Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30

mandant of the Washington navy-yard, who
commanded the q. s. s. Narragansett in the
Samoan waters in 1872 and made the original
treaty or compact which has led to all the sub
sequent complications with Germany, the fol-
lowing description of the weather in the harbor
of Apia is obtained The harbor of Apia in
Upolu, where American and German ships are
reported wrecked, is a coral reef harbor, with
an entrance about / 500 yards wide and open to
the north. 1t is not large harbor and the an
chorage ground is limited. During the hurri-
cane season, which lasts through December,
January. February, March, and April, it is con-
sidered rather risk to remain in Apia, while
Pango Pango in the neighboring island of Tu-
tulla, Is perfectly safe, being land-locked and
otherwise sheltered. Hurricanes are, how
ever, not very frequent at the Samoan Islands,
though they occur regularly at the Tonga
group. They generally sweep up through the
belt of ocean between the Tonga and Samoan
groups.
In April, 1850, and in January, 1870, the
islands were visited by terrific hurricanes
which destroyed the cocoa nut, banana, and
bread fruit crops, reducing the natives to the
verge OF starvation for several weeks. These
hurricanes are often accompanied by earth
quakes, which though alone do not cause much
damage yet accompanied by the hurricane
make terrible injury.
On the 26th March, 1888, all the vessels in
Apia harbor except one small schooner were
driven out to sea and lost. This was attributed
at the time to number Of heavy tidal waves
caused by an earthquake. On shore consider
able damage was done also.
But on the whole the climate of Samoan
islands, though variable, is very pleasant, the
only bad weather occurring during the winter
months. At this time there are long and
heavy rains attended at times with high winds
and northerly gales, but ordinarily the winds
are light and variable, with frequent and sud-
den squalls Of wind and rain. The rest of the
year the weather is very fine, and from May
to November the trade wind blows steadily
from the southeast.
The telegraphic report of the loss Of the
ships of the American and German fleet makes
no mention of the English man-of-war previ-
ously reported there also. She may have had
steam up and have put at once to sea-by far
the safest course under all the circumstances
Except Capt Mullan Of the Nipsic it is not
known that any of the American commanding
officers had ever had any experience in these
islands or knew of the risk attending the at
tempt to ride out hurricane in Apa harbor.
CAPTAIN sELFRIDGE on SAMOAN HURRICANES
Captain Selfridge. U. S. n, was found at the
Navy department this morning porting over a
chart of the harbor of Apia, which he visited
several years ago. He said that while it was
a very bad harbor, it was the best on the island
of Upola. Like all of the Pacific island harbors,
that of Apia is formed by coral reef encircling
the island at a short distance from the shore
is contracted, being about 200 feet wide at the
mouth of the harbor The bottom is sandy.
affording slight hold for an anchor, and the
harbor is exposed on the north. On
each side of the entrance are coral
reefs which are awash at high water, and are
ranges from to fathoms pretty deep water
being found close in shore, which would enable
a ship to get close in. Hurricanes or cyclones
at Apia are usually from the southwest. and re-
volving in the harbors, tend to force vessels on
the rugged reefs or rough shoals. The last
hurricane occurred at Apia Just six years ago.
Fortunately no men-of-war were in the harbor,
but every merchantmen was driven ashore or
wrecked; houses were destroyed and palm
trees uprooted.
IT is THE OPINION OF ADMIRAL HARMONY,
who is also familiar with the Samoan
Islands, that the English man-of-war
owed her escape to the fact that she had
steam up and was enabled to push out to sea.
The very number of vessels lying in the small
harbor was source of danger to them individ-
ually, for il one dragged her anchors she
would very probably collide with and carry
away another ship which might otherwise have
held securely.
EXPRESSIONS OF REdRET
The news of the disaster created profound
sensation at the Navy department, and every
employe, from the Secretary down, freely ex-
pressed their regret. Secretary Tracy could
not see cause to condemn any one.
The officers in command of the vessels were
competent men and had doubtless adopted all
proper precautions against disaster, but these
hurricanes, which assumed cyclonic proper
tons, were simply irresistible, as was proved
by the extent of the loss of the vessels
Lieut.. Lucien Young, who is himself almost
the sole survivor of the wreck of the Inflated
Huron off Cape Hatteras, looked sadly over the
drowned
Roach. the paymasters clerk, as an old ship
mate gone.
ONE OF THE BEST SHIPS IN THE NAVY.
Capt. Howison, at present the president of
the steel inspection board, CON-
manded the Vandaia before
Capt. Schoonmaker. He considered that the
Vandalla was one Of the strongest and best
ships of the old navy.
THERE WAS RUMoR
that Secretary Tracy had received a
dispatch from the Maritime exchange OF
New York giving confirmatory particulars
, OF the wrecks at Apia, but dwelling
more In detail on the losses of the Germans
Inc Secretary stated to STAR reporter that he
had not seen nor heard OF such dispatch
COST OF THE ADMIRAL's DISPATCH.
! At the rate Of $3.50 word, which is under.
stood to be the tariff for cable dispatches from
Auchland TO washington, Admiral kimberley
dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy cost il
| the neighborhood Of $3.50.
1t Is expected that the detailed reports o.
the wrecks will reach San Francisco by the
steamer Of April IS, and will be received here
about the Goth Of April.
| ASKING FOR INFORMATION.
| kilograms were received at the Navy depart
ment from Mrs. Schoonmaker, Mrs. Arms, ant
Mrs. Sutton (mother Of Lieut.. Sutton)
asking for information about tn,
wreck. They were told of all that the depart
ment knew. John Roche, editor of the Bosto,
Pilot, the brother of Paymaster's Clerk Roche
was informed Of the latter's death.
| CYCLONES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
Lieutenant Edw. E. Hayden, retired, il 1,
charge Of the meteorological division O
the photographic Office, and is regarded a
quite an authority on the subject of marin
storms. He said this afternoon that the cycloni
storms are feature of the climate in Tia
South Pacific region. They have q motion
exactly the reverse Of those occurring Il
the northern hemisphere, but otherwise hay
about the same characteristics. Their path
parabolic and they occur several times q YEA
| on some occasions. II again happen
that two or three seasops oo hv r;tb ut -