The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-21
A CADETS STORY.
Young Man who saw 10 All Tells
About the Wreck.

AbDut tue WRECK.
CIScISNPTI, o., April 20.-Naval Cadet
George Logan, son OF Thomas A. Logan,
well known lawyer OF this city, reached
home last night.
"You know" said he, "that there will
surely be court Of inquiry, for the rcgu-
lations call for one even when a ship only
touches bottom. and as we must all, every
man who survived, appear to testify, /
must DO careful what / say. Well, the
Samoan Islands are in west longitude, bui
we kept east longitude time, 30 the dates
OF the storm, as give them to you, the
10th, 10th and 18th, are nearly one day
behind time.
"During the afternoon OF the Nth the
barometer began TO fall rapidly, and by .
o'clock the next afternoon had fallen TO
2920'. An hour later the storm buust
upon US and II began TO blow most violent
ly, the wind being fully forty miles an
hour. II came from north northwest and
shifted gradually around TO north north
east. All the ships In the harbor sent
down their upper spars and either sent
their anchors down or got them ready for
letting go. We all had steam up. Let me
say right here that the hurricane season
there is from December 10 March aud the
indications were such. and there was no
reason 10 believe that the blow would be
OF unusual violence. IL continued 10 blow
very heavy, and nj daybreak OF the 10Th
the German ship Ebcr was about 10 60
ashore. In few minutes she did ~ aud
WIS lifted by an enormous wave and car
ried broadsidc on 10 the inner reef. where
she went all TO pieces in a few minutes
The largest piece left Of her was portion
OF her bow, and that was 80 small that ten
natives picked IL up. OF the seyeniy.iour
souls on board, only one officer and three
men were saved. Four Of her men were
on guard duty on shore and they also
escaped. Another German ship, the
Adler, was the next to 90. She struck on
the same reef and was 'hogbacked.' At
9 o'clock that morning Her Majcsiy's'ship
Calliope, was seen drifting onto the reel,
and II was evident that she, too. was
doomed. She was within n somehow
oil the reef, and had only one anchor left.
Her only possible chance 10 escape was
to slip the remaining cable and try 10
steam out. This she did. II was the last
desperate resort. and was only successful
through the skill Of her commander and
the fact that she was new, modern and
powerful ship. Her engines were put at
a speed that In smooth water would have
driven her fourteen knots an hour Asi
was she was driven against those terrible
seas for over an hour before she got out
side Of the reel. which she barely escaped,
and during that hour she was only forced
one knot. A little mishap would have
caused her destruction. She was two days
at sea and experienced a most terrible
time. She was washed again and again,
los, all her boats, part Of her spaB aud
upper works. A the speed OF no other
vessel In the harbor exceeded ten knots, II
would have been suicidal 10 have
attempted TO drive them out, as was the
Calliope. This explains away the sluB
cast upon the bravery and skill Of our
commanding officers. Tho Calliope, Ia
order to keep 10 the channel In going
out, stccrod direct for the name on the
stern OF my ship, the Trenton, shccring OF
only nj the last moment TO clear her. IL
was moment Of terrible suspense, rs We
saw the huge ram Of the Brilisher towering
over our decks aud making direct for US.
II looks as II she was going TO cut usin two,
and had she done 70 every one Of Us would
have been drowned for certainty. As
she swung OF, almost within touching dis
lance, au involuntary cheer was given her
by our repneyed men, followed a moment
later by three cheers all together After.
ward the Captain Of the Calliope said that
those cheers saved his weasel ~ they put
new hearts into his men who were almost
ready 20 give up. As she shcercd of, Ad.
mirl Kimberly signalled 4 have no fires
as the reason lac made, no attempt 10 get
out Of the way After the storm our Ad.
miral lent boats 10 the CalliOpo 10 coal
with and then gave one 10 hor. In return
the British commander presented Admiral
Kimberly with complete diving apparatus
aud the officers OF the Calliope presented
10 the officers Of the Trenton thirteen
sheep. Aud welcome they were, M We
wero living on canned meats and cocoa
nuts"
THE sbipwreeked sailors.
SAN FRAScisco, Cal, April 20. Tho
steamer Umalilla arrived this morning,
eight DAYS from Honolulu, having on
board LiouL Lewis Ripley and twenty
nine injured men OF the United States
| s,o,r,c,. Vandalia and Trenton, who were