The Portland daily press., 1889-04-01
| HOURS IN THE RIGGING.
Particulars of the Loss Of the Ships
at Samoa.
A Day Of Horror in the StOrm.Swept
lIarbOr.
First the Eber Was Driven on the
Rocks and Sunk.
The Adler Was Flung on the Reef by a
Gigantic Wave.
Captain .SehOOnmaker Went Over.
board as the landalia Struck.
Sailors Clung to the Rigging and
Struggled for the Shore.
Seven Of the Nipsic's Men Lost in a
Small Boat.
The Trenton and Olga the Last to
Suceumb.
The Trenton and Olga the Last to
Suceumb.

LONDON, March 31-Further particulars of
the disaster at Apia have just been received
The hurricane burst upon the harbor sud-
denly. The German man-of-war Elber was
the first vessel to drag her anchors She be-
came unmanageable and was driven help
lessly on the reef which runs around the
harbor. She struck broadside on at o'clock
in the morning. The shock ,caused her to
stagger back, and she sank in
moment in deep water. Most of
the men Were under matches and scarcely
soul escaped. The German war ship Adler
was the next to succumb. She was lifted
bodily by gigantic wave and cast on her
beam ends on the reef. A terrible struggle
for life ensued among the officers and sail
ors aboard. Many plunged into the raging
surf and struck out, some reaching the shore
th ia saiety. Others clung to the rigging until
the masts fell. OF the latter two gained the
shore safely. The captain of the Adler and
several other officers were saved.
=, In the meantime the United States steam
Nipslc had been dragging her anchors and
drifting toward the shore. The captain
however, managed to keep control and ran
her ON sand bar. Her boats were imme-
dlately lowered and her whole company
were saved, with the exception of seven men
W. Who were drowned by the capsizing of boat
Ihe United States steamer Vandalia was
carried before the gale right upon reef
castsn cane struck WITH teErbls sApe ae the
and stp..--~a. Before he could recover a
great sea swept the deck and washed him
away. The vessel sank 80 yards from
the Nipsic. Several of the officers and men
were washed overheard and drowned and
others perished while making desperate Ell
forts to swim to the shore. Some remained
for hours clinging to the rigging, but the
heavy waves dashed increasingly over them,
and one by one they were swept away.
BY this time night had set in. Many ma
tives and Europeans gathered on the shore,
all anxious to render assistance to the
wrecked vessels and unfortunate crews, but
darkness having fallen ON the scene were
wholly unable to be of service. Soon af ter
the Vandalia had sunk the American war
ship Trenton broke from her anchorage and
was driven upon the wreck of the Vandalia,
whence she drifted to the shore. The
bottom of the Trenton was completely
stove and her hold half full
of water. As morning broke, the German
man of war Olga, which had hitherto brave
ly withstood the gale, although much bat
tered by the heavy seas that constantly
broke upon her, became unmanageable and
was driven upon the beach where she lay in
tolerably favorable position.
Following is the record of the officers and
men lost: Eber, the captain, all the other of
fcers except one, and rs men Vandalia, the
captain, four officers and 40 men; Nipsic
seven men Adler, altogether Is persons.
Mataafa sent number of men who rem
dered splendid aid in trying to float the Olga.