Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-03-30
THE GREAT STORM AT SAMOA.
Three American and Three German
Ships Wrecked-One Hundred and
Fifty Lives Lost.

| StllJS w rtckeu-Une NHV
Fifty Lives lost.
WASHINGTON, Mar. 30.-The Navy De-
partment has received dispatch from Adj
mira Kimberly dated Auckland, New Zaa
and, confirming the report Of the disaster at
Apia, Samoan Island The Trenton and Van
dalia are total loss the Npsic is on the
beach and may be saved Two of the Ger
man vessels, the Eber and Adler, are total
loss. Every vessel in the harbor is ashore
except the English man of-war Calliope
which got to sea- The Vandala Lost four
officers, namely: Captain Shoemaker;
Paymaster Arms Lieutenant of Marines,
Sutton Pay Clerk John Roche, and 80 men.
The Nipaic lost seven men. All were saved
from the Trenton. The mf j0rity of the
Trenton's and Vandalia's crews was ashore,
the Npsic5 wss on board. II stores pos
sible were saved. The German men of war
Adler and Eber are totally lost. The Olga
was beached, but may be saved. The Ger
man loss Of life is estimated at Sc. Later
advices received here regarding the hurri-
|
l6 h inst. All the war ships attempted to
put to sea, but only the English steamer
Calliope succeeded In getting out, and sail
ed for Sidney, Australia Merchant vessels
suffered severly. The German bark Peter
Code frey, one other bark and seven coast
ars were wrecked and four persons were
| drowned.
BERLIN, Mar 30-Adyces received by
the naval authorities here report that the
storm ragged during the 1G.h and 18th in
slant. Twenty persons from the Eoar and Fl
ty five from the Adler were drowned. The
o ga was stranded, but her crew were sav-
ed All the merchant vessels anchored at
Samoa foundered
WASHINGTON, Mar 3O-Captan Sell
fridge, e S. N, says the harbor of Apia,
Ike all Pacific Island herbors, is formed
by coral reef encircng the island at a
short distance from the shore. The an
chorage space available for men-of war is
contracted, being about 1000 feet wide at
the mouth of the halbcr. The bottom ia
sandy, aflording slgbt hold for en- anchor,
and the hsrbor is exposed on the north. Ga
each side Of the entrance are coral reefs
which are awash at high water, and are
surrounded by shoals. Hurricanes or cy
c'ones ut Apia are usually from the south
west md revolving in the harbor tends to
force vessels on the rugged reefs or rough
shorea
Il is the opinion of Admiral Harmony that
the English man-of war owed her escape to
the fact that she had atsam up and was
enabled 10 push out to sea. The number
vessels lying in The small herbor was
source of danger to them Individually, for if
one dragged her anchors she would very
probably collide with and carry away an
other ship which might otherwise have held
securely.
Secretary Tracy could not see cause to
condemn any one. The officers in command
of the vessels were competent men aud had
doubtless adopted all proper precautions
against Disaster, but these hurricanes, which
assumed cyclonio proportions, were simply
irresistible as was proved By the extent Of
the loss of vessels.
Naval Constructor Hichborn says the
Trenton which was Admiral Kimberly g
flagship, was the best wooden vessel in the
American navy. The Vandalia was another
foe vesse', and had been thoroughly reft-
ted just before she sailed.
Capt. Richard W. Meade says the Eng
| lish man of war may have had steam up
and put out to SEQ, by far the safest course.
4 ship we'll out at ser is safe in such gsle;
bat one Of those terrific north winds at Apia
is bound to drive everything that stays in
harbor ashore.
The Trenton was launched in New York
in 1871 She was ship rugged, 253 feet long,
draw 20 feet 6 inches water, and was 3 500
tons displacement, and was very speedy
vessel. She had 420 officers and men aboard
when she sailed from home.
The Vsndais was built at the Boston
navy yard IN 1876 She was 2l6 feet long,
drew II feet inches water, and was of 100
tons displacement. She was rated as II
knot ship. snd carried 200 officers and men.
| The Nipsic was vessel Of the old war
navy, but after six years repairing at tie
Washington navy yard, emerged in 1879 : s
a practically new vessel, little but the old
keel remaining. She was bark rugged, 1S5
feet long, drew II feet 5 inches, and dis.
placed / ,375 tons; che was a slow vessel.
Her complement consisted of $50 officers
and men, making the total strength of the
American feet at Samoa, 500 men.
The Olga had 267 men, the Adler 1871 men
and the little Eber 81 men, yet with one half
of the number of the American forces these
vessels seem to have lost more than twice
az many men. Naval officers think this is
an indication that the American vessels had
or Straouth fhop ba