The Delaware City news. (Delaware City, Del.) 188?-18??, 1889-04-04
WRECKED AT SAMOA.
THE TRENTON. VANDALIA AND NIPSlC
LOST.

TERRIBLE SIOhms s-flcli UT AhG
AMERICAN MEN-oF. WARS MEN
DROWNED.
LONDON, March 30.-Advices have
been received from Samoa to the effect
that in terrific hurricane there three
American and four German men.ot-
war were wrecked and that many per-
sons were drowned.
AUCKLAND, March 29.--Despatches
from Samoa state that the American
men-of-war Trenton, Vandalla and
Nipsic, and the Germen men of-war
Adler, Olga and Eber were driven on
reef during violent storm and totally
wrecked.
Of The American crews, four officers
and 46 men were drowned. and of the
German crews, nine officers and 81 men
lost their lives.
WASHINGTON, March 30.-The
cablegrams IN reference to the reported
of-war at Samoa were sent to Secre-
tary Tracy, at the Arno, at an early
hour this morning, and he sent down
word that he had no information on
the subject.
THE LOST VESSELS.
The Army and -NdUy Journal, of
March 23l, gives the following brief
description of the lost American ves-
sells:
Nipsic, 81 rate, 6 guns, Commander,
ID. W. Mullan. AT Apla, Samoan
Group.
Trenton, I'd rate, 10 guns Il. 5. p. s. J,
Captain N. III. Farquhar. Sailed from
Panama January 13 for Samoa.
Vandalia, I'd rate, s guns, Captain
G. NJ. Schoonmaker. Arrived at Apla,
Samoa, February 90, All well.
All the above are screw vessels. The
NIpslc was of 6l5 tous and was built in
1868. The Trenton was 2300 tons and
built in 1876. The Vandalia 93l tons,
and was rebuilt in 1874.
The other officers attached to tine
NipSic were Lieutenant John II.
Shearman, of New York; En3lgns Wm.
2. White, John l.. Purcell, Harry A.
Field and Harry p. Jones, Passed As
sistant Surgeon Il. z. Derr, Passed
Assistant Paymaster John Corwine,
Chief Engineer George W. Hall, Passed
Assistant Engineer Horace h. Frlck
and First Lieutenant Of Marines t.
Glover Fillette.
The complement of the NIpsic was
174 marines and blue jackets, although
some of her short time men were sent
home from the Samoa when the Adams
left for San Francisco in January last.
The executive officer of the Nipsic,
in the absence of Lieutenant Hawley,
was Richard G. Davenport, or, as he Is
better known in the service, ''Dick'
Davenport.
LONDON, March 3I.-Further par.
ticulars of the disastrous storm at Apia
have lust been received. The hurricane
burst upon the harbor suddenly. The
German man-of-war Eber was the first
vessel to drag her anchor. She became
unmanageable and was driven helplessly
on the reef which runs around the
harbor. She struck, broadside on, at
six o'clock in the morning. The shock
caused her to lurch and to staggeI
back, and she sank in moment in
deep water. Most Of her men were
under matches and scarcely soul oi
them escaped.
The German war ship Adler was the
next to succumb. She was lifted bod
lily by gigantic wave and cast on hel
beam ends on the reef. A terrible
struggle for life ensued among tht
officers and sailors aboard. Many
plunged Into the raging surf and struck
out, some reaching the shore in safety,
Others chung to the rigging until the
masts fell. OF those in the rigging
only two gained the shore. The cap
tain of the Adler and several other Of
ficers were saved.
Meantime the United States steamer
NIpsic had been dragging her anchor
and drifting toward the shore. Tht
captain, however, managed to keel
control and ran her on sand bank
Boats were Immediately lowered anc
the whole company were saved with tht
exception of six men. These wert
drowned by the capsizing of boat.
The United States steamer Vandalls
was carried before the storm right
upon the reef. She struck with ter
rlble shock, burling Captain Schoon
maker against Gatling gun and HI
fell stunned. Before he could recover
great wave swept the deck and HI
was washed away with the others int
the sea. The vessel sank 80 yard!
from the Nipslc. Several Of the officer
and men were washed overheard an(
drowned. Others perished while max
ing desperate efforts to swim TO th'
shore. Some remained for hours in tn,
rigging, but heavy and swift succeed
ing waves dashing over them carried
them off one by one.
BY this time night had set in. Man!
natives and Europeans had gathered
on the shore, all anxious TO rende
assistance to the unfortunate crews
but, owing to the darkness. they wer,
wholly unable to be of s,rvice.
Soon after the Vandalia had SUM
the American warship Trenton brok
from her anchorage and was driver
upon the wreck of the Vandalia
whence she drifted to the shore. Th
bottom of the Trenton was completed
stove and her hold was half-full o
water.
AS morning broke the German man
of-war Olga, which had hitherto with
stood the gale, although much battered
by the heavy seas that constantly brok
uyon her, became unmanagable ant
she was driven upon the beech, wher
she lay in a toIerably fair position.
The following is record of the OIL
GERS and men lost;
Eber-The captain and all other Off
GERS except one, and rs men,
VandalIa-The captain, four officer
and 40 men. Nipsic, seven men. Adler
altogether, Is persons.
Mataafa sent number of men to th
assistance of the ships. They rendered
splendid aid in trying to float the Olgi
THE EMPEROR DEEPLY MOVED
BERLIN. March 31.-EmperOr VIII
liam was deeply moved by the news o
lie Samoan disaster. He Immediately
telephoned Prince Henry, and after
ward con erred with Count Won MOltke
Prince Bismarck and others.
DESPATCH FROM REAR ADMIRAL KIM
lERLEY.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., March 3d.
The following cable message was re
ceived at the Navy Department thi