He advised me to hurry back as soon as possible. This admonition was promptly acted upon. On my way back to my residence, I noticed that all the men-of-war had housed their topmasts, hauled up their boats, and made everything snug. They were also getting up steam in order to counteract the anticipated dragging of anchors. During Friday night the barometer fell to 29. 10, the wind increased, and the vessels began to drag ; but by the use of their engines they were enabled to withstand the fury of the gale, although by eaily morning there was a_ tremendous sea on, and the two reefs— the inner and the outer — instead ot acting to some extent as breakwaters, seemed to have the opposite eSect.

THE EBER GOES DOWN. ' As day broke on Saturday morning, H I.G.M.S. Eber was seen to be -dragging towards the inner reef. She was utterly unablejto make-headway against the force of the wind and sea. At about 6 o'clock she struck heavily broadside on to the reef. The vessel rolled first on one side and then on the other. Again she rolled, and yet again. Then she lurched heavily, staggered and shivered, and went down in deep water out of sight, with Captain Wallis and all his crew on board. Nearly all seemed to be below at the timeu A f9wraanagedto struggle away from the sinking ship, and struck out for the shore. One officer .and. five or cix men. succeeded in , landing in safety, but Captain Waliis, with the rest of his officers and about 80 men'i ■perished.

WRECK OF THE ADLER. The disappearance of the Eber was quickly followed by the total wreck of the Adler, but a short distance from the place where the former went down. She likewise found herself unable to cope with the wind and sea. In about half-■an-hour after the engulfment of the Eber, the Adler was lifted bodily on to the reef, and thrown on her beam ends with the decks facing the shore. Then commenced a fearful struggle for life. Many plunged boldly into the sea and reached shore safely, others clung to the rigeing and bulwarks, some were picked up by a boat. It was not long before tha ship's masts and spars 'went, and then no sign of life on the vessel was left. The captain and some of -his officers and men were saved, but about 20 or 25 lives were losb. It was thought that no one was left on board, but on Sunday, when a boat went off to the wreck, the doctor was found imprisoned in his cabin, still alive and comparatively urihurt. The wreck still lies on the reef — a most melancholy -looking object.

STRANDING OF THE U.S.S.. NIPSIG It was nob long before the disasters to the German warships were followed by almost equal misfortune to the American vessels. The German vessel Olga came into collision with the Nipsic, and stove in the smokestack of the latter in such a manner as to render her steam power useless. She began to drag and Capt. Mullan then decided to run her ashore in a safe place if possible. This be at length succeeded in doing just opposite the American Consulate on a sandy beach. Here she was safe,- and had nob an unfortunate , attempt been made to land, it is probable none of her crewwould have been loso, but one of the officers ordered a boafc to be lowered from the stern for the purpose of taking a line ashore. Almost immediately after being manned it capsized and six 'or seven of the crew were drowned, the rest reaching shore in safety. The Nipsic appears to be comparatively uninjured, but there is little likelihood of her being floated off again.

SINKING OF THE VANDALIA. It was not long before another of the American warships came to erief, which it is asserted the Olga also came into collision with. Be that as it may it was soon observed that she was drifting towards the spot where the Nipsic lay beached. Her co mmander, Captain Schoomaker, had been knocked against a Gatling gun early in the morning, and was somewhat t injured. The 1 vessel's bottom must have been injured, for she • began to fill, and when about fifty yards westward of the Nipsic she settled down in water deep enough for the ' sea to wash- her fore and aft. .Some of the officers were on the poop, and several were washed overboaid and drowned. A number of men reached shore in safety, others perished in the attempt. «C»ptain k Bchumacher was swept into the sea

and perished. The rest of the officers and men mounted the rigging and clung on all day long, though • now and then their number was lessened by an exhausted man dropping- off into the water. The vessel was not more than seventy yards from the shore, which was lined with hundreds of Samoans and Europeans, but nothing could be done to help them. No boat could have lived through the surf that rushed on the beach. It was a painful sight, and one which I hope never to witness again. One man with an injured leg had been laid on the poop. When the sea came over he was washed down the sloping deck to the lee side. He crawled painfully up to the weather side. Another washed him back again. Again he crawled, up to the, weather side. ,A third time ho was, hurled down. ' He made 'a third effort to t save .himself , and once more the remorseless " waves dashed him down. Then he made a last desperate attempt to struggle up. He got about half-way, when he was caught by the sea and hurled down on the lee bulwark. There he hung-for a moment or two ; then - h© was swept away, and' this awful struggle for life had terminated in death. About 9 o'clock at night the Trenton bove down upon the ill-fated Vandalia and came into collision with the wreck, then drifted between her and the shore, j Lines were thrown from the Trenton into I the Vandalia's rigging, and most jof those who still clung there swung themselves across to the Trenton's deck, but a number failed, and falling into the water, were drowned. Shortly after this the tnizzen and foremasts went by the board. The total loss of life from the I Vandalia was four officers and abGub forty men.

STRANDING OF THE TRENTON. The Trenton, the American flagship with Admiral ICtmberly, arrived here from Panama on Mondjvy the list inst. She had been expected for about a- fortnight. I believe the long voyage from Panama is accounted for by the extreme reluctance of Admiral Kimberley bo use coal,, except when there is no wind at all. Doubtless he now wishes his arrival here had been delayed °till another week, for he would then have come just to > late for the hunicane. The Trenton was seen to be dragging on Saturday morning, but only slowly, and it was thought she would ride out the gale successfully, but two alarming mishaps occurred. The rudder was first carred away, and it is nob known exactly how or when this was done. Later on her propeller was broken. For this the Olga is blamed, whether justly or not, T don't know, though she certainly came into collision with the flagship. It is asserted that the Oiga came into collision with almost every warship in the bar bour, and the Trenton men state that she collided with them and ssmnshed their propeller. After this the vessel was helpless. She was almost cub down by the Calliope. She dragged dangerously near the terrible reef which had destroyed the Ebcr and Adler, bit the current, combined with the skilful management of the head sails, enabled her finally to weather it and ab last she brought up, as I have before mentioned, ab the submerged Vandalia, and getting between her and the beach secured a good position, the sunken vessel constituting a very fair breakwater. The Trenton's bottom is broken in some places and at high water she is abouo half filler], with ( the sea. She lost, no men by drowning, but the ward-room boy was killed in a rather peculiar manner. He was standing by one of the ports, when bhe sea bursting it" open suddenly,, ~\b struck him with fearful violence on the head, smashing his skull and killing him instantly.

STRANDING OF THE OLGA. The third and largest; Cermanman-o'-war, the Olga, became unmanageable early in the morning;, and commence 1 running a muck at the other vessels. I don't think she committed all the crimes laid to her charge. The strong anti-German feeling amongst the Americans and English has, I imagined, led them to exaggerate the damage done by the " Dutchman," as they rather irreverently term the Germans, There is no doubt, however, th it she collided with more than one vessel, doirrg serious injury. On the .other hand one of the ships — I don't know .which— collided with the Olga and carried away her bowsprit. As it was found impossible to save thevessel, it was determined to beach her. This was successfully accomplished, under the guidance, I believe, of Peter Douglas, the local pilot here, who was on board at the time. She lies half way between ' the British and American Consulates. No casualties are reported on her.

THE CALLIOPE GOES TO SEA. At present we are in a state of uncertainty as to the fate of the Calliope, the only British warship here. She was observed to be dragging her anchor early in the morning, but having good steam power she was enabled to make a good fight. Soon, however, it was evident that Captain Kane saw the struggle would be hopeless. Collisions with one or two of the other vessels occurred. Her figurehead was carried away, and drifted ashore. Some of the men on the other vessels say that there was a serious hole in her side, but I scarcely think that Captain Kane would have left the harbour had this been the case. Steaming to eea was a matter of great difficulty, for the other vessels were in the way. Some amount of collision was unavoidable, but nothing serious happened, and the ship was beautifully handled. She had to pass the Trenton &o close that if either vessel had rolled towards the other their yards would have interlocked, and both ships would undoubtedly haveccmetogrief. Fortunately just in the nick of time the Calliope rolled outwards, and before she recovered the danger was over. As she left the Trenton behind, the crew of the latter gave her a hearty cheer. The rain and mist rendered it impossible to see how the Calliope fared outside, and there are all sorts of stories going abouj; respecting her fate. One of the Vandalia's crew says that he saw her broached to and apparently help,less in the" trough qf the sea> just outside the reef, but as this man has the reputation of being extremely imaginative, his statement is .not much credited. Some natives assert that she is ashore to the westward of Apia, others say she is wrecked some distance to the eastward. Those who hope for the best believe that Capt. Kane would either go right out to sea or make for Pago Pago harbour, ancl they think that he will be here again in a few days.

MERCHANT VESSELS WRECKED. Every vessel in Apia except; one small 5 ton yacht is- either wrecked- or ashore, anJ the means of communication with the outside world are for the present cut off. The barque Peter GodoHroi is totally wrecked. J.So also are the schooner Lily (belonging to Messrs William MoArthur-and Co.), the Agur, barquentine, and the cutter Fituau. The schooners Upolu, Utumapu, the ketch Nukununo, ' and the cutter Vaitele are ashore.

PAMAGE ASHORE. The town presents a very dismal appearance. Nob that any buildings of value have been destroyed, bubsheds have been levelled,

and wharves, jetties and fences destroyed. Portions of the road have been washed away, and - a bridge has' been' destroyed. The street and beach are strewn with debris and wreckage of every description. Enormous damage must have been done to the orange and cocoanut groves.

THE >FIRST FUNEBAL. , Five of the • American • sailors, whose - bodies had been recovered, were buried on Sunday afternoon, all being, put in one grave. No doubt, bodies will continue to be picked up from day to day for some.time to come. I don't think' there is any hope of the war vessels being floated off. The probability is that everything movable will be taken from them and the hulls then sold.

11 •• • • later. 5 1 Monday,, evening. 1 ' A large vessel, supposed to be H.M.Sf Calliope, is in sight some distance putsjde the harbour. It is feared that trouble will arise through, so many sailors being ashore, and there is some talk of military rule beings established, and ,'the • hdtelkeepers being forbidden to sell drink to the men. Precautions are being taken to pre\ ent any disorderly outbreak, but the discipline of the American crews seems rather defective.

RETURN OF THE CALLIOPE. Tuesday, March 19. The Calliope returned to harbour this morning, having successfully weathered the hurricane. There was, one accident on board. A heavy sea came aboard, and lifting one of' the crew off his feet, dashed him with such violence to the deck that he was killed. The American officers and Captain Kanes own officers are unanimous and emphatic in their expressions of admiration, at the magnificent way in which he handled his ship. TheCalliopehad to pass between the Trenton and the reef with only a few yards to spare, but the thing was accomplished in the most skilful manner. <The Trenton's officers took off their hats to Captain .Kane as the Calliope went by, and the American sailors cheered him heartily. Captain Kane says this spontaneous encouragement was the handsomest compliment he has ever received. Captain Kane declares that he . has had enough of Samoa. He leaves shortly for Sydney. Lieutenant Wilson, of the Vandalia, has been ordered to proceed to Auckland by the San Francisco mail steamer, in order to send cablegrams to Washington and receive replies. The Germans have some hope of getting the Ol«a oft, and they are proceeding to lighten her. Wednesday, March 20. Good order prevails amongst the shipwrecked crews. Discharging and dismantling the stranded vessels is steadily going on, the Samoan natives assisting. Bodies are now and then washed up on the beach, some in a horribly mutilated condition. One recovered yesterday had lost an arm which hud been torn trotn the socket, and <"he head ' was completely smashed. The Vandalia's safe, containing 43,000 dollars in gold, has been recovered irom the wreck. H.M.s. Calliope will moßt probably proceed to Sydney to-morrow.