The Helena independent., 1889-04-14

the men were thrown upon the shore with.
out being able 10 get within fifty yards Of
the Nandalia Theiy chief urged them 10
Try again Several other attempts were
made with the same result
MANY MEs MEET DEATH.
Finding IL was Impossible 10 reach the
vessel there was nothing ~ do but remain
near the shore and wait for an opportunity
~ render any assistance that might be pos.
slble. IL was evident many Of the men
would not be able 10 stand the force Of the
waves much longer and many natives wad-
ed into The water and HtOud In the edge Ot
the current waiting 10 grasp any one who
should iiOAt near them. The seas cOntn-
ued 10 break over The vessels and II was
not long before several men were swept
over he side. As soon "A they touched
the water they swan for the Nlpslc, which
was the nearest object. Most Of them
reached the Nipsic, where they grasped
the ropes hanging over the side and AZ
tempted 10 draw themselves upon the deck,
A number succeeded Ia doing this, but
others were 80 weak that after hanging 10
the ropes few minutes their grasp was
broken by the awful seas which crashed
against the side OF the vessel and they fell
back into the current. The first man Ia
come ashore was Chief Engineer Green,
the Vandalia and after terrible struggle
was caught by the natives and brought TO
the shore. The next was Naval Cadet
Wiley, who was caught by the brave ma
tives just as be was sinking and was car
Tled 10 the American consulate insen-
sible. 1t was not long after
Green and Wiley were wash
ed over that four officers were
drowned, being swept from the
decks Capt. Schoonmaker was clinging
to rail on the poop deck and Lieut.. Car
lin was doing his utmost 10 support him,
The captain was becoming weaker every
minute and no one knew il better than
himself. lie remarked ~ those about him
that he would have To 20 soon, and at last
a great wave struck the Vandala on the
port quarter and submerged the decks.
Capt. SchOoDmaker leld ON TO the rail with
all his remaining strength, but the torrent
Of water was so strong that machine gun
near by was washed from its fastenings
and sent whirling across the deck. Capt
SchOODmaker was struck on the head by
the gun and either killed outright or
knocked senseless, as he was swept of the
deck Immediately, and was seen no more.
Paymaster Armes and Pay Clerk Roche
were swept of together and soon sank.
Marine Lieut.. Sutton died In much the
same way.
SCENES OF SUFFERING.
During the remainder of the afternoon
there followed a succession of awful scenes
ut death and suffering. The storm had not
abated In the least and the waves that
seemed like mountains OF water rolled in
from the ocean and broke over the Ill
fated vessel. Sheets OF water which fell
from the clouds and sand beaten up from
the shore struck against the houses like
hail. White men and even natives were
frequently Obliged 10 run TO shelter. The
Nandalia continued To settle, and the few
men who had not already taken TO the rig
ging stood upon the poop deck or forecastle,
as the vessel WAS almost entirely under
water amidships. So many had crowded
into mizzen rigging that there was no more
room there anda number of officers and
men rushed across the gun deck IN take
refuge In the main and foremasts Owing
10 the water pouring over the wreck thi,
was a most peril0us undertaking. Almost
| twenty y-fOur hours had elapsed since any
| man aboard had tasted food and all were
| weak and faint from hunger and exposure.
| The men were now being swept from decks
| and rigging half dozen AT a time and 4
few who felt themselves too weak To hold
| on longer jumped into the water in lasl
| effort for salvation.
The terrible scenes which attended the
sinking Of the Vandalia had distracted AT
i LeDtion from the other two men of war
which still remained atioat. About O'Clock
In the afternoon the Trenton aud Olgi
were seen 10 be dragging back. The Olgi
was almost upon the reef where the Ebel
had struck, the Trenton was coming d0wT
upon her and collision seemed inevitable
| The condition of the American flagship
was very bad. AT 10 o'clock her rudde
and propeller had been carried away By
foullng with wTeckage. When the ruddel
came into contact with the wreckage IN,
shock was so great that the pilot wheel OF
deck was whirled around like lightning
and every spoke broken. Two men at tn,
wheel were thrown violently "a the decl
and seriously injured. The water poured
In through The hawser pipes In the bow IL
torrents. Efforts were made to close tn,
pipes, but the force of the water was 3,
strong that the coverings were blown off
The water rushed in on the bertl