HURRICANE IN SAMOA

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2609, 2 April 1889, Page 2

HURRICANE IN SAMOA

SIX MEN-O-WAR WRECICUD. GREA.T LOSS OF LIFE. BRITIS HSE A M ENS 111 J.'. A TEIUUHMC disaster has taken )ilaco at Apia, in Samoa, news of which was brought by the mail steamer Mariposa, on Saturday morning. A violent. Rale blew on the morning of March 115 th, during which the American ships of war Trenton (Hagship) Vandalia and Nipsie, the German warships, Olga, Adler, and Eber, and several merchant crafts, were driven ashore and lost. The loss of life amongst the various ships amount to 150, officers and men. Of the Ebor's crew only live escaped. H.M.S. Calliope, after steaming against the wind or. hor cabins, slipped them and put out to i<na where she safely weathered the storm. The first symptoms of the storm appeared on Friday afternoon, and all preparations wore mado and steam got up on board all the men-o' war. .During the night the gale increased in fury and the sea was tremendous. The gunboat, Eber, dragged her anchors, was swept bodily on to the reef, and was ongnlphed in the sea. Shortly after came the Adler drifting to destruction near the same spot, and was carried on the top of a huge wave. She lost two officers and 21 men. The U.S.s. Nipsie began to drag towards the rocks and Captain Mnllan succeeded in beaching his ship in a soft place. She lost a boat's crew of oiio officer and six men. The Vandalia was the next victim, and after narrowly escaping a collision with the Olga which carried away her stack, she struck lilts shore seaward (if the Nipsie, where she sunk. A line was passed to the Nipsie and her crew endeavoured to save themselves by reaching the latter vessel, but many lives were lost,. Captain Schumacher, three officers and 3D men were drowned. The Olga, the finest of the German cruisers, weathered the storm for a time, but got adrift and beyond control. To avoid a collision with the Trenton that was bearing down on her, she slipped her cables and veered round and took the beach. The Olga was splendidly managed and is now lying in a good poistion with hope- of being got off. The Trenton was lyiiiti nearest the mouth of the harbour, and hoped to ride out the gale, l.lut one of her anchors parted, tlie seas swept over her. put out her lires, and she drifted down the harbour. At this time the Calliope had slipped her cables, and pur. out to sea. " The scene as the. Calliope passed the Trenton was one. which wiil live in meaiory long after many of the other feature* of this great naval disaster are forg"tten. The British warship hail to pass between the other vessel and the reef, sr» closely that there was immiupnt risk of the ringing becoming entangled, hut the Calliope passed through successfully. Here the officers on board the Trenton, recognising that Captain Kane had brought his vessel out of its danger by his skilful seamanship, lifted their h it's as the Calliope went by. Though they must have recognised that they were themselves in the greatest danger, their vessel drifting about at the mercy of the gale, the brave sailors on the deck of the doomed American ship sent up a hearty I oheei, to which the British tars responded: as the Calliope moved off, to defy the storm in all its fury." The Trenton's propeller was carried awav by the o:|*a. and she was helpless. Shu struck the Vandalia and grounded close bv. She threw a line to her sister ship, and enabled the hitter's crew to leave their perilous position. From the Trenton it was easy to get, ashore. Though the Calliope had good steaming power, her position was perilous, and Cap:. Kane slipped her cables and headed hesea. The vessel was splendidly handled. There were immy fears for her safety, as she remained outside for two day. Englishmen feel proud of her. and of the Na»y of which she is a noble member. She lost three boats, her foreyard was sprung, and a heavy sea dashed one of her crew on the deck and killed him. Lt seems that the Calliope in passing between the Trenton and the reef was within a couple of feet of the latter, and had not a foot to spare in getting clear of the American. Thirteen other vessels were also wrecked, including the Auckland schooner Lily, belonging to Messrs McArUiur and Co., whose trader, Mr A. Ormsby, well-known at Ale.v andra, was drowned. The following are tho casualties : — 11.f.G.M.5. liber, C'apt. Will lid, six officers and 7-i f-eamen. IT. I G.M.S. Adler, 1 officer and 20 men. I'.S S. Nipsie, 7 seamen. I; S, Vaiid-ilia, Capt. Schumacher, 3 oiliu < ' oil Si) men. U.S S. Tivutuu, 1 hoy killed. lI.M S. Calliope, 1 man killed. I'eter Gultifiu', b.uviue, and A cur barqueiitine, o mmi. i; L lv, Mr ()■ msby. Total, 1.-.0 lives. German loss, !K> ; American, ">!). M-it-i.ifi an ! his chief-; behaved nobly, sending down largi bodies of men to help to save the lues of friends and foes and gave, every assistance. Two Samoans lost th-iir lives in this humane work. There was comparatively little damage done to property on shore. The Calliope, having failed to recover her anchors, left for Sydney to relit, taking a German officer to telegraph the news to 15-u'lin. The Mariposa brought Lieut. Wilson, of the Vandalia, to Auckland, and h» lias wired the disaster to Washington. (ire.it sympathy has been expressed throughout the colony with the sufferers, and the New Zealand Government has placed the ilinemoa at the disposal of the American Government-. The shipwrecked crews are c imped ashore in Apia, awaiting arrangements tor their removal.