New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
OPINIONS At THE NAVY YARD
WHAT CAUSED THE CATASTROPHE
TALKS WITH VARIOUS oEEroEss MoREpE LESS


not only be idle would be cvuel in the absence of
an shcial report from those who the actors IN
It How was It that the British war vessel Caliiope
escaped, while the three American vessels and the
three German war vessels were wTeckedf was the
question asked yesterday by great many Of those
who had only looked upon the disaster from super
hcal point Of view. Because the callope had steam
UP and Immediately went to sea- was the reply
Why did not the other vessels take warning and get
up steam, too, and put to soar was another Ques
ton. This was answered by officers at the Navy
Yard, who said that these storms came up without
giving any warning, and IT IS probable that the Cal
Hope was about to go to sea on cruise anyway and
therefore had steam up.
Was tho disaster caused by one Of those terrific
hurricanes so common among the Navigator and tho
Friendly Islands, from December untn April or by
tidal wayei Those Navy officers who recall the great
tidal wave along the coast Of Peru In 1868 when the
storeship Fredona literally smashed pieces, and
when the doubleender wa,eree carried inland
mile from the coast where she yet remains and whom
the sloop Of war Monongahela was 50 badly damaged
that she had to be lowed San Francisco, and when
the whole town Of africa was laid in ruins and
hundreds Of people drowned, inclined TO the
belief that pAe disaster at Apia was also caused By
tidal wave.
Captain Joseph N. Miller, executive ofBccr at the
Navy Yard, who was attached 10 the Powhatan at
caIao In 1885, the vessel that took $4,000 in silver
africa sufferers, suggested possible tidal wave, and
other officers echoed the same thing Nevertheless,
they did not think improbable that hurricane could
cause such havoc. Although tho harbor Is Of good
size yet, like Key West Hsrbor It has ceral bottom
which IS not good anchorage ground. rhen, too
long low point OF land is 1t she westward or leewaTd,
SIDE Of the harbor ard extends out into It, and from
It's point coral and rocky resf extends Eve miles TO
seawsrd On February IA moderate hurricane visited
the hasbor of Apia Daring which the American bark
entine Constitution ives driven ashore and became
total wreck Everything possible was done to save
her, and Ensign white, Of the Npsc, rescued her
crew.
SCARCELY 10 BE BE1IEvEDe
Listie credence was placed by the officers at tho
Navy Yard In the first news of the destruc-
ton Of the Trenton, ysndalia- and Fipsc'
sdn, the apprehension they felt was disclosed py
the eagerness with which they sought 10 obtain every
bit Of news and talked the matter over necessarily
among themselves Later, when It was learned 'hat
the Navy Department had received confirmation Oh
the report there was deep sorrow depicted on the
countenance of every ocer, for NOT only were they
officially acquainted with the officers on the three III
fated vessels but in many instances they had been
shpmates with them on cruises in some Of the squad
rons or at some naval station, and In this
association had formed friendly relations with them
OF the many officers at this station
only two or three had ever been at
samoa and these could not account for such terrific
STORM. Commodore Ramsay, commandant ut the
Navy Yard, said:
az should not place much oredenoO I'm the report
OF the loss OF six vessels at Samoa in one storm
but for the report that the Navy Department has
confirmed the news. The Navy Department must
have some means Of knowing the Truth about tho
matter, and hence must DO 30. 1 have never been
IN Samoan waters except IN sailing past, and hence
know nothing Of tho weather there 1t seems
almost impossible, however, that suoh thing could
happen unless there was q tidal wave or something
OF that kind. There has been some question aoont
the Calliope needing the warning Of the approaching
hurricane and escaping 70 sea think that whatever
10 Yves, tidal wave or hurricane, 1t Gene mp
without any warning and took the vessels unawares
That the CaIiiope went to sea was, no doubt CIR
c,instanee an incident Of good fortune. She probably
was going cut for scruise. and had steam up hore
Is another circumstance which some people WI
ponder over and discuss, namely: tho drsvng ashoro
of the Mpsie, with only the loss Of her rudder ana
few light damages II Is said that she viii probably
be got OF and made good for service That Is very
lkey as II Is not an impossible thing 10 haul vessel
of nom a oorsl beach. How do account for the
Trenton and vAndana and other vessels being toIay
destroyed Simply that they broke adrin nom neiF
moorfnRs and were bumped into each otner WIKI
tremendous and destructive force recall peculiar
case In one way Ike this disaster. 10 was The eS-
ncrisuce OF the British wership DIDO. Twice. on
two separate cruises and in the same neshhorhood'
aha was dismasted. But / really mourn for the
officers aud men who have lost their IVES
ascboonmaksr knew we'll We were never ship
mates hut we have been in The same squadron' he
was q man to be proud Of moving can S0'uH
Cor his being lost He was short and stout, ou'
vou,ht,,i and supple In movement Paymaster<Arms
was general storekesper at the Naval Academy when
WAS In command there. Ho was splenaid ienoW
and had 9 pleasant family. Lieutenant satson 4
knew slightly He was one OF the INST Ns'ai osuo,s
n he appointed 10 the Marine Corps what vosSs.
on,a 90 send thcre7 Well, there's the hohcan' ~
n.nsu. She girl probably be ordered to Samoa *
oo.o The Monong ahela, now on her way therc,
.toreshIp only, Tho Alert, now ~ honolulu
,,,sht 90 there and the Adams and Iroquos arc now
be,ne fitted out at Mare Island AZ present. nv.
svor the available Pacific Squadron Is tpe Aol'
-, Ne Is possible that the Boston and Chlceso
1, he ordered TO the Pacific, and il uey Afo "'0A'~
,hav could be got ready in three weeks
STORMS THAT ARE STORMS
c,,,.t engineer AlIenlsaid was in Samoan waters
%, ssyeral months, and all that time the Wser ws.
e.,n, ana beautiful and there were no sVPnns. NV
80, 4. M Indication that such storm As INC Oiio
'ns ..r,d NOT occur for often In those parn
~ .r..,ber win be beautiful for long nmer pu'
-. !. storm does come Il Is storm. ana sweep,
800 hefore IT, This storm reminds mo tnat
sA.,.Iv AFTER the war we had seorcshp ~ N4 s'.
.s,,ch was cast on shore sotA wfecA ~ 49,
Tser, was Also number OF years ago. ..o.rn
tose parts which incllnes me 70 talnh .". .S ' "s
which caused the wreck OF 'hSSe
thing moro after that nnd.' =, ,n..tino
,.s nsuslas one Of the Junior officers In spSaAns
=, a.. r.nort said. In July, 1s1l, was ~ t ~
$50 IN Tsht and about o'clock IN the evening
- s.le came up which lasted until sunrise, ou'
a.h.,,y,sa know nothing OF storms ~ N'o' -'S
4 tS,ok however. that they are rafe| 49,. ana, :.
'.saA' ..s Iosenh NJ Miller the executive omoer ~
I. e. ssa.', va commanded tho sioop-ofwf Tus-
-. - tha Pacific squadron, and was at samoa n
,sT4 TIE said Fortunately, nsver snpe'lcncsa
aoH .,.s hurricanes 30 frequent In those parts
vns oI 'n0s snaw something OF them from hearsay.
when ne report OF the terrible disaster si Os@U
could not believe IT, tor tho reason sno 4 from Some enc
- Tho climate OF the islands Is whae
on ue SURVIVES and there s much bad weather,