GREAT HURRICANE AT SAMOA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1873, 2 April 1889, Page 3

GREAT HURRICANE AT SAMOA.

SIX MEET-OP-WAR WRECKED AND 150 LIVES LOST.

Samoa, March 16. FSix men-of-war were lost here to-day, three German—the Olga, Eber, and Adler —and throe American—the Nipsic, Trenton (flagship), and Yandalia. Thu American loss is 4 officers and 40 men, the German 9 officers and 87 meu. Two iron barques—one the Paler Godefroi—and eleven coasters wore wrecked, and four m;n drowned. H.M.S. Calliope steamed out during the worst of the hurricane, and there was not a ship in the harbor except the Calliope but went ashore, and most of them are total wrecks. The Calliope is now on her way to Sydney.

FURTHER PARTICULARS, Apia was visited by one of the severest gules experienced for years on Saturday, flin 16th On Friday the barometer fell to 2910 and on Saturday morning, about two o’clock, a gale set in from the northeast. and blew with great force About five o’clock nearly all the vessels in the harbor were dragging their anchors and nt half-past five H.I.G.M.S.Lber drifted ashore on the ios.de roof Her side was immediately stove in, and she heeled over into deep water. One of her officers and a number of men jumped on the reef, and made for the shore, with the greatest struggling in the surf. Wo be.ieva ton or twelve men saved their lives, but all who remained by the ship went down with the vessel. About 75 men, including the captain and officers, were lost. About half-past hx o clock H.I.C.M.S. Adler also went ashore a few hundred yards further to the westward. She was lifted completely on to the reef and fortunately heeled over towards the shore Many of her men managed to reach land during the day, and all with the exception of about 15 were saved. Many were lost in an attempt to roach shore j tho current was too strong and ihe boats capsized, and four or five lives were lost; tho others were saved by Samoans, who came in great numbers to render ass.stance. it was not long before the disas ors to the Carman war ships was followed by almost equal misfortune to the American vessels. The German vessel Olga came into collision with the Nipsic, and stove in the smoke stack of the latter in such a manner a« to render her steam power useless. bhe began to drag, and Captain Muller then decided to run her ashore in a safe pUco, if possible. This ho at length succeeded in doing, just opposite the American consulate, on Sandy Beach Hero she was safe, and had not an unfortunate attempt been made to land it is probable none of her crew would have been lost; but one of the officers ordered a boat to be lowered from the stern for the purpose of taking a line ashore. A most uomadiately after being manned it capsized, and six or seven of the crew were drowned the rest reaching tbeshore in safety About 10 o’clock the U.S.S. Yandalia dragged, and Gradually dropped down to nearly the aame°ucsidon occupied by the Nipsic. By skiltul management, she also cleared the t-ef but before she could reach the sandy ehoro she suffered ittjary to her bottom, for she sank within 100 feet from where tho Nipsic waa grounded, and in a short time her hull was completely submerged, and her officers and crew bad to lake refuge in the rigging. Some of the crew risked their lives by attempting to swim ashore, but the current took many of the poor fellows away. Here the natives rendered great service. They rushed into foaming surf, and saved several of the swimmers when nearly exhausted. In ono instance the natives themselves risked too much. They ventured into the current too far, and two of them_ lost their lives It was nearly heartrending to look on the Yandalia, seeing her people shivering in the rigging almost withiu a stone s throw of the shore during the whole day, and no assistance being available. Some 20 men were saved'by swimming to the Nipsic, and then by dropping by a lino attached to the shore held by natives and some of the men-of-war sailors. Fully 42 Uv°s have been lost from iheetnp Yandalia, including Captain Schoumaker and some four officers, and many were accidental y injured on board. H.M.b. Calliope, the U.S.S, Trenton, and the Olga were then seen dragging towards the beach. The Calliope took everybody by surprise by steaming well out in the face of the gale, and went safely oat of the harbor.' Iho Trenton and Olga were then the only men-of-war that had not yet come ashore. The Trenton unfortunately shipped a sea which cot down tho furnaces. She was than unable to make headway against the wind and sea, and she drifted down and came stern on to the Olga, receiving considerable damage. The rudder was carried away and the propeller made useless. She held on fairly to her anchors till 8 p.m,, when sho dropped alongside of the Vanillin, her stern bumping on the ground within 50 feet of the reef. A number of the Yandalia’s men who were on the rising of the vessel managed to get on board the Trenton. Tho Olga was splendidly managed by really good seamanship and was beached, and is now lying in a very good position. Her officers and crow were saved. All the men-of-war ■ with the exception of H.M.S. Calliope, , which went out to sea, ore either wrecked , or on shore.

The following is about the number of lives lost from vessels named ;—Yandalia, 38 men and 4 officers ; Eber, 76 men, caplain, and all officers except one ; Nipsic, six men ; Adler, 14, including officers and men. In all about 150 perished. All the merchants’ vessels in the harbor were also wrecked or driven ashore, but only two lives were lost, Mr Ormsby, a visitor on board the steamer Lily, and the cook of the same vessel. The following are a list of the casualties:—Totbl wrecks Peter Godefioi, barque, 462 tons ; Lily, schooner, 44 tons ; barqueniine, 299 tons; Tituan, cutter, 19 tons. Ashore —Upolu, schooner, 68 tons ; Utamapu, schooner, 12 tons ; Vaiteli, cutter, 33 tons ; MukuUma, ketch, oQ tons. The only vessel iu the harbor which escaped was a little schooner of about 5 tone. About 300 or 400 Samoans were sent by Hat.iufa and Suemanatufa to render instance, and they did immense service, dioOnction was made, the Samoan.', giving willing h-lp to Germans »ui Americans alike. aa , „ , j A sa L'i containing 4.0,000 dollars nos I'iocu recovered from the wreck of the Vand i; -. . , 1 Ali ii.ie vessels during the huincane » endeavored to steam oiY IP llto open sea,

but the stonn was too strong for any of them to get cut of tho harbor save tho British cruiser Calliope (Captain Kane), which succeeded in effecting a passage to the ocean, light in the tooth of tho fearful gale. Tho other vessels, though with all anchors clown, were blown ashore, Numbers of men were washed overboard. Tho majority of those who were saved got ashore after being 24 hours on the spars and rigging. As the Calliope passed tho Trenton on her way out the Americans gave the former three chetrs, though they did not have powsr to make headway themselves. The townspeople of Apia were on tho beach during the most of the night, lending what assistance they could, but the sea was too rough to launch boats. The shores are strewn with wreckage for miles.

The town presents a very dismal appearance. Although no building of value was destroyed, sheds, wharves and jetties ..■were destroyed, and the streets and bench ’are strewn with wreckage of every description. On Tuesday, March 20th, the Calliope returned to harbor, having successfully weathered the hurricane. A heavy sea came aboard and lifted one man off his feat add dashed him to the deck with such violence as to kill him. The American officers and bis own officers are unanimous in their expressions of admiration at the way in which the captain handled the ship. The Calliope when leaving the harbor had to pass between the Trenton and a reef, with only a few yards to spare. If either vessel had relied towords the other the yards must have come to grief. Fortunately 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 toe latter gave a hearty cheer, the men of the Calliope responded, and the officers of tho Trenton lifted their hats to Captain Kane. Captain Kane says this spontaneous encouragement was tho handsomest compliment he ever received, fie declares ho has bad enough of Samoa. The Calliope is a corvette. She cost £120,000. The Nipsic appears to be comparatively uninjured, but there is little chance of getting her off. The doctor of the Adler was imprisoned in the cabin of that vessel from the time of the wreck until Sunday, when he was found. He was very little hurl. Very little damage was done to homes in town, which show* it waa nob a hurricane of tho severest type. A largo number of tree* were blown down, and people of experience say that tho ooooanut crop in likely to be rendered melees for the next six months.

Auckland, March 30.

The New Zealand Herald’s corespondent in Apia, writing on March 19th, Ba y 3 Several rumors were afloat for the last day or two that the Calliope had foundered outside, and also that she had got on a reef some distance up the coast, but all doubts were set at rest by her coming into harbor this morning apparently all right. She is now (he only vessel in Apia. Bridshers cannot help feeling proud of their navy after all, when they are composed of such ships as the Calliope has proved herself to be. They all admit that she is a noble ship, and that she waa well handled. The hurricane and its results will perhaps bo a lesson to other countries, and especially to the United States, not to send old vessels with nearly worn out engines to these seas at (his season of the year. Tha gale was no heavier than frequently occurs on tha coast of New Zealand, and I feel perfectly sure that any one of the Union Company’s boats could have steamed out as the Calliope did. The great calamity that has occurred baa of course put everything else into the shade, «nd now we have to speculate on what effect it will have on the Samoan question. The Gormans have suffered most severely here lately, both in property and lives, and I think there is no getting over the fact that they have themselves to blame. If they continue on, Samoa will soon be a dear place to them, and I dare say the German Government now wish that they bad never seen it.

The Stai’a correspondent sends the following items Some idea of the force of the gale and sea may be gathered from the fact that the Yandalia at ordinary times, with four boilers and 401 b pressure, could steam nine knots. On the day of the storm she had seven boilers going, and a pressure of 701 b, but could not face it. The fact of more mouths to fill in the persons of shipwrecked men-of-war crews who must of neoesasity remain here for at least two or three months, added to total destruction of all native food, threatens to create a famine here shortly. It is to be hoped a pestilence will not break out. Many of the sailors are hurt by accidents during the wreck, and down with tropical complaints.

NARRATIVE OF AN AMERICAN LIEUTENANT. Lieutenant Wilson, of the warship Yandalia, arrived in Auckland by the Mariposa, having been sent by Admiral Kimberley to forward information of the calamity to Washington by cable. In a narrative of the wrecking, Lieutenant Wilson says that at daylight nothing could be seen of the Eber, whilst the Adler was on the reef on her beam ends. The other ships were yawing about under the influence of wicd and sea. The Tandalia met strong cross currents, and it was wiih the greatest difficulty that she was eventually brought up head to wind, but the strain upon her anchors was so great that she then began to drag. At one time it became necessary to cross the bow of the Calliope, otherwise the two vessels must have fouled. Whilst the ships were crossing the Calliope was obliged to go astern as far as possible, whilst the Yandalia woe forcing herself ahead. It seemed almost certain that the Calliope’s boom would cut through the stern of the Vandalia before the latter warship got across, and she had an almost miraculous escape, the management of both ships being very skilful. As it was, a collision was averted by about only a foot, the quarter of the Calliope cutting soma two feet io the light framework on the, Vaudalia’s quarter gallery. Directly after this the Calliope slipped chain and went to sea. This proved the salvation of that vessel and all on board, ; Tim Yandalia continued to drag, aud was j carrioi in shore by wind nd sea. It was i only by constant watching on the part of | Cap lain Scln maker that she was kept I off the reef. An effort was made to be.cli her in the safest possiblu place, and this would pruhrbly have been successful were it no|j that tho Olga

caui<s op on the starboard beam, and was in imminent danger ot' crawhing into her. In order to save both ships the Vafidalia dropped astern, and had pist cleared the Olga when she was struck broadside on by the sen, and carried on to a soft sandy bottom just beyond thu roof. Once in (his position, all hope of saving the Vandalia was over, but the engines were kept going as long as they had any effect on the ship, the men in the firing room standing by their fires to (ho last. The seas, which were now running very heavily, swept over the ship from the stern, carrying away the bents and clearing the decks. The men were forced to take refuge on the topgallant forecastle and on the quarterdeck. The last boat was swamped before it could be lowered away, so that all communication with the shore or other vessels was cut off. The idea of firing rockets and shooting a line by that means was attempted, but as everybody and everything in the ship wore thoroughly soaked, no means ot lighting the rocket could be found. The ship commenced to settle, and each succeeding sea lifted her and carried her further in shore, until she rested on the bottom of the harbor, where heavy seas broke over her, making it almost impossible for anybody to hol'd on. Many of the men and some of the officers then took to (he rigging, while the captain, executive officers, and others still remained on the poop deck. The distance from the shore could not have been more than 150 yards, but the heavy sea which was running into the harbor made intervening water a perfect whirlpool, One man, coxswain Hamrnoo, jumped overboard without orders, taking with him the end of a line, and tried to reach the shore. He was a powerful swimmer, but the sea was too heavy, and he was lost before ho had got fifty yards from the ship. Ho was soon followed by the boatswain’s mate. Merrage, also a powerful swimmer and a man of porfflcijfearlossnes?. He made one vain attnmpfc to carry a lino ashore, but was drowned before he could cover half the distance. From time to time men with life preservers would leave the ship and attempt to reach the shore, and three out of every four who did so were either drowned close to the skip or carried eub to sea by the strength of the current. A number ot men succeeded in melting the Nipsic, which was beached close to whore the Vandalia lay, and from that vessel it was a comparatively easy matter to gain the shore. Just as Captain Sohumakor was about to take to the rigging, the sea which swept the poop-deok caught him and threw him against a <satling gun. The same wave carried him overboard, and he was drowned in view of all those who were on the Vaudalia. A thousand dollars were offered to any man who could gob a line bo the ship. One of the natives was drowned in the attempt to earn this reward, and no amount of persuasion could induce others to make the effort. Many swung from the rigging ot the Vandalia into that of the Trenton- Home in their effort to make this precarious leap being weakened by exposure and by constantly holding on to the rigging, were unable to maintain their grasp of the ropes, and fell between the vessels and perished. Lieutenant Wilson himself narrowly escaped drowning in this way. He fell twice into the water between the Vandalia and Trenton, and would undoubtedly have been lost had he not been gallantly rescued by a sailor from the Trenton, who, at the risk of his own life, hauled him on board the American flagship. A few seconds after this the mainmast of the Vandalia went by the board, the mizenmast having previously been carried away, and seyeral who were clinging to it were drowned. A very few of the bodies of those drowned came ashore, and by latest accounts only thirteen had been recovered, including Captain Schumaker and Paymaster Arraes. The Calliope, which put to sea during the gala, returned to Apia on the following Monday morning, having sustained some slight damage. She lost two or three boats, sprung the foreyard, and sustained slight damage to her hull. Took in coal as quickly as possible, and left on Wednesday for Sydney. Captain Schumaker was an officer with an excellent record, and had been thirty-five years in the service. Ho took command of the Vandalia about a year ngo at Honolulu. He leaves a wife and three children in Kingston, New York. Paymaster Ames was a native of New London, Connecticut. He leaves a wife and two children. Lieutenant Eoss and Pay-Clerk J. Eoaoh were both single man. The latter was one of the oldest and moat able pay clerks in the service. Ho was brother of Mr J. Eoaeli, editor of the Boston Pilot. Paymaster Yeoman, a single man, who was also lost, was a native of Baltimore.

COST OF THE VESSELS. GEBMAN. £ Adler ~, ... ... 44,047 Olga 113,812 BbtT (about) ... ... 82,000 £239,859 UMITED STATES, £ Vandalia 98,726 Tranton (about) 125,600 Nipaic (about) 35,000 £259,326 The above are the launching costa. SUPREME COURT. Oheistchtjech, April 1. Mr Justice Denniston opened thi Supreme Court sittings this morning His Honer congratulated the Gram Jury on the lightness of the calendar There were fourteen charges. Dunediit, April 1. The criminal sessions opened to-day Justice Williams in his charge to th Grand Jury said there were not man; cases to consider, and none were of serious character. John Graumam pleaded guilty to passing a valueles cheque, and was sentenced to thre years’ imprisonment. Ihe Gran Jury returned no bill in the case c Emma Brooklyn charged with chil abandonment, and the accused vva discharged. Michael Penny, aged B pleaded guilty to stealing from a she and was committed to the Industry School. Jas. Jones, charged wit indecent assault, pleaded guilty 1 common assault. The Crown accepts this plea and sentence was deferre until this afternoon.