Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-04-15
THE SAMOAN STORM.
Survivors Of the Wrecks at Apia
Arrive at San Francisco.
THE DETAILS OF THE DISASTER


Could Not Ride out the Most violent
and Destructive storm Ever seen in the
south Paelnc-omeera Absolved nom.
BIame.
SAN Francisco, April Is. The
steamer Alameda. from Sydney, n. S
W.. brought to San Francisco anumbei
Or survivors Of thenaval disaster at Apia
Samoa. The mails she brought give the
details of the terrible affair From the
story it appears that our men-of-war had
their engines working during the hur.
ricane, but even steam power seemed tc
be useless, except in the case of H.M.S.
Calliope.
A letter dated Apia, March 80, says
sIhe most violent and destructive hur.
ricane ever known in the South Pacific
ocean passed over these islands on the
10th and 18th of March. and as a result q
fleet Of six war ships and ten other yes
sells were ground to pieces on the coral
reefs in the harbor, or thrown on the
beach in front of the little city Of Apia
and 142 officers and men of the American
and German nayies were drowned.
.sThe force of the storm was never
eqlalled in this part Of the world before
The wind began to blow on Friday after
noon, March Is, and continued until
Sunday morning. The rain fell IN tor
rents during the whole time and great
clouds of sand swept over the town.
Hundreds of people stood on the beach
and watched the awful spectacle i'm the
harbOr. The vessels all had full head OF
steam and three or four anchors out.
Their yards and t0pmasts were down
and every precaution was taken to insure
the safety of the ships, but the wind
constantly shifted. from northeast and
northwest. The force was so great that
the vessels dragged their anchors all over
from one side of the bay to the other and
came into collision dozen hmass Tre-
mendous seas broke over the decks and
torrents of water rushed down the hatch
ways aud1put out the fires. There was
great confusion among the men on sew.
eraI Of the vessels early on Saturday
morning, but the officers did noble work.
and the men became orderly and at.
tended to their duties bravely in the face
of danger. Persons on shore were
p0werless to render assistance to the
ships. Hundreds ran to the waters edge
and stood in the binding storm watch.
ing the great vessels pitch about on the
wave or drift on to total destruction
against the reefs. The sea broke upon
the reef with roaring sound and
washed far up ON the beach. carrying
with Il great quantities OF swreckage.
The watchers on shore were submerged
time after time, and many were injured
by the floating wreckage.
ssThe United States frigate Trenton.
flagship of the Pacific squadron, which
arrived here from Panama on March II
lies within a stones throw of the Ameri.
can consulate total wreck. Her hull
rests on the bottom and Is fast going to
pieces. The Nandalia, which arrived
from San Francisco on Feb. %, il
sburied out Of sight between the Trenton
and the shore. Her shattered forenlasl
and smokestack rise from the water to
mark the spot where she went down be.
fore the awful torrent of water which
swept four officers and thirtv-nine men
from her decks and rigging. Her com.
mander. Capt. C al. SchOOnnalxer. was
among the first who persisted in the
waves. The Nipsic lay for several davs
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 davs after
the storm. and is the only war ship a6oai
IN the harbor
| Il THE ADMIRAL STUCK TO HIS SHIP.
| i Additional advices say the admiral
commanding the American fleet was the
last to leave the Trenton. his flagships.
| The Americans. officers and sailors
hyere alike clad ii sblue jacket mil.
form, that being the only sort of cloth.
ing accessible after their trying expert
ence. Admiral Kimberly sail he con
sidnred faulty construction Of the Tren.
/ tons hawspipes as Indirectly the cause
| cf her wreck. Within few DAYS after
the storm q condition of things resem-
bling order had been brought about
| The marines and Mataafas police had
been actively at work in this direction.
The safes Of the Trenton and vandalia
had been recovered, together with 4 con.
/ siderable quantity of other property
| from the wrecked vessels.
+ The Germans and Americans held
| memorial services at different dates .f..,
/ the dead At the German service Ad.
nairal Kimberly and other Ainericar
/ officers attended.
Only about one-f0urfh Of the bodies
have been recovered. Some of then
/ were badly mutilafed. II was difficult
/ 70 Identify them, or even to tell the ma.
| tlonality. and il was finally determined
/ 70 bury all at one spot together
/ Ihe lnEernIents were nale.as speedily
| as possibly. owing to the extremely hol
weather. Some Of the bodies. including
that of PaYmaster Arnaes wers wrapped
IN samoan mating for burial q BODY
thought 70 BE- that OF Capt. Schoon
haaher. was found l1p the coast som.
miles distant from the immediate scen'
Ok the disaster