Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30
Confirmation Of the Bad News.
TRENTON AND VANDALIA LOST.
THE NIPSIC MAY BE SAVED.
TWO GERMAN WAR SHIPS WRECKED,
MAR SHIPS WRECKED,
146 LIVES LOST.
Fifty Americans and NinGty-SiI Germans.


this morning to nervous apprehension and
bustling activity. The apparently well-sub-
stantiated report by cable of the loss of three
American vessels of war with their crews at
Samoa was in every mouth, and. while a great
many professed to be satisfied that there was
really nothing in the matter, their hearts con-
tinued to futter and beat irregulary as they
thought that such a catastrophe was not impos-
sible. Before the department was open for
business there were number of anxious people
around the doors seeking official information.
The news came at last. Shortly after 10 o'clock
the following cablegram was received from Ad-
miral Kimberly by Secretary Tracy:
THE OFFICIAL DISPATCH.
AUCKLAND, March 80, 1889.
To Secretary of Nary, Washington, d. c.:
Hurricane at Apia March 15 Every vessel in
harbor on shore, except English man-of-war
Calliope, which ot to sea. Trenton and VAN
dalia total losses. Nipsic beached, rudder
gone, may be saved; chances against it. VIII
send her to Auckland if possible. Vandalia
lost four officers and thirty-nine men, namely:
captain Schoonmaker. Paymaster Arms, Lieu
tenant OF Marines Sutton. Pay Clerk John
Roach Henry Baker. W. Brisbane William
Brown. Quartermaster Michael Cashen, NJ.
Cralgln, Ii. f. Davis, Thomas CT. Downey, VI.
Erickson, S. G. Ghring, Adolph Goldner Geo.
German, N i. Green. Joseph Griffin. f. NJ
Hammer, John Hanchett. C.. II. Hawkins, W.
Howat. Frank Jones, George Jordan, NJ. II.
Joseph, John Keely, Thomas Kelly, n. Kim
sella, c. p. Kratzer. Charles Kraus, F. Less
man, George Message, Aylmer Montgomery,
Thomas Riley, H. p Stalman. C. Ct. Stanford
John Sims, G. H. Wills, John Mileford, Henry
.Wixted, Ahkow. All Peck, Pendang, Techor.
Nlpslc lost seven men. namely: George ".
Callan, John Gill. Joshua Heap, Thomas john
son, David Kelleher, Henry Pontsell, William
Watson.
All saved from Trenton. Trenton and Van
dalia crews ashore; Nipsic's on board. All
stores possible saved.
German ships Adler and Eber total losses.
Olga beached, may be saved. German losses
&C. Important to send three hundred men
home at once. Shall charter steamer? Can
charter in Auckland. Lieutenant Wilson will
remain in Auckland to obey your orders Fuller
accounts by mail. KIMBERLY.
INSTRUCTORS TO ADMIRAL KIMBERLY.
The Secretary and Commodore Walker, chief
OF the bureau of navigation, talked the matter
over briefly, and the result was an immediate
reply to Admiral Kimberly's request for in
structions. He was informed that the depart
ment would sanction whatever he deemed best
for the interests of the service and the comfort
of the wrecked ones.
The following dispatch was sent to Lieut.
Wilson for Admiral Kimberly, care American
consul, Auckland:
Take such steps with regard to Nipsic and
wrecks and sending men home as you may
deem proper. Full power given you. Monon-
gahela sailed for Apia February q.
(Signed) TRACY"
THE OFFICERS OF THE VESSELS
were as follows:
Trenton-Capt. n. H. Farquhar. Lieut. Com
mander H. W. Lyon, Lieuts. r. NJ. G. Brown,
Saml. l.. Graham, L. L. Reamey, B. o. Scott;
Lieut. Cjunior grade) n H. Allen: Ensign J. J.
Hibbs, 3. C. Dicker, B. w. Wells, W. S. Cloke,
Geo. W. Logan. r. II. Jackson; Medical
Inspector c. II. White, Past Assistant Surgeon
Ernest Norfeet; Assistant Surgeon S. S. White;
Pay Inspector A. j. Clarke; Chief Engineer A. J.
hiersted; passed assistant engineers Herschel,
Main and il. W. Gait; assistant engineer. c. H.
Mathews chaplain, A. A. McAlister; captain of
marines, r. W. Huntingdon pay officers clerk,
III. d. Alexander boatswain. John McLaughlin
gunner, Jno. Westfall; carpenter, B. c. Fernald
sailmaker, S. H. Boutwell,.
Nipsic-Commander ID. W. Mullan; Lieuts
J. NJ. Hawley, X. G. Davenport; Lieuts. Gunior
grade) j. A. Shearman; Ensigns W. p. White,
J. l.. Pursell, II. A. Field, II. p. Jones, jr |;
Surgeon z. z. Den; Passed Assistant Paymas-
ter John Corwine; Chief Engineer George W.
Hall; Passed Assistant Engineer HI. L. Frick;
First Lieut.. of Marines T. g. Fillette; Pay Ofi-
GERS Clerk s. L. Browne.
Vandalia; Captain c. NJ. Schoonmaker; Lieuts.
J. w. Carlin. L. C. Wilson. Lieuts. q. G.) A. Z.
Culver, Frank r. Wealth; Ensigns Chas. S. Rip
ley, /. III. Gibbons; naval cadets, l. A. Lejeune,
L. A. Stafford. H. A. Wiley; Surgeon II. P. Har-
vey; Passed Assistant Surgeon L. j. B. Cordeiro;
Paymaster Frank III. Arms Chief Engineer AS
Greene; Passed Assistant Engineer Harrie
Webster: First Lieut. of Marines f. E. Sutton;
pay officers clerk, John Roche.
The Trenton the flagship, the staff being
as follows: Rear Admiral l.. A Kimberly,
aides, Ii. .. Rittenhouse, G. A. Merriam.
ANXIOUS RELATIVES.
Two clerks in the detail Office of the Navy de-
partment were kept busy this morning re-
ceiving and answering kilograms of inquiry
from anxious ones whose friends or relatives
were on board the unfortunate ships Fully a
hundred of these were received and answered
before noon. kilograms were also sent to the
relatives of the officers on board where the ad-
dress was to be obtained.
CAPT. C. NJ. scHooNMAKER,
who was lost with his ship, yandalia. was con-
sidered as of the finest officers in the service
His home was at Kingston, N. Y, where his wife
and three children are at present. Captain
Schoonmaker had splendid war record. He
was born February 2, 1889. He was appointed
to the naval academy in 1854 and graduated in
1859. In 1859-'60 he was on a cruise on the west
coast Of Africa. From May to September 1861,
Nc Wds httdCutu W tuc sttam lIlSdte Mlnn6sOta,
bearing the fag-offcer, S. H. Stringham. He
was on board this vessel as sailing master in
the fight with Forts Hatteras and Clarke. He
was promoted to lieutenant, August l3 1861,
and was detached from the Minnesota on the
following September. From November, 1861,
to July, 1868, he served executive officer
of the gunboat Wyandotte in the
South Atlantic blockading squadron, and
after leaving that vessel served until March.
1864, as executive officer of the United States
steamer Octorara. One year of this service
was in Rear Admiral Wilkes flying squadron.
and the rest of the time in the west gulf
blockading squadron off Mobile bar. In Nav.
1864, he was transferred to the monitor Nam
haitian, joining her in New York. On board
this ship he participated in passing the forts in
Mobile bay. On August IA, 1864, he
was in the fight with the iron-clad
Tennessee and other confederate gunboats and
took part in the capture of Forts Morgan and
Gaines. From September to December, 1864,
he served as executive officer of the gunboat
Augusta, conveying Aspinwan steamers. In
March, 1865, he was ordered as executive officer
of the monitor Catskill, in Charleston harbor
and in June following, as navigator of the
steamer Juniata, at Port Royal, g.
c., and with that vessel sailed
in the Brazil squadron. He served
one year as navigator and the last of the cruise
as executive officer. He received his commits
sion as heutenant-commander December a.
1865, and October, 1867, was ordered as navi-
gator Of the steam frigate Piscataqua, after
ward called the Delaware, bearing the
Tag Of Bear Admiral =. c. Rowan. With