GREAT HURRICANE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1939, Page 11

GREAT HURRICANE

ANNIVERSARY OF SAMOAN DISASTER SHIPS THAT WERE LOST. TRAGIC EVENT RECALLED. The fiftieth anniversary of the hurricane in Samoa, which caused the greatest maritime tragedy in the history of the islands, will fall on March 16. In the year of the disaster—lBB9— Samoa was in the possession of Britain, America and Germany, and the three Powers worked in the General interests of the community. Owing to some political trouble among the natives there were seven warships in the harboui’ at the time, namely, the Calliope, Britain; the Vandalia, Trenton and Nipsic, America; and the Olga, Eber and Adler, Germany. There were also eight privately owned vessels at anchor in the tiny harbour. Stormy weather had been experienced for two days, but no danger to shipping was apprehended. Suddenly, however, a hurricane swept in from the north and caught the ships unprepared, except the Calliope on which half steam had been kept up. A terrific sea soon rose, immense waves rolling in from the wide Pacific Ocean, and the ships were straining at their anchors.

CALLIOPE HEADS FOR SEA. Cables began to part and the vessels drifted helplessly toward the shore. The Trenton was furthest out, near the entrance. The Olga and the Nipsic were next, with the Calliope in the centre, and on board of her frantic efforts were being made to raise a full head of steam. The Eber was the first to founder. A huge wave caught her and smashed her against the inner reef and she sank in deep water. The Adler followed her, but just near the reef another monster wave dropped her right on top of the reef opposite the Catholic Cathedral, broadside on to the sea. The Calliope had slipped her cable and headed for the entrance, and as she passed the other doomed ships the crews gave her a great cheer, which was repeated when they saw that she had gained the ocean and was headed out to sea. The Trenton’s cable had then parted and she was drifting toward the shore. The Vandalia went to pieces opposite and the Trenton filled nearly on top of her. The Nipsic hit the beach near the Vaisigano River and was afterwards refloated, and the Olga went ashore a little further north, and she too was refloated. SAVED FROM DROWNING. At that, time there was no retaining wall in Beach Street, otherwise the loss of lives would have been much greater, as the natives saved many from drowning by rushing into the surf and pulling them ashore. The total number of deaths was 172, namely. German, 92 (Eber 72, Adler 20); American’s, 63 (Nipsic 43, Vandalia 16, Trenton 4); private vessels, 17. The whole of the. commercial fleet was wrecked. They were the Peter Goddfri, barque; the Agur, barqentine; the Lily, schooner; the Tuetan, schooner, and four cutters. Thij I CMliope rode out the storm safely and returned to Apia two days later with some damage to her top hamper. There were no fatalities aboard, but some of the crew had been more of less injured by being tossed about. Captain Kane gave the credit of her escape to the excellent qualities of the New Zealand Southport coal, with which she had been bunkered. BONES OF THE ADLER. The local Masonic Lodge has been named after Calliope, and on anniversary nights a model of the old ship occupies a place of honour at the festive board. The W.M.’s gavel is made from a portion of her stern post and bears an inscription to that effect. After 50 years the bones of the Adler still lie where she was cast, but high seas and rust are gradually eating hei away. A short time ago she broke in two and the fore part was swung headon to the beach. In early days two syndicates bought the wreck, but abandoned her, as they were/not able to make anything of it. Subsequently it was protected by a sympathetic ordinance and still remains an eyesore to the residents.