Another Account. (From a Correspondent. )

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

Another Account. (From a Correspondent. )

It was fondly hoped after the rather shift* gale ot a short time ago which wrecked the schooner Matautu and barqentine Constitution that Samoa was going: to pass through the hurricane season ot 1889 without any further damage. This season, which may be said to comprise the months of December, January, February, and March, is always a period much feared by all residents, and more especially by.'shipowners in these parts. In 1882 the last serious storm was perienced in Samoa, when the whole of the ships in harbour, with the exception of one (a small cutter) \yeie wrecked. Prom the formation of the harbour, qr more properly speaking roadstead; a sfciHf from the west is always tol#fe'\feafe v tf. . The first part of the present sea&pjn padsedjo-fij quietly, j the weather being* nmcji fifl,er v than is usually the dase at this season pf the year. It seems almost as it the elements Were re- ! serving themselves for the app^ling disaster of last Saturday. . ' On Friday last (the 17th)' it was noticed that a rather stiff gale was 'bldwingf 'ffonvi the north, and that the 1 barometer was falling slightly. About. 1 o'clock' the'' glass had fallen to to 28.9 l-sth,and<the men ofwar could be seen with steam up,' taking down the yards and making everything as snug as possible. About this time the breeze entirely died away, and the sea became as calm as a mill pond, not a ripple , being visible. This it seems was only the precursor of what was to ! 'follow. About half-past three it began to blow rather hard, but stopped again about ' five, when the- glass began to rise. The' men-o'-war were now all under tull steam to assist in maintaining their anchorage.. After dark the glass again fell, and the wind shifted more to the westward, ' continuing to increase during the nigbt.. Towards morning, it could be seen that some of the men -o' war were in trouble. About ha f-past iive, just as day was breaking, the German gunboat Eber was seen to strike the reef. She must have struck with considerable force, as in less than 20 minutes she sank, scarcely a vestige of her being visible. Some of her officers, and crew jumped for the reef and endeavoured to reach' fch'e sh'orei but only five were successful, the • remainder of her crew (72 in ,all) being drowned. .Those who reached the shore after a terrible struggle were Lieutenant Golddecker and seamen Jiaraurtz, Stein, Gill, and Eckhart. About half-past six the Adler, which had dragged from her anchorage, struck the

reef- somewhat nearer the westward. A huge sea lifted her completely on the reef, where Bhe now lies, being at low water almost high and dry. She immediately capsized, but fortunately her mast fell towards the beach, which most of her crew managed to reach. Some clung to her and were not taken off until nearly noon 6n % the 17th. '" \/-'./;;"\ . , The following of her creijir were lost :— Petty Officer Rashke, Fireman Temgman, Seamen : Fischer, Remus, > Ay isius. Messenger, Loser, Wahrenberg, Peters, Fisher,. Busch, Weink, Urchelin, Schuegotzky,' Janush, Markus,' Tenke, Keiler, Blanel, Lanrassen. While all this was going on, the German warship Olga was drifting about all over' the harbour, and endangering the other ships. About seven o'clock the United, States man-of-war Nipsic was in danger of colliding with the Olga, and shipped her anchors, which, it is believed, were at the time dragging. She was drifting towards-, where, the Eber struck, when her officers,, % seeing the impossibility of entirely saving^ her, made for the sandy beach opposite the' American Consulate, where she was run ashore and now lies. After Bhe grounded a boat was lowered for the purpose of taking a line ashore, but it was capsized, and seven of the crew drowned. The names of those lost are Seamen Gill, Heep, Pontseet, Callan, Kelleter, Watson, and Johnson. Had they remained on board all would have ,beep saved. During all this time the Calliope, Trenton and Vandalia appeared to .'be safe, although they were all dragging ,theijr anchors, but with the assistance of jthei^ steam power seemed to be making a good fight 11 of it. The Olga was still steaming around the harboun About halfpast £<3n the Calliope, w_hich had sustained"somA, damage, through collision with theother vessels, slipped her 'cables and put to sea,* which ultimately proved to be Her salvation, as, with the exception of the r ]pss of one gun and, all her boats except 'two, she has sustained no ocher serious injury as far as is known. The next.to get into trouble was the U.S Vandalia, which left her anchorage and started on hqr. voyagerof . destruction about 11 o'clock., For. a long time she withstood the gale and heavy sea, but at length was forced to succumb. While endeavouring to reach the sandy beach, she struck the reef, and in- a short time sank, her ■ officers and ,crew clambering up the rigPerhaps this was the most appalling flight which was seen throughout — over 200 men noc more than a stone's throw from shore, and not to -be. able to render any assistance. Before she sunk ber captain was struck by & Gatling gun which had broken loose, and was immediately washed overboard and drowned. Three morp of her officers— Paymaster Arms, Pay Clerk Roche, and Lieutenant of Marines Sutfcon were also lost, and 38 men. The Trenton and Olga were now alone left. The former appeared to be perfectly safe, M-hile the latter, which had now more sea room, was doing pretty well.. About 3" p.m. the Trenton ' was seen coming towards the beach, and tho&e on shore were surprised to see that she did not appear to be steaming. It turned out that one of her chains had 'parted," leaving her hawse - hole open, through which bhe sea ran, extinguishing the fires. When drifting towards the reef she collided, with the Olga, when both vessels sustaintdconsiderable damage. The' Olga was then run ashore on the sandy beach, while the Trenton struck the reef alongside the. Vandalia, where she now lies a complete wreck, having settled down. She lost one of her crew, who was killed by an accident.' No lives were lost on the Olga. Duiing Saturday night the Vandalia broke up, but most oF those on boai'd managed to reach the Trenton, which had ■moved closer to where the Vandalia went d,own. , Had tho Trenton broken up, tHe loss oT life would have been fearful, as she has 430 men on board. The whole of bhe officers and cie-ns of the American warships are onshore in « the British and American portion of the town. The scene, of desolation piesented on Sunday moining was something never to be forgotten. Wreckage of all description was strewn along the beach, whilst at short .intervals, a body of some of those drowned would be washed ashore, or carried ashore by the natives. , About 500'Samoans were present through out, and headed by Selu and Seumanatafa rendered great service. They saved the lives of many, and I am pleased to say made no distinction in regard to nationality, rendering their utmost assistance to both Americans and Germans. . There is not the slightest chance of either fhe 'Olga or Nipsic being got off with the limited, appliances available here.