Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-22
Official Accounts of the Terrible Disaster
at Apia.

at Apia.
WASHINGTON, April 2lst.-Secretary Tracy
yesterday received the following letters from
Admiral Kimberly, dated from Apia. Samoa.
The first, written on March 10Th. read
Sir: have to commend TO the Government of
the United States the very great assistance we
received in saving public property from our
wrecked vessels at This place trorn Mstasfa MsI
letoa, who, without any request on nv part
called on me personally and sent some hun.
dreos OF hls men to assist our people in saving
the stores and materials from the wrecks Also
when the Nlpsic and Vandalia went on shore
the natives rlsked their lives to save those OF
our men who enoeavored TO reach the shore by
swimming, and two of them lost their lives by
these attempts. If some recognition of these
services could be made, think it would be ap-
preciated very highly by the Samoans, particu-
larly as they have so generously given their
services, and in two cases their lives, to be-
htend Us. L. A KIMBERLY
THE NIPsIc AFLoAT.
The second communication. dated March
21st, says:
The Nipsic was got off last night. and is now
atioat without rudder or rudder-post Her crew
Is engaged in trying TO get up her chains The
Trenton is sunk, the water coming over the port
side OF the gua-deck at high water. think her
back is broken, she might possibly be freed
from water if we had the proper appliances
powerful steam pumps, etc. She has no rudder,
rudder-post or propeller. and lies with her deck
OF the wreck of the Vandalia, which is to The
shoreward of her. The latter vessel is a total
wreck. She is broken In two, and at high tide
the water rises over her topgallant forecastle
only the foremast is standing.
We are engaged in securing moorings for the
Nipsic and IN wrecking the Trenton and Van
dalia. great deal of what we save might be
sold at public auction to save the expense of
storing and transportation, Our sick and in
jured are doing Well
1t would be well, perhaps, to send wrecking
vessel here later in the season to save the Tren.
tons heavy guns, ammunition, etc.
l have received from Captain Henry c. Kane
OF the Royal Navy diving suit and apparatus
and Will use it for all it is worth. but we ought
10 have another in case of accident to this
hope that the department will not forget
captain Kanes Kindness 10 us in our distress
de commands II. B. NJ. 5. Calliope, which ves-
sci had but one boat. gave to her one of our
ten-oared cutters, but he did not consider il
safe 10 lie here at this season of the year. She
sailed this morning for Syddey where she will
De repaired; she was considerably damaged by
the Olga colliding with her.
Almost every vessel was at one time or
another in collision with some other yes sci, and
great deal of damage that occurred was owing
to this cause
If can save the Nipsic, which can be done if
weather will permit, will send her under con
voy to Auckland to be docked and repaired
Another ship should be sent here for the mr.
pose OF conveying her, as the risk with the i'm
proylsed rudder is too great to send her there
alone. / have still to learn OF the condition of
her machinery and propeller, but shall be in
formed in the course OF few days Very re-
spectfully your obedient servant,
L. A. KIMBERLY.
letter from Commander D. w. Mullaa
of the Nipsic. addressed TO the Secretary of
the Navy, states that all the boiler power
was used on the 10th of March during the
violent hurricane.
THE ADMIRAL's REPORT.
Admiral Kiniberly's official report is
quite voluminous. Il gives the details of
the disaster.
The Admiral says that the indications of
bad weather appeared during the forenoon
of Friday, March 18th, and at o'clock he
commenced preparing to meet the gale by
sending down the lower yards, housing
topmasts, lighting fires and raising steam.
He refers to the fact that most of the water
| came into the flagship through the hawse-
pipes. The Admiral says that all efforts to
prevent this failed, owing to the force of
the waves driving out everything used to
stop them. The Admiral gives list Of the
dead and then continues:
During the entire time Captain Far
ouhar showed great care and good iudg-
ment in handling the ship through the ter
rifle gale, and never left the bridge. He
was ably seconded BY his executive and
navigating officers, who did all in their
power to save the ship. In fact, as far as |
could observe, all the officers behaved ex-
tremely well under the trying circum-
stances, and performed their duties cheer
fully, effectively, and as we'll as could be
desired. This disaster is to be classified
among the incidents and accidents insepar-
able from the prosecution of duty in the
naval service. Its magnitude, however
gives it distinguishing feature which,
fortunately, the service is rarely compelled
to witness. Captain Farquhar has de-
manded a court of inquiry. No disinter-
ested officers are available here. therefore
respectfully refer the entire matter to the
department, and if further investigation
is deemed necessary l should be pleased to
have court of inquiry ordered.'
SAILORS BRAVERY.
A letter was also received from Com
mander SHOEMAKER, who was lost at Apia.
dated February cd, commencing the
bravery of seaman named Froye in saw
ing from drowning fellow-seaman named
Humphrey, and recommending that Froye
be rewarded.
Also letter from Captain Farquhar,
dated January 18th, reporting the death of
Pay Clerk Alexander from yellow fever
caught at Panama before starting for Sa-
mOa.
A batch of other mail matter was re-
ceived, including The pay-rolls of the
Trenton.