Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-26
sAMOA's GREAT STORM.
THE HURRICANE THAT WRECKED
THE GUNBOATs AT ApLeA.

Fearful Scenes Witnessed from the Shore
as Ship After Ship Succumbed to the
Notwithstanding Of the Men Borne
Heroically.
tApia Samoa specially
Inc 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 $3,0C0,OO0 worth of
property Six warships and ten other
vessels We're dislodged OF driven ashore.
VI the American sunboats the Trenton
lies near the United States consulate
la 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 Law
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
hanled OFT few days after the storm
and Is the only warship ahoat in the
harbor. She lost five men. by the swamp
ing of boat, and two others who
| jumped overheard were drowned.
| 1t was on the little German gunboat
Eber that the greatest loss of life occur
red. She had a 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
4 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 OF four an
chors out, but before that awful storm
they were like toys in the hands of a gil
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 s
o'clock the first rays ofdawn broke upon
the scene and to those on shore revealed
a 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 mornings, 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 clingine
to the masts or any other objects. The
hulls of the war ships We're tossing about
like corks. One moment the vessels
seemed to stand almost upon theil
beams end and the next instant thei
sterns would rise out of the water ant
expose to view the rudders and rapid,
revolving propellers. Then the hug
prows would be lifted high in the ai1
only to plunge into the next wave ant
deluge the ships with torrent of water
It was then seen that the vessels wer,
doomed and they soon succumbed to tn,
fury Of the tempest.
Soon the Adler came ashore and she
was followed by the Nipsic. Most of the
men on the latter We're got ashore on {
hawser which the natives made fast
The British ship Calliope was still il
the harbor. She was lying near the Van
dalia and collision between the two
seemed certain. Tho Calliope was nearer
shore and her bow was close to the stem
of the Vandalia. Great waves were toss
ing the two vessels about and they were
coming closer together every minute
Suddenly the great iron prov of the
Englishman rose high in tn.
nous wave and came down will
Vandalia. 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 NJ
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 unlS COLLISION CapC. Name VI
the Calliope determined to make al
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 OIL
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 We're worked to
their utmost capacity. 1t was al 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 a 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 until it became evident she
could clear the harbor. AS she passed
abreast of the Trenton great shout
/ +i,o