Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-08
NEWS FROM SAMOA.
Capt. Mullan Relieved from the Conn
mand Of the Nipsic.

News from Apia, Samoa, up TO June %, PEI
steamer Alameda, which arrived at San Fran
| cisco yesterday. is that nine officers and sixt,
men of the Trenton had departed. but tha
Admiral Kimberly, his two staff officers ant
five men will remain until the arrival of tn,
American man-of-war, when he will probabl,
use her for the flagship.
DEPARTURE OF NIPsrc AND ALERT
The Nipsic, the only American vessel saved
from the storm, has gone to Honolulu for re-
pairs under the convoy of the Alert Two
ships left here for Auckland May 9, but in 81,
days they returned, and Capt Mullan of the
l'Nipsic, and Capt. Green OF the Alert re.
deemed it inadvisable to proceed further
The Nipsic's rudder broke and she be.
came practically unmariAgeable. The rud
der was repaired, but the vessels made
such slow progress that there seemed
TO De no probability Of their reaching Auckland
before the last week in May. at Shich season
severe weather might be expected off the New
Zealand coast Capt. Mullan desired to pro-
coed, ii possible, but he laid the matter before
the line officers Of his own ship. None of the
Nlpsics officers desired to return, and they ex-
pressed willingness to accept the risk of en-.
countering bad weather. Capt Mullan. how
ever, believed it would be impossible to lower
boats from the Nipsic in case it became nee
essary to do so. and there seemed to be some
danger that if the vessel met with rough
weather she would lose her rudder entirely
ana then be swept into the trough of the sea
and rolled over. Capt Mullan accordingly
gave orders for the ships return to Apia.
CAPTAIN MULLAN RELIEVED.
Admiral Kimberly expressed considerable
displeasure at the return of the Nipsic and
the Alert after having gone $50 miles, and re-
proved Capt. Mullan for his action. Capt.
Mullan asked to be relieved of his command.
The admiral at once detached him. and or
dered Lieut. Commander H. W. Lyon of the
Trenton to take command of the Nipsic. He
also issued orders for the ships to go to Pago-
Pago and take on coal and proceed to Auck-
land.
The Nipsic and the Alert sailed for Pago-
Pago within few hours after their return
here. The orders we're afterward changed, and
Honolulu was made the destination of the
ships instead Of Auckland. The vessels sailed
from Pago-Pago for Honolulu June 1. The
regular mail schooner, which runs to Tutuila
every month to connect with the Oceanic
steamers to and from San Francisco, failed to
meet the north-bound steamer Zealandia, which
passed May %, and consequently no mail left
here for America and Europe. Last month
Capt. Mullan had gone to Tutuila on the
schooner to take the steamer for San Fran
cisco, but he was left at Leone, small settle
ment on the island. for a month to wait for the
next steamer to pass. Chief Engineer G. w.
Hall Of the Nipsic, who was ill with dysentery,
was detached from his vessel by the medical
board He was also left at Leone to wait for
the June steamer, but died on the 10th inst.
His home was Syracuse, N. Y.
- NOTES.
A box was received from the State depart
ment at Washington that week containing
about 81, 100 worth Of gold and silver watches
and other articles and 81 900 in gold coin to be
distributed among the natives who rendered
assistance to the American ships during the
hurricane last March. The distribution Of the
gifts will be made by Consul Blackjack.
The British inquiry in Samoa into the charges
made by Germany that assistance had been
given Mataafa by the British consul at Apia re-
suited in the exoneration of the consul from all
the charges.
The latest advices received in London from
Samoa state that Mataafa and Tamasese are
forming league, the object OF which Is to OPP
pose their united strength against the return
of MaietOa