Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-04-21
bottom and against the vandaIia with

bottom and against the Vandelia with
great force.
The wind during this Saturday night,
blew with hurricane force, squall follow.
ing squall, with hardly any sppreciable
interval. The seas, however, were not so
high as they we're further out and we got
through the night without additional se-
Iious misfortune. Just before daylight
the flagship was visited by two boats man
ned entirely by natives, who carried lines to
the shore. This was dangerous work, ow-
ng to the darkness, to the sea and cur.
rent, to the reefs and wrecksge and to the
difficulty of approaching the Trenton on
account of the Vandalia's wreck. The
men were kept at the pumps and buckets
without cessation with view to heaving
off the ship if possible and keeping her
afoat when the gale abated.
AFTER THE STORMS FURY.
In the morning the wind moderated. 1t
was then ascertained that the propeller
was missing. The ship had settled hard
on the bottom and the water could not be
reduced. 1t was up to the engine room
platform and rising. Under these circum-
stances and in the absence of any decking
facilities or marine railway appliances and
powerful pumps, the abandonment of the
ship became necessary. Stores were got
ten up as rapidly as possible and
the people got their effects ashore
Immediately thereafter the crew were set
to work getting out and saving from her
everything possible. On Monday the
water was up to her gun deck and she had
settled little on her port side. On Tues
day she had settled more to port and was
still lower in the water.
The Vandalia is completely submerged,
only her foremost and head booms show
ing above the water. The Nipsic is lying
in about seven feet of water at low tide
rise and fall four feet. She would prob
ably have to be hauled astern some
500 feet TO float her at high tide.
She has lost her steam pipe.
Also her rudder and propeller is
badly damaged. Her crew remain on
board and she keeps her bilges free of
water by the steam pump. 1 have ordered
a board to investigate at once the possibil-
ity of saving the Nipsic and to further in
vestigste and report upon all circumstances
connected with the loss and damage of the
vessels by the gale. The report of this
board will be forwarded by the first op-
pOrtunity after its receipt by me. The
crews of the Vandalia and Trenton are in
barrack on shore.
THE CALLIOPE's LOST.
The Calliope steamed into the harbor
this morning showing signs of having ex-
Derienced heavy weather. She goes to
Sydney as soon as possible for repairs, and
through the kindness of Capt Vane her
diving outfit has been turned over to Us,
and it will be of great assistance in saving
stores. l co Amend his services to the de-
partment, and trust they will be regarded
as worth of recognition. Lieut. Wilson
goes to Auckland to report the catastrophe
to the department by cable and to charter
a steamer to take to San Francisco the
Vandalia's crew and others of the squadron
who are sick and disabled. By the
Calliope l send duplicate dispatch to
Sydney to be forwarded by the United
States consul to the department. I have
received the most valuable assistance from
Mslietoa Mataafs, who has sent large
number of his men to help in getting
stores and publc property from the ships.
The Calliope when she went out of the
harbor carried ninety pounds of steam,
making seventy four revolutions, and then
was just able TO make headway against the
gale. And when outside, during period
of four hours, she made no headway, her
engines running at full speed.
The Admiral then gives a list of killed,
which does not differ from that sent out
by the Associated Press last week.
Every respectfully,
"Your obsdient servant,
81. A. KIMBERLY,
"Rear Admiral U. S. N, Commanding U.
S. Naval force on Pacific Station"
Two letters from Admiral Kimberly sc-
company the report. The first makes men
tion again of the gallant conduct of the
Samoan natives and Capt. Ksne's kind
ness, and asks that these be properly ac-
knOwledged In the second, under date
April 81, Admiral Kimberly says: ''The
Nipsic was got of last night, and is now
afloat without rudder or rudder post, and
her crew is engaged in trying to get up her
chains. The Trenton is sunk, the water
coming over the port side of her gun 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 slightly inclined to seaward. She lies
alongside of the wreck of the Vandalia
which is shoreward of her. The latter
vessel is total wreck and broken in two,
at high tide the water rises over her top
gallant forecastle. Only her foremast is
NIPsIC AND TRENTON.
The commanders of the Nipsic and
Trenton both made reports to Admiral
Kimberly, which he subjoins. They add
nothing in particular to published &C
counts of the wreck.