St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-31
THE HARBOR OF APIA,
ReefBound and Subject to Cy
clones-.-Descripti of the Yes

ReefBound and Subject to Cy-
clones---Descriptio of the YES
sells.
WASHINGTON, March 3O.-Capt. Self
ridge, q. S. n, was found at the navy
department this morning, poring over
chart of the harbor of Apia, which he
visited several years ago. He said that
while it was very bad harbor,
it was the best on the island of Upola.
Like all of the Pacific island harbors,
that of Apia is formed by coral reef
encircling the island at short distance
from the shore. The anchorage space
available for men-of-war is con-
tracted, being about 1000 feet
wide at the mouth of the harbor.
The bottom is sandy, affording
slight hold for an anchor, and the har-
Dor is exposed on the north. On each
side of the entrance are coral reefs,
which are awash at high water and are
surrounded by shoals. The depth of
water ranges from four to eight
fathoms, pretty deep water being found
close in-shore, which would enable a
ship to get close in.
HURRICANES OR CYCLONES
at Apia are usually from the southwest,
and revolving in the harbors tend to
force vessels on the rugged reefs or
rough shores. The last hurricane oc
Cured at Apia just six years ago. Fort
unately no men-of-war were in the
harbor, but every merchantmen was
driven ashore or wrecked, houses
were destroyed and palm trees
uprooted. 1t is the opinion
of Admiral Harmony, who is also
familiar with the Samoan islands, that
the English man-of-war owed her escape
to the fact that she had steam up and
was enabled to push out to sea. The
number of vessels lying in the small
harbor was a source of danger to them
Individually, for if one dragged her
anchors she would probably collide with
and carry away another ship, which
might otherwise have held securely.
The news of the disaster created
A PROFOUND SENSATION
at the navy department. Everybody
from the secretary down freely eX-
pressed his regret. Secretary Tracy
could not see cause to condemn any one.
The officers in command of the vessels
were competent men, and had doubtless
adopted all proper precautions against
disaster. but these hurricanes which as
sumed cyclOnlc proportions were simply
irresistible. as proved by the extent of
the loss of vessels. Lieut.. Lucien
Young, who is himself almost the sole
survivor of the wreck of the ill-fated
Huron off Cape Hatteras, looked sadly
over the list Of the drowned, and
marked down poor Roche, the pay
masters clerk. as an old shipmate
gone. The department of state
was without official news of
the wrecks until a copy of Admiral KIM
berly'S dispatch was sent over from the
navy department at the request of
Walker Blaine. In the navy depart
ment it was noticeable that while the
line officers mourned for the men lost,
the bureau officers had an equal regret
for the ships. Naval Constructor Hych-
burn, who is acting as chief of the con-
struction bureau during the illness of
Commodore Wilson. said: 1.-THE Tren-
ton, which was Admiral Kimberly's
flagship, was
THE BEST WOODEN VESSEL
in the American navy, and the best
ship of the old navy. The Vandalia
was another fine vessel, and had been
thoroughly reftted in the Mare Island
navy yard, at considerable expense,
Just before she sailed" Engineer Off
GERS recall the fact that the
Trenton, which is set down as hay
ing a speed of 12.6 knots. when
in the Red sea, astonished the English
men by easily running away from crack