The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-10
formation at once. and 4 the rumors Are
really substantiated. there is little ooupt
but that Congress viii be called In extra
ordinary session at once.

noon. Commodore Walker, who acts a9
Secretary during the absence of the head OF
the department. was tonight shown the
latest San Francisco bulletin respecting the
alleged blowing mp of the United States
stamping it as an absurd fabrication. and
he denies that any orders have been sent 70
San Francisco looking 70 the immediate
equipment of the new cruiser Charles
ton. To show the utter improbability
telegraphic news reaching San Francisco
from Samoa must cross from Auckland TO
Australia, thence across the Dutch East
Indian islands TO Asia; up through Europ6
to the Eastern coast of the United States,
where it is taken by the land lines and
transmitted TO California. "So,r said the
CONN df rs ssaosps s sa ,haF & sncn new S.
fore it is known in the East. as the Navy
Department has an officer stationed at
Auckland for the very purpose Of forwards
ing information respecting Samoan events
and it is not to be supposed that he would
overlook matter like the sinking of the
Nipsic."
1t is learned that the reported destruction
of the Nipsic was not even mentioned at
the Cabinet meeting this afternoon, which
tact is additional proof that none of the
executive departments are in possession OF
information which would confirm the
rumor.
NEW YORK, March e-General Benjamin
Z. Tracy, the Secretary. of the Navy, was
intercepted by an Associated Press reporter
on his way from Washington to his home
in Brooklyn, at 1880 tonight. He was
shown the latest San Francisco bulletin re-
specting the alleged destruction at Samoa
of the United States steamer Nipsic by the
German corvette Olga, together with the
remarks of Commodore Walker. He said
that on the journey TO New York be was
not in telegraphic communication with any
ls<.1x~ - II. -
ed TO know more than Commodore Walker,
who was in Washington. He fully subs
scribed to the statement of the Commodore,
who stamped the story as an absurd fabric
cation. He has not sent any private infors
nation to any one.
The State Departments Has No News.
WAsHNGToN, March 9.-In the State De-
partment the fact that they have not been
officially advised OF the blowing up of the
Nipsic is regarded as sufficient evidence
that no such thing has happened They
have not telegraphed the acting consul, for
the reason that it is not TO be supposed that
he has neglected his duty and failed to in-
form his government of an event of such
Importance. In answer to the suggestion
that the Germans would control every
avenue by which the news could reach tho
United States, it is said that they could not
prevent the information from reaching
England through some Of the English vess
sells at Samoa. even supposing that the rec
ported engagement had been followed by q
declaration of war which might have re-
suited in cutting off Consul Blackjack from
the cable at Auckland. Naval officers
here. without exception. also dis
credit the story, although they admit
that the Nipsic would have been over
matched by the Olga in a sea. fight They
are rather inclined to accept the view taken
by certain of the English papers that the
publication in the German newspapers was
tempt to chastise the Mataafe forces for the
killing of the German seamen would be re-
ceived in Germany and America. The Nip.
sic has been at Apia four months. relieving
New was 1us and a ssed from
that port for the Pacific Jan, IS. 1sSs-> She,
finally sailed from Callao for Samoa Septy
%, 1855. arriving at Apia Nov. q. In the}
naval register the Nipsic is described as IA
second-rate vessel of the cruiser type. hav-
ing a wooden hull, bark rlgged. She carries
six guns-mostly smooth her main
battery, and has displacement of .s75
tons, The Trenton and Vandalia,
reached Apia,.. though second-rate
ships are larger than the Nipsic. The Tren-.
ton is ship-rigged wooden cruiser of ten
guns, of $500 tons displacement The VAN
dolia is also bark-rigged wooden cruiser
of 2,10o tons, with a main battery of eigh3
guns, mostly smooth bore. As far as known,
the Olga is the most formidable of the Ger
man vessels at Apia. She is an unarmored
and unprotected single-decked cruiser OF
| 900 displacement, and was built in 1880.
| Her principal battery consists of eight six
inch Krupp rifles. and number of Hotch-
| kiss revolving cannons- Ii is thought al
| the Navy Department that she carries
about half dozen Schwartzkoff torpedoes,
| which are similar to the Whitehead torPe-
| does, in that they are projected from tubes
| beneath the water line. The speed
| of the Olga is somewhat superior to
| that of the vandalia, her maximum trial
| speed having been fourteen knots. The
| Germans also have in Samoan waters the
| Adler and the Eber, which are not as large
| or as strong as the Olga; the Adler carrying
| great strength of the German fleet lies IN
| the possession of torped0es. In the United
| States navy there is not torpedo, except q
few of the variety known as the spar tor-
| as practically useless. The German navy
| consists of about seventy five vessels, while
| twenty-five more are in course OF construc-
tion. These are all vessels of the most
formidable type, heavily armored, many OK
| them of the arlnor plate, and carrying
| superior torpedo outfits. About twenty
| five ancient vessels and a few modern
cruisers not ready for service represents
| generally armed with smooth bores, are
| slow and widely distributed over the face
| of the globe. The monitors are incomplete
| In event of a war they must form our chief
reliance, but il would take many months TO
| put on their turrets and make their guns
Letter from the Commander OF the Nipsic.
| WASHINGTON, March 9-The following is
| part Of the last letter from Captain Null
Ian. of the United States steamer Nipsic, re-
ceived by his brother in this city. The let
ter is dated Apia, Jan. %. 1889:
| Here i'm Samoa we have war times and excite
| ment Germany has declared war against
| Mataafa, and proclaimed martial law here and
| IN Samoa. L have protested against this martial
| fects. They, in their proclamation, said IN case
citizens of Apis did not give I'm a list OF their
4 arms ammunition, etc. they would be deported
| or imprisoned. / told, IN writing, Captain
| Fritze, of the Adler, that In the
| whole Jurisprudence of my country there was
no such punishment They had proclamation
| printed on Jan. 49, and ready TO publish on the
streets but my protest had the effect OF stopping
| this. This proclamation spoke of os1enses and
| penalties-death, deportation, shooting. hard
| labor, imprisonment, etc. They do not hold
| Apia, nor have they invaded Samoa; hence. un-
| der the English and American law, cannot pro-
| claim martial law But they say German law Is
different. Things are all exciting here. They are
| all at war with Maatafa, but all their prociama-
| tions are directed against foreigners. They car
| ry a high game here. and our government has
| but one vessel while they have three
| good ships hear by OF Auckland that we