Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-15
THE WEEKLY UNION
THE APIA DISASTER.

The detailed news is now at hand of the
terrible disaster at Apia. There is no
special modification, but much elaboration
of news already received. The reported
saving of the Nipsic proves to be error.
While she was beached with full head of
steam, and lay high and dry at first prac-
tically, yet she is so badly injured that it
is not thought she will be of any further
service. The news clears away one doubt
that had been entertained, that the Ameri-
san SHIPS had been unslallfully handled l.
is now settled that they had coal in plenty,
that they had steam up, and that they did
attempt to reach the open sea; but the
storm was SO sudden and furious that the
effort to "keep" the fires was Intellectual.
The mighty waves boarded the ships re-
sistlessly, tore up the matches, and food
ing the vessels put out the fires. The
ipsic alone kept" part of her fires, but
she was driven so far inshore, and suffered
such damage from a collision with the
Adler, that nothing was possible except
Bleaching her, which was done. The Van
dalia was cut down by the steel ram of
the British ship Calliope in a collision,
and the Trenton drifted down upon the
Vandaiia shortly after and was crushed
against her, at the same time being broken
upon reef. Yet, from all that can be
now gathered, there is more hope of doing
something with the Trenton than was at
first supposed. She can never be foated,
but there is hope of saving great deal of
her property, as she is fast upon a reef,
and while she must go to pieces, there will
be time probably to save much from her.
The Nipsie was foated after the storm,
but when the latest news was sent off she
was making water faster than her pumps
could discharge it, SO that it is probable
that at this time she is abandoned
The accounts all agree that the bravery
of the American crews and officers was of
the highest order, and reflected lofty
credit upon their flag. The poor fellows
who were lost died at their posts, while
heroically and unselfshly striving to sue.
cor their comrades. The Nation should
not forget their devotion, nor leave those
who were dependent upon them to suffer
for the comforts of life The Mataafa men
manifested the loftiest magnanimity
They flew to the assistance of the suffering
crews, friend and foe alike, importing
their own lives and accomplishing prodig-
GUS labors in rescuing the men from the
wrecked ships. When the storm was over
these same savages," upon whom the
Germans have been making war for no
other reason under the sun than that they
insist upon the right to govern themselves
in the selection of their ruler and the estab-
lishment of their own officers in seats of
administration, rendered their services to
the German commander to pull the cor
-vette Olga from the mud-fats where she
had found safety. Their offer was ac-
cepted, and these enemies" actually
saved to the German navy the very ship
that few weeks before had shelled their
towns and camp, burned their property
and destroyed life among their people We
doubt if the history of the world shows a
record of greater magnanimity, or if their
can be found a more striking example of
heaping Goals of fire." 1t is impossible
to read of such disinterested services, and
such heroism, and give place to the
thought that the German Government
will now insist upon the deposition from
authority of a people that have shown
themselves capable of such charity and
heroic exertion.