Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-14
WRECK OF THE TRENTON.
The American Flagship Finally Forced on
the Reefs = How Her Crew We're
Rescued-Confusion After
the Storm.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the position
of the Trenton and the Olga had changed,
and they were almost on the reef near the
point where the Eber struck. The Trenton
was coming down upon the Olga, and a
collision seemed inevitable. The condition
of the flagship was most pitiable.
The water rushed in on the berthdecks. found
its way to the matches, and poured down into
the fireroom. All attempts TO keep it out failed
and in short time the fremen we're up to
their waists in water and all the fires were ex-
tinguished.
From 10 o'clock in the morning until in the
evening, when she grounded, the Trenton held
out against the storm withoH steam or rudder,
and her escape from total destruction on the
reefs was miraculous. The skillful manage
ment of her navigating officer, 7. Q. NJ. Brown,
was all that saved the lives of every man on
board. Lieutenant. Brown ordered the men
in the port rigging, so that compact
the same time keep the weight of the vessel on
the side next to the storm. This novel expert
ment was all that saved the Trenton from COM
plete destruction. The winds struck against
the the teR vessel " out into sS66s tie bay again.
She remained there only for a short
time, however, and soon commenced to drift
back against the Olga, which was still standing
off from the reef, and holding up against the
storm better than any other vessel in the har-
Dor had done The Trenton came down slowly
on the Olga, and this time it seemed as If both
vessels would be swept to pieces.
Another Collision Inevitable.
A new danger now arose. The Trenton was
sure to strike the Vandalia, and to those on
shore it seemed that the huge hull of the flag
ship would crush the Vandalia to pieces, and
throw the 100 men still clinging to the rigging
into the water. Suddenly a shout was Borne
across the waters. The Trenton was
cheering the Vandalia. The sound of 450
voices broke upon the air and was heard above
the roar of the tempest. Three cheers for
the Vandaliar' was the cry that warmed the
hearts.of the dying men in the rigging The
shout died away upon the storm, and there
arose from the quivering masts of the sunken
ship response so feeble that it was scarcely
The collision of the Trenton and vandalia,
which everyone thought would crush the latter
vessel to pieces, proved to be the salvation of
the men in the rigging. Ensign Ripley, who
was in the maintop, determined to make an eff
fort to reach shore. He crawled out on the yard
and jumped into the sea. He was swept over
to the stern of the Nipsic; but not being able
to draw himself up he swan to piece of wreck
age near shore. He remained there few
minutes and then swan into the current. After
a hard struggle he got through the current and
was washed upon the shore.
Rescued in the Morning.
Little could be done on shore but wait for
morning. Lieutenant Shearman, Ensign Pur-
cell and several other persons patrolled the
beach until early morning in the hope of res
cuing any poor fellows who might be seen
struggling in the waves. When day broke,
with the aid of the natives boats were sent out,
and with great difficulty the remainder of the
crew OF the Trenton were transferred to the
shore.
A hasty examination was made Of the Nip
SIC and though there was considerable water
in her hold. she was found in fair condition
and her officers and men were sent aboard as
oh IF m do Tpifh
various parties for feeding, the sailors, though
it was a difficult matter to provide
them with much food during the day. Order
was generally restored in Apia after few
days A large force of Samoans were put to
work on the Nipsic and the steamer was hauled
off 1t was found that she was not leaking, but
her boilers were sprung and Der propeller
would not work. Her rudder, smokestack and
most of her boats were gone and she was badly
shattered above the water line. All of her
officers and crew are living aboard.