Fearful Hurricane at Samoa.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3167, 30 March 1889, Page 2

Fearful Hurricane at Samoa.

Sis War Vessels Wreckad. ; TWO BARQUES AND TWELVE COASTERS ASHORE. v Auckund, Saturday. News from Samoa dated March 16th, Btates that bix men-of-war were lost here to-day—three Germans, the Olga, Eber, and Adler, and three Americans, Nipsic, Trenton (flagshipjjand Vandalia. .The Am'erioan loss is i offioers and 46 men, Germans, 9 officers and 8T men, '

Two iron barques (one Peter Godfrey) and-.eleven coasters werewrecked and four men drowned. H.M.B. Calliope steamed out during the worst of the hurricane. There was not a ship in the harbor but the Calliope but went ashore, Most of them are total wrecks. The Calliope is now on her way to Sydnoy. Later, After the hurricane the town presented a very dismal appearance, although no buildings of value were destroyed,. The sheds, wharves, and jetties were destroyed. The .'street next the beach is strewn with debris' and wreokage of every description, On Tuesday.March 19, the Calliope returned to the harbor, having successfully weathered the imrrioauo. A heavy sea came on board, and lifted one of the crew off hi" feet aud dashed him to the deck with such violence as to kill him.

The American officers and Captain Kane's own officers are unanimous in their expressions of 'admiration at the way in which lie handled his ship. The Germans have'somehopesol 'getting the Olga off and are proceeding to lighten her, A safe containing 43,000 dollars has been recovered from the wreck of the Vahdalia,

Latest, j The German, warship Ebor went ashore on the inside of the reef. Her side immediately stove in and she heeled over into deep water. ; One of her officers and a number of men on to the reef and made for the shore, About ten were saved. All who remained by the ship went down, and about seventy-five men, including the captain and other officers, are lost. . . ■

The Adler went ashore a few hundred yards to the westward. She was lifted completely on to the reef and fortunately heeled towards shore. All her hands with tho exception of about fifteen were saved. Many were lost in the attempt to reasb the shore but the current was too strong and the boat capsized, and four or five were. thus lost, Others wore saved by Samoans. who oame in great numbers to render assistance.

The United States warship Vandalia sunk in deep water close to the shore. The officers and crew took to the rigging. Some attempted to swim ashore, but the current was too strong and they were lost, Two Natives assisting in the rescue were swept aivay- by the current and drowned. Several of the Vandalia's crew were saved by swimming to the Nipsic and then dropping by a line attached to the shore. Mly 421ivea were lost, including Cap), Shounaker and'some four officers.

Many were accidentally injured on! the Calliope. The Trenton and Olgo then commenced dragging. The Calliope surprised everybody by steaming well out in theface of the gale,

The Trenton unfortunately shipped a sea which got down to the furnaces. She was then unable to keep up sufficient steam to make headway against the wind, and she drifted down and came astern on to the Olga, receiving considerable damage. Her rudder was-carried.away,and her propeller rendered useless. She hung on until 8 pm,, when she came ashore close to the Vandalia, her stern bumping on the ground within BOfeot of the reef. A numbor of the Vandalia's men managed to get on board the Trenton, The Olga was splendidly handled and beached in one of the best positions nearVastigova river. The officers' and crew were saved. All the men-of-war except tho Calliope are wrecked or on shore,

The following is about the number of men lost:—Vandalia, 87 men and 4officers; Eber, 75 men, captain and all officers except one; Nipsic, & men; Adler, 14, including officers 'andmen, in all about 160 perished. All the merchant vessels are ashore but only' one life was lost, that of Orinsby.