Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-04-21
DISASTROUS WRECK At SAMOA
Graphically Described in Kimberly's Re-
port
FORTY EIGHT HOURS BATTLE
With Winds and Waves Sweeping All
Before Them.

Iue navy anu says
''It becomes my painful duty to report
to the Department the disastrous injury
and loss sustained by the vessels under my
command in the harbor of Apia during the
hurricane which swept the waters Marct
10Th and 10Th. When the gale commenced
there were in the harbor the following
men-of-war: U. S. Ships Trenton, Wanda
liza and Nipsc; H. B. NJ. S. CAlliope ant
Il. 1. G. M. Ships Adler, Olga and Eber
There were also a few merchant vessels
and small craft. The Nipsic had the in
ner berth and the Trenton, last to arrive
rad the outer berth.
Indications of bad weather appeared
during the forenoon of Friday, March Is
and at o'clock on that day 1 commenced
preparations to meet a gale by sendinl
down the lower yards and housing tor
masts Fires were lighted and steam
raised. By 8 o'clock the gale had devol
oped. 1t blew hard during the evening
and about 8 p. m we parted our port bow
cable Daring the night it blew with
great violence, but with the aid of steam
the vessels kept in good shape until morn
iug. At daylight we had hoped for g
moderation of the wind, but were disap
pointed. The gale set in with renewed
fury, and early in the forenoon it was
evident that some of the inner ships were
ashore and those nearer to us were riding
uneasily. The flagship lost her wheel about
tdis time. 1t carried away with crash and
'eriously injured some of the helmsmen.
Relieving tackles and spars promptly, it
was discovered that the rudder was broken
and soon it was entirely useless. The wind
by this time was blowing with hurricane
force and the seas wers very heavy. The
ship hsd begun to leak water during the
early morning. The hand pumps were
manned and all bilge pumps in the engine
put on. The water gained and threatened
70 put out the fires. The greater part of it
seemed to come in through the hswse
pipes, which are situated on the berth deck.
THE DECKS SWEPT BY FLOOD.
Every effort was msde to stop the en-
trance of water, at this point jamming in
bedding, and by putting moulding on the
chains and by veering into the hawse
| pipes. It could be checked in this way,
bat not stopped, for the violence of the
sea was so great that it would force back
everything opposed to it. Ali hands were
set to bailing, and the handy billy rugged,
bat by $50 a. m. the fires had been out
and the men driven up from the ire-room.
Work at the hand pumps and with the
buckets continued from this time
throughout the gale, with the hope of be-
ing able to re-light the fires and keep the
ship afOat.
A little before noon the Cslliope was
seen to be very uneasy at her mocrings,
and soon she steamed toward us, having
parted or slipped her cables, and making
an effort TO 90 out of the hsrbOr. She
came near colliding with us, and steamed
ont in the force of the hurricane. In the
afternoon, the wind having hauled little,
the Trenton was more unsteady at her
noorings and parted two chains, one sOOn
after the other We then drifted out TO-
ward the eastern reef, just escaping the
wreck of a merchant bark by the mere
chance of her dragging as we approached
her. We drifted until our stern was al
most against the reef. Destruction seemed
imminent, as the vessel was within few
feet of the reef for long while and pitch
ing heavily. We drifted in this position
along the reef for a considerable distance,
until we came where it turned more to-
ward the eastward. Here we found some
water, and the remaining anchor seemed
to hold quite we'll for time.
DRIVEN AGAINST THE OLGA.
The position, however, put US directly
in the hawse of the Olga, which vessel had
one of the smoothest boilers in the harbor
at this time. She was riding well and had
control of her engines. Efforts were at
once made to heave over the 8inch rifle
gun from the fOrcastle to assist in holding,
but it could not be done in time. We
slowly drifted upon her and she avoided
us twice by skilful use of the helm and en-
gines. but soon after cut into our quarters,
first on one side and then the other, carry
ing away boats, rigging and quarter gal
lies, but not essentially iujuring the hull.
During all this time, the officers ofthe flag
ship made every effort to manage her by
the storm sails and putting men in the
rigging. We drifted by the port side of
the Olga and across to the western reef.
dragging the anchor and failing now on
the western reef as we had before done on
the eastern.
Some of the wrecked vessels were now
in plain sight. The Nipsic, we'll inshore
and on good bottom, ste % to the sea; Van
dalis. end against the reef, masts standing
and tops and rigging filled with men, spray
and surf flying to their mastheads; Eber,
nowhere to be seen; Adler, on her side
high on the reef The Olga had turned for
the shore and going ahead under steam and
sail was beached on goOd bottom and 10 a
position TO the seas. All this time the
gale was blowing with unabated fury.
About six o'clock
WE WERE EXPECTING To STRIKE THE
REEF
momemtarily. II was directly under our
stem but as on the eastern side an under
tow or current seem to carry us along the
reef and keep us just clear OF striking.
Thus we came on to where the Vandalia
was living. and it was evident that our
stem wonid soon strike against her port
aide. AS we approached her rockets were
fred. carving lines with the hope of
rescning the people on her mssts. This
nroyed yery successful, and those from the
main and mizzen were rescued first. Soon
after we struck the Vandalia with violence,
and her main and mizzen masts
went by the board. We then swung
gradually and settled into position along
Side of her, Just touching the bottom and
our stern grazing a small wreck and the
reef. The men were rescued from the
foremsst of the Yandalia and thence on