The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-04-18
SAMOA'S GREAT STORM.
THE HURRICANE THAT WRECKED
THE GUNBOATS AT APIE.
Fearful Scenes Witnessed from the Shore
as Ship After Ship Succumbed to the
Tempest-Sufferings of the Men Borne
HerOicalIy

Fearful Scenes Witnessed from the Shore
Tempest-Sufferings of the Men Borne
Heroically.
[Apia (Samoa) special1
The hurricane which passed over the
Samoan Islands March 10th and 18th
was the most violent and destructive
storm ever known in the South Pacific.
The loss to life and property was very
great. The United and Germany alone
lost l42 lives and $3,000,O0O worth of
property. Six warships and ten other
vessels were dislodged or driven ashore.
OF the American gunboats the Trenton
lies near the United States consulate
and is fast going to pieces. The Wanda
liza is buried out of sight between the
Trenton and the shore. Her shattered
foremost and smokestack rise from the
water to mark the spot where the gallant
vessel struck and lay for twelve hours
before the awful torrent of water swept
our officers and thirty-nine men from
her decks and rigging. The Nipsic lay
for several days alongside 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 a few days after the storm
and is the only warship afoat in the
harbor. She lost five men by the swamp
ing of boat, and two others who
jumped overheard were drowned.
It was on the little German gunboat
Eber that the greatest loss of life occur
red. She had complement of six off
GERS and seventy-six men. Five men
were ashore during the storm. When
the vessel struck the reef she sank COM
pletely out of sight, and minute later
there was not vestige of her to be seen.
Every man on board was lost except one
officer and four sailors. The German
corvette Olga suffered less than any of
the other vessels. The British ship Cal
Hope was the only one that escaped She
having very powerful machinery, put to
sea. All the other vessels had a full
head of steam on and three or four an
chors out, but before that awful storm
they were like toys in the hands of gi-
ant.
Many of the sailors became drunk
soon after they got ashore. But the
officers rallied them and the injured
were cared for. The natives rendered
every assistance, Americans and Ger
mans being treated alike. The damage
on shore was also very great. Houses
were unroofed and blown down and trees
and fences were thrown across the streets
so that passage was almost blocked.
All the vessels weathered the storm
through Friday night, but all had
dragged their anchors. A little after 5
o'clock the first rays of dawn broke upon
the scene and to those on shore revealed
spectacle not often witnessed. The
position of the vessels was entirely
changed. The wind, which was blow
ing from the northeast, had swept
them from their former moorings, and
they were all bearing down in the direc-
ton of the reef. Black smoke was pour
ing from their tunnels, showing that
desperate efforts were being made to
keep them up against the wind. Their
decks were swarming with men clinging
to the masts or any other objects. The
hulls of the war-ships were tossing about
like corks. One moment the vessels
seemed to stand almost upon their
beams end and the next instant their
sterns would rise out of the water and
expose to view the rudders and rapidly
revolving propellers. Then the huge
prows would be lifted high in the air,
only to plunge into the next wave and
deluge the ships with a torrent of water
1t was then seen that the vessels were
doomed and they soon succumbed to the
fury of the tempest.
Soon the Adler came ashore and she
was followed by the Nipsic. Most of the
men on the latter were got ashore on
hawser which the natives made fast.
The British ship Calliope was still in
the harbor. She was lying near the Van
dalia and collision between the two
seemed certain. The Calliope was nearer
shore and her bow was close to the stem
OF the Vandalia. Greet waves were toss
ing the two vessels about and they were
coming closer together every minute.
Suddenly the great iron prov of the
rose high in the
air on the crest of an enor-
nous wave and came down with
full force upon the port quarter of the
Vandalla. The crash was awful. The
jib- boom of the Calliope was carried
away and the heavy timbers of the Van
dalia were shivered. Every man who
stood upon the poop-deck of the Van
dalia was thrown from his feet by the
shock. A hole had been torn below the
rail and the water rushed into the cabin.
It seemed that the Vandalia had received
her death blow and the men rushed up
the matches in the belief that the steamer
was sinking, and it was only after great
effort that the officers persuaded them to
return to their posts.
Just after this collision Capt. Kane of
the Calliope determined to make an
effort to steam out of the harbor, as he
saw that to remain in his present posi-
ton would lead to another collision
with the Vandalia or throw his vessel on
the reef. He accordingly gave the order
to let go all anchors. The Calliope's
head was swung around to the wind, and
her powerful engines were worked to
their utmost capacity. 1t was an anxious
moment on board the corvette, as with
her anchors gone, she had nothing but
her engines to depend upon to keep
her off the reef. The steamer seemed
to stand still for moment, and then
the rapidly revolving propeller had
its effect, for the vessel moved up slowly
against the great waves, which broke
over her bows and flooded her decks
from stem to stern. Clouds Of black
smoke poured from her tunnels and
fresh coal was thrown into the furnaces.
All her great power was used in the des-
perate struggle against the storm. She
seemed to make her Roadway at first
inch by inch, but her speed gradually
increased nntj1 If hacama avidapt che