Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-04-04
THE SAMOA STORM.
Suddenness Of the Disastrous Cy.
clone at Apia.
American Losses Amount to Fifty-one-
German Losses Much Heavier-Oueen
Victoria Expresses Sympathy
Mataafa's Noble Work.

German Losses Much Heavier-Oueen
Victoria Expresses Sympathy
Mataafa's Noble Work.
LONDON, April 1.-According to the lat
est particulars of the disastrous storm at
Apia, which have just been received, the
storm burst upon the harbor suddenly
The German man-of-war Eber was the
first vessel to drag her anchor. She be-
came unmanageable and was driven help
lessly on the reef which runs around the
harbor. She struck broadside on at six
O'Clock in the morning. The shock caused
her TO Iurch and to stagger back, and she
sank in a moment in deep water. Most of
her men were under matches and scarcely
a soul OF them escaped.
The German war ship Adler was the
next to succumb. She was lifted bodily
by gigantic wave and cast on her beam
ends o.. the reefs A terrible struggle for
life ensued among the officers and sailors
aboard. Many plunged into the raging
SURF and struck out, some reaching the
shore In safety. Others clung to the rig
ging until the masts fell. OF those in the
rigging only two gained the shore. The
captain of the Adler and several other
officers were saved.
Meantime the United States steamship
Nipsic had been dragging her anchors and
drifting toward the shore. The captain,
however, managed to keep control and
ran her on sand bank. Boats were inn
mediately lowered and the whole company
saved with the exception of six men. These
were drowned by the capsizing of boat
The United States steamship Vandalia
was carried before the gale fight upon the
| reel She struck with terrible shock,
hurling the captain against a Gatling
gun and he fell stunned. Before he could
recover great wave swept the deck and
washed him and others away into the sea-
The vessel sank fifty yards from the Nip
| sic and several of the officers and men
went down with her. Others perished
| while making desperate efforts to swim to
| the shore. Some of the ships company
| tried to save themselves by clinging to the
| rigging, but heavy and swift running
waves dashed over them and one bv one
| they were swept away.
| By this time night had set in. Many
natives and Europeans had gathered on
| the shore, all anxious to render assistance
| to the unfortunate crews, but owing to the
! darkness they were wholly unable to be
| Of service.
Soon after the Vandalia had sunk the
American war ship Trenton broke from
her anchorage and was driven upon the
| wreck of the Vandalia, whence she drifted
| to the shore. The bottom of the Trenton
was completely stove and her hold was
| ua1I Iuli OF water.
As morning broke, the German man of
war Olga, which had hitherto withstood
the gale, although much battered by the
heavy seas that constantly broke upon
her. became unmanageable and was driven
| upon the beach, where she lay in a toler-
ably favorable position.
The following is a record of the officers
| and men lost: Eber-The captain and all
other officers except one, and seventy-six
men. Vandalia-The captain, four officers
/ and forty men. Nipsic-Seven men. Ad-
ler-Altogether fifteen persons Mataafa
| sent a number of his men to the assist
! ance of the wrecked ships. They rem
dered splendid aid in trying to float the
Olga.
THE AMERICAN LOSSES.
| WASHINGTON, March 31.-The following
cable message dated yesterday has been
received at the Navy Department.:
Secretary of Nary, Washington:
Hurricane at Apia, March Is. Every vessel
in harbor on shore except English man-of-war
| Callope, which got to
! Trenton and vandalia total losses Nfpsic
| beached; rudder gone, may be saved. Chances
against it. Will send her to Auckland if pos
| slble.
| Vandalia lost four officers and thirty-nine
men follows: Captain Schoonmaker Pay
| master Arms, Lieutenant Sutton, Pay Clerk
! Roach, Henry Baker, w. Brisbane, William
| Brown, Quartermaster Caspen, M. Cragin, B.
| G. Davis, Thomas G. Downey, M. Ericsson, S.
| c. Gehring, Adolph Goldner, George German, q.
| r Green, Joseph Griffin, E. NJ. Hammeur, John
Hanchett, C.H. Hawkins, w .Howat, Frank Jones,
| George Jordon, NJ. H. Joseph, John Kelley,
| Thomas Kelley, n. Kinsella, c. P. Kratzor,
Charles Kraus, FIR: Lessman, George Menage.
! Aylmer Montgomery, Thomas Riley, H p.
Stalman, c. c. Stanford, John Sims,
G. h. Wells, John Milford, Henry
| Wixted, Ankow, Ankepp, Pendang, Techor
| The Nipsic lost seven men: George w Callen,
|
son, John Gill, Thomas johnson, Henry Pout-
| sell. All saved from the Trenton. Trenton and
| Vandalia crews ashore. Nipsic's on board. All
| stores possible saved.
| German ships Adler and Eber total loss
| Olga beached; may be saved. German losses,
| ninety-six.
Important to send 800 men home at once
Shall charter steamers; can charter in Auck-
| land.
Lieutenant Wilson will remain in Auckland
| to obey your orders.
| Fuller accounts by mail KIMBERLY
Advices received by the naval author
tiles here report that the storm ragged dur
| ing the 18th and 18th instants.
| The Olga was stranded but her crew
was saved.
| Seven merchant vessels anchored at
Samoa foundered.
The following dispatch has been sent to
| Lieutenant Wilson for Admiral Kimberly,
care of American Consul, Auckland:
| Take such steps with regard to Nipsic and
| wrecks and sending men home as you may
deem proper. Full power given you. Monon-
| gahela sailed for Apia February 81.
vICTORIA'S SYMPATHY.
| WASHINGTON, April L-Queen Victoria
| has cabled through Lord Salisbury to the
British legation in this city directing that
| her earnest sympathy be expressed to the
| President Of the United States on the ter
| rible naval misfortune at Samoa and the
| deplorable loss of life Mr.. Edwards, the
| British charge, accompanied by the Secre-
tary of State, waited upon the President
| yesterday afternoon and read to him the
| Queens message. President Harrison ex-
| pressed his warm appreciation and that of
the whole people of the country Of the
| Queens considerate sympathy and prom.
| ised more formal reply through the De-
| partment of State.
Rough on American Lard.
CITY OF MEXICO, March 3L-The Board
| OF Health has pronounced American hard
an adulteration, unfit for use, and pro-