Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-04-04
The Terrible Disaster
o THE NAVAL FLEET AT sAMol


WASHINGTON, March 30. The Navy
Department this morning received a cable
message from Admiral Kimberley, dated
Auckland, March 30th. which says;
There was a hurricane at Apis, March
Is Every vessel in the harbor is on shore
except the English man-of-war Calliope,
which got to sea. The Trenton and Van
dalis are total losses. The Nipsic was
beached with her rudder gone. She may
be saved but the chances are against IL.
They will send her to Auckland if posi-
BILE.
The German ships Adler and Eber are
total losses; the Olga was beached and
may be saved. The German losses are 20
men. II is important to send 300 men
home at once.
THK DISASTER IN AHA HtRBoR.
i the sevcrcst 50 far as the destruction of
vessels Is concerned, that the navy has yet
experienced by storm at sea. There have
been instances, however. where larger
numbers OF lives were lost
DETAILED ACCOUNT.
Lo>po>, March 81 Further particulars
of the disaster by the storm at Apia have
just been received The hurricane burst
upon the harbor suddenly. The German
man-of-war EbeE was the first vessel to
drag her anchors. She became unmsnagc-
able and was driven hclples>ly on the reef
which runs around the harhoT. The shock
caused her to lurch and TO >tagger back
aud she sank 10 a moment in deep water.
Most of the men were under the matches
and scarcely a soul escaped. German war
ship Adler was next 10 >uccumb. She WAS
lifted bodily by a gigantic wave and cast
on her beam ends on the reef A terrible
struggle for Afe en>ued among the officers
and sailors aboard. Many plunged into
the raging surf and struck out, some
reaching the shore in safety. Others clun.
- the Rigging until the mssts fell. of the
latter two gained the shore safely. The
captain of the Adler aud several
OTHER OFFICERS WE'RE SAVED
In the meantime United States steamer
Nip~ic had been dragging her anchors and
driftju. toward the shore The captain.
however. managed to keep control aud ran
her on sand bank. Boats were immedi-
ately lowered and the whole company
were saved with the exception of six men.
who were drowned by the cap>izing OF
boat United States steamer Nandalia
WAS carried before the Eai, right upon the
reef She struck with terrible shock and
the captain was hurled against a gailing
=
a great sea swept the deck and washed
him away. The vessel sank nifty wards
from the Nip>lC Several Of the officers
and men Mere washed overheard AMI
drowned Other, persisted while making
desperate efforts 10 swim to the ~hnrc,
some remained for hours ciinglug 10 the
rigging but
HEAVY WAVES DASHED
,hrN were swept away BY this time night
laa 81 iH. Many natives ana Europeans
gathered on The shore. nil anxious H. rcn-
der a. s~ee ~ the wrecked vessels and
unfortunate crews but. darkness have fall
rn 90 :he scene, they were wholly unable
I'd. p, ~ service. soon after the Nandalia
sunk rs, american War~hip Trenton broke
from hcr anchorage amt was driven upon
the wreck ~ thc Nauia!ia, whence Size
Ir.i,Ci 10 the ~Aurt The bottom Of the
Trenton Wa completely STOVE and her hold
half fun of water. A. morning broke
German man-of-war Olga, which had hitH-
crto bravery Wlthstood the gale, although
much battered ~ the heavy seas that con-
>Ianily broke upon her became unmana-c-
able ami wa driven upon thc beach y hrre
She iay in d tolrrabls favorable position.
Follow .Hs : the record of
OFFICERS ASH WEN Lo>r
Ehcr-Thc captain aud all other officers,
except one, amt -eyrnty->ix men
Nandalia CAPTAIN. four officers and fol-
y men
Nip>jc- Seven men
Adler Altogether fifteen persons
Nataafa sent a number II men " ho
rendered splendid aid IN trying 70 'oai tile
olga.