The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-04-26
TIE Worst Hsrsseaas Ever Known h the
South P~acino-shlp Amer Ship wrecked
by the Tempest-Terrible sufsrine Of the

her OeckS and rigging. II Nlpslc lay
for several days alongside the Vandalia,
with her bow high ON the beach and
within five feet OF the waters edge. The
vessel, though badly damaged, was
hauled off a few days after the storm
and is the only warship atioat in the
harbor: She lost five men by the swamp
ing of a boat, and two others who
jumped overheard were drowned.
1t was on the little German gunboat
Eber that the greatest loss of life occur
red. She had q complement of six off,
GERS and seventy-six men. Five men
were ashore during the storm. When
the vessel struck the reef she sank COM
pletely out of sight, and n minute later
there was not q vestaige of her to be seen.
Every man on board was lost except one
officer and four sailors. The German
corvette Olga suffered less than any of
the other vessels. The British ship Cal
Hope was the only one that escaped. She
having very powerful machinery, put to
SEQ. All the other vessels had a full
head of steam on and three or four an.
chors out, but before that awful storm
they were like toys in the hands of a gil
mt.
Many of the sailors became drunk
soon after they got ashore. But the
officers rallied them and the injured
were cared for. The natives rendered
every assistance, Americans and Ger
mans being treated alike. The damage
on shore was also very great. Houses
We're %unroofed and blown down and trees
and fences were thrown across the streets
SO that passage was almost blocked.
All the vessels weathered the storm
through Friday night, but all had
dragged their anchors. A little after 8
o'clock the first rays of dawn broke upon
the scene and to those on shore revealed
o spectacle not often witnessed. The
position of the vessels was entirely
changed. Tho wind, which was blow
ing from the northeast, had swept
them from their former moorings, and
they were all bearing down in the direc-
ton of the reef. Black smoke was pour
ing from their tunnels, showing that
desperate efforts were being made to
keep them up against the wind. Their
decks were swarming with men clinging
to the masts or any other objects. The
hulls of the war ships were tossing about
like corks. One moment the vessels
seemed to stand almost upon their
beams end and the next instant their
sterns would rise out of the water and
expose to view the rudders and rapidly
revolving propellers. Then the huge
prows would be lifted high in the air,
49, v YA0A6S AAV S00 LIZA WdNo uuu
deluge the ships with q torrent of water.
1t was then seen that the vessels were
doomed and they soon succumbed to the
fury Of the tempest.
Soon the Adler came ashore and she
was followed by the Nipsic. Most of the
men IN the latter were got ashore on a
hawser which the natives made fast.
The British ship Calliope was still in
the harbor. She was lying near the Van
dalia and o collision between the two
seemed certain. The Calliope was nearer
shore and her bow was close to the stem
of the Vandalia. Great waves were toss
! coming closer together every minute.
Suddenly the great iron prov Of the
Dir on the crest Of an enor-
nous wav and came down with
full force upon the port quarter of the
vandalia. The crash was awful. The
jib-boom of the Calliope was carried
away and the heavy timbers of the Van
dalia were shivered. Every man who
stood upon the poop-deck Of the Van
dalia was thrown from his feet by the
shock. A hole had been torn below the
rail and the water rushed into the cabin.
It seemed that the yandaliahad received
her death blow and the men rushed up
the matches in the beliefthat the steamer
was sinking, and it was only after great
effort that the officers persuaded them to
return to their posts.
Just after this collision Capt. Kane OF
the Calliope determined to make an
effort to steam out of the harbor, as he
saw that to remain in his present posi-
ton would lead to another collision
with the Vandalia or throw his vessel on
the reef. He accordingly gave the orde,
to let go all anchors. The Calliope's
head was swung around to the wind, and
her powerful engines were worked to
their utmost capacity. It was an anxious
her anchors gone, she had nothing but
her engines to depend upon to keep
her off the reef. The steamer seemed
to stand still for o moment, and then
the rapidly revolving propeller had
its effect, for the vessel moved up slowly
against the great waves, which broke
over her bows and flooded her deckf
from stem to stern. Clouds Of BLACK
smoke poured from her tunnels and
fresh coal was thrown into the furnaces
All her great power was used in the des.
perate struggle against the storm, She
seemed to make her headway at first
inch by inch. but her speed gradual,
increased until 1t became evident she
could clear the harbor. As she passed
abreast Of the Trenton q great shout
went up from over 400 men aboard thu
flagship and three hearty cheers wert
given for tho Calliope. "Three cheers
for the Trenton and the American aag'
was the answer that came back across
the angry waters. The Calliope passed
safely out Of the harbor and steamed fal
ont to sen, returning after the storm
abated.
An attempt was then made to beacl
the vandalfa, and she was run along
side the reef and within 100 yards o.
shore, when she grounded, Several at
tempts were made by the natives to taxi
q line to her, but they were in vain. Thu
vessel swung around with her broadsidt
to the waves, and one by her officer
and crew were swept Oh by the torrentl
of water. but few being saved through
the heroic efforts Of the natives,
The Trenton had thus far weathersi
the storm through the skill of her navi'
eating officer, Lieut.. Brown. Her rud,
der was, however, carried away and he,
fires put out blythe rush Of water through
the hawes-hofes. Rho then fouled th,
Olga when the latter let 60 hey anchor
on toward the vandalia. A new DANCE
now asose. The Trenton was n = X
strike the vsndalia, and to those ON shor,
It seemed that the huge hull OF the Gag
ship would crush the Yandalta TO piecei
and throw the hundred mon still
clinging to her rigging into th,
water. II was now after 5 O'Clock, ani
the light ~ beginningt0 fade away