Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-18
APPALLING DESTRUCTION
Granhic Account of Terrific South
Pacific Hurricane.
Terrible Loss of American and Ger
man Life and Property.
Gallant and Most Heroic Actions on
the Part of e ates.

little group OF Samoa, or Navigation
Islanos, which few months ago attracted
the attention of the civilized world by
its fierce civil combat between two fac
tions of the natives and the consequent
possibility of serious complications be-
tween the great powers, the United
States and Germany, have been visited
by disaster, more appalling than all the
wars ever waged here. The United States
and Germany have lost nearly $50 lives
and IS 100000 worth of property. The
most violent and destructive hurricane
ever known in the South Pacific passed
over the islands on the 16 n and 18th of
March, and as a result the feet of six war
ships and ten other vessels have been
ground to atoms on the coral reefs IN the
harbor or thrown on the beach in front of
Apia. The United States frigate Tren-
ton, the flagship of the Pacific squadron,
lies within a stones throw Of the Amer
can consulate, a total wreck. The great
hull of the magnificent vessel which
steamed into the harbOr few weeks ago,
rests OF the bottom and is fast going to
pieces. The U. s. steamer Vandalia is
buried out of sight between the Trenton
and the shore. Her shattered foremost
and smoke-stack rise from the water to
lay for twelve hours before the awful
torrent of water which swept four officers
and thirty-nine men from her deck and
rigging. The United States steamer
Nipsic, lay for several days alongside of
the Vandalia, with her bow high on the
beach, and within five feet of the waters
edge. The vessel, though badly damaged,
was hauled off few days after the storm,
and is the only war ship afoat IL the
harbor. The three American men of-war
were swept ashore almost at the same
spot. The force of the storm was never
equalled in this part of the world before.
The barometer had been falling steadily
for several days previous, and the wind
commenced to blow Friday, March 10,
and continued until Sunday morning The
rain fell in torrents during the who g
time, and great clouds of sand swe pt
over the town. Hundreds of people stood
on the beach and watched the awful
spectacle in the harbor. The vessels ali
had a full head of steam on, and three
or four anchors out; yards and top
masts were down and every precaution
taken to insure the safety of the ships,
but the wind constantly shifted from
northeast TO northwest and the force was
80 great that the vessels dragged their
anchors all over the harbor, drifting
from one side to another and coming
into collision several times. Tremen 1ous
seas broke over the decks and torrents
of water rushed down the hatchways and
put out the fires. Persons on shore were
powerless to render aid to the ships.
Hundreds stood on the shore in
the binding storm watching
the great vessels pitch
about and DRIFT on TO total destruction
The sea broke upon the shore, rushing
away up beyond the usual high water
mark. Many persons on shore were in
jured by floating wreckage, and great
clouds of SAND filed the air and cut the
skin like knife. The natives especially
acted nobly, wading far out into the surf,
where whitemen could not live, and many
a life was saved through their efforts.
The storm ragged furiOusly for nearly two
days and when it finally abated the seen Q
of destruction on shore was frightful.
Houses were unroofed and blown down
aHd trees were uprooted and thrown
about in such way that the streets were
in many places completely blocked. Out
of seventeen vessels which had been
moored in the harbor, only two small
schooners remained afoat, and these were
badly damaged.
The storm commenced to set in the af-
ternoon of Friday, March Is. By eleven
at night the wind had increased to gale
and nearly all the warships had their
engines working to relieve the strain up
on the anchors. The crews of most of the
sailing vessels threw out extra anchors
and went ashore. Rain commenced TO
fall at midnight and the wind increased
in fury. Great waves were rolling from
open ocean and the pitching of the YES
sells was fearful. Every man was kept at
work. By o'clock in the morning the
situation was alarming. Nearly every
vessel in the harbOr was dragging, and
there was imminent danger of collision.
On shore, the people began to assemble
on this beach. Everybody had been arous-
ed from sleep by the tremendous fury
of the storm. The tide was coming in
rapidly and the waves washed over streets
a hundred feet above the usual high
water mark. Rain fell like sleet, and
men and women who were out tried to
shelter themselves with pieces of board
or other objects before their faces.
Through the blackness of night they
could see the far lights of the men-of-
war, and even above the rushing and
roaring of the wind and waves, the
shouting of officers and men on board
came family across the water. 1t could
be seen that the vessels were dragging.
Every moment il seemed as though
two or more of the great ships were
about TO come together, and watchers on
shore waited in breathless anxiety TO hear
the crash of the collision. When daylight
came it was seen that the position OF the
vessels had entirely changed. The wind
had swept them from their former moor
ings, and they were all bearing down in
the direction of the reef. Black smoke
was pouring from their tunnels, showing
that desperate efforts were being made
to keep them up against the fu,
rious wind. The vessels were
tossing about like corks, one moment
standing on their beam ends, and the
next instant the sterns would raise out
of the water and expose to view the
rudders and the rapidly revolving pro-
pellors. Then the huge prows would be
lifted high in the air only to plunge
into the next wave and deluge the ships
with torrents of water. Several small
sailing vessels had gone ashore in the
western part of the bay. The Eber,
Adler, and Nipsic were close together
arc only few yards off the reefs. The
little gun-boat, Eber, was making des-
perate struggle for life, but every mo
ment it was being drawn nearer and
nearer the reef. Suddenly she shot for
ward, as if making last struggle. The
current, however, bore her off to the
right, and her prov struck the port
quarter of the Nipsic. The shock car
ried away several feet of the Nipsic's
rail and one boat. Eoer then fell
back and fouled with the Olga,