Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-02
THE NAVAL DISASTER.

-
 Scarcity of Coal the Probable Cause of
 the Wreck-Why our Vessels Did Nos
 Put Out to Sea-A Connecticut Survi- vor.
 The Hartford Courant has interviewed Cap tain Francis N. Bunce, U.S.N., of that city,
 who was we'll acquainted with many of the
 lost officers of the il1-fated United States
 ships at Samoa, many of whom were dear personal friends of Captain Bance. The cap. tain "threw considerable light on the absorb ing question as to why the English vessel got to sea safely while the United States ships | stayed in the harbor and were wrecked. The Trenton, he said had just arrived from Peru, some 4, 900 miles distant, and the Vandalia was just in from the Sandwich Islands, 2,5OO miles away. The latter had @ small eoal- carrying capacity anyway, and the distance travelled by the former would of itself be enough to exhaust it's supply. When 1t Is remembered that both vessels were under urgent orders to reach Samoa at the earliest possible moment it will be seen that they
 must of necessity be out of coal and unable | in consequence to get up steam and make
 their escape. The English ship, on the con- trary, was fresh from coaling station and 1 so saved herself. Of course,' said Captain Bunce, this is only an inference. It is but natural to suppose it happened so, however, as what possible advantage could the English man of.war have over her fellows except the coal?
 ''In reply to the question as to what warn- ing the vessels could have had, Capt. Bunce had the following to say: The barometer would probably have given warning at least three hours in advance of the approach of the hurricane, and yet it would not follow \ that storm of dangerous character would necessarily be expected from such fall of | the mercury as doubtless took place. Of ! course it would be impraetieab1e to get up steam every time the barometer fell, even if they had sufficient coal.'
 Whenkasked why Admiral Kimberly took such chances in such . dangerous season of the year. especially when a safe harbor, that of PaRo Pago, was at hand, Captain Bunce said that the German feet was at Samoa and there our vessels had to stay. Admiral Kimberly he continued, Twas Q lieutenant on the Germantown in 1857 when was 8 midshipman on the same vessel, and know him intimately. He cannot be held account able for this calamity, ss it could not have been foreseen. He is known throughout the service as an able, skilful, cool man, 8 thor- ough seaman and as gallant fellow as you could find. None of the papers seem to have remembered that he was second in command of the flagship Hartford during the capture of New Orleans, the passage of the forts at Port Hudson and the battle of Mobile. He was the executive officer, position core spOn0lng to what IS now called nrst Iteut6n- ant. Capt. Schoonmaker, one of the drown ed, was fsllow-student with me at the An nspolis academy, and was also we'll ac- Guainted with Paymaster Arms of Norwich, who is among the lost.'"
 CAPTAIN HUNTINGTON.
 Captain Robert W. Huntington of the United Sta tes marine corps, son of the Late Judge Samuel Huntington of Hartford, was captain of the marines on the ill-fated Tren- ton, All on bo.srd were saved. The experi- euce must have been of the sort that seldom falls to a man more than once in lifetime. "Bob" HunsingtoN, as he was familiarly known, was one of the early members of the Hartford City Guard, and was appointed lieutenant in the United States marine corps in the summer of 1861, soon after the com mencemant of the war. He has two sons who make their home in Hartford, one being at present in Yale and the other in Trinity college.
 HARVESTER FRANK H. AfMS-
 Frank H. Arms of the Vandalia was na tive of Connecticut. His father was the Rev. Hiram P. Arms of the First Congregational church of Norwich. He was promoted to be in 1871 and joined the Vsndalis May 12, 1884, He leaves 8 widow and ehil- dren at New London. His brother, Rev. ". F. Arms of Terryville. was formerly stationed aA