The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-21

The wind by this time was blowing with
hurricane force and the seas were very
heavy. The ship had begun to take water
during the early morning. The hand
pumps were manned and all bilge pumps
In the engine.room put on. The water
gained and threatened 10 put out the fires,
the greater part OF ii seeming 10 come in
through the hawse pipes, which are sit
uated on the berth deck. Every effort
was made to step the entrance OF water at
this point by jamming in bedding and by
putting moulding on the chains and by
veering into the hawse pipes. II could be
checked in this way but not stopped, fer
the violence OF the seas was so great that il
would force back everything opposed TO it.
All hands were set to baling and the
handy billy rugged, but by $50 o'clock Il.
In. the fires had been put out and the men
driven up from the fireroom. Work at
the hand pumps and with the buckets
continued from this time throughout the
gale with the hope Of being able TO relight
the fires and keep the ship aaoat.
a little before noon the Callope was
seen TO be very uneasy at her mornings,
and soon she steamed toward us, having
parted or slipped her cables, and making
an effort TO 90 out the harbor. She came
near colliding with US, and steamed out in
the face OF the hurricane. In the after
noon, the wind having hauled q little, the
flagship was more unsteady at her moor
ings and parted two chains, one soon after
the other We then driited over toward
the eastern reef, escaping the wreck of q
merchant bark by the mere chance OF her
dragging as we approached her We
driited until our stern was almost against
the reef Destruction seemed imminent,
as the vessel was within few feet OF the
reef for long while and pitching heavily.
We driftod in this position along the reef
for considerable distance until we came
to where IL turned more toward the east
ward. Here we found smoother water and
our remaining anchors seemed to hold quite
well for time. This position, however,
put us directly in the hawse Of the Olga,
which vessel had ono OF the smoo,hest
bcrths in the harbor at this time. She
was riding well and had control OF her en-
gines. Efforts were at once made 10 hcaye
over the cight-inch rifle gun from the fore
castle 10 assist in holding, but il could not
be done In time. We slowly drifted upon
her, and she avoided us twice by skillful
use OF helm and engines, but soon another
sea cut into our quarters, first on one side
and then the other, carrying away our
boats, rigging and quarter gallies, but not
essentially injuring the hull.
During all this time the officers OF tho
flagship made every effort 10 manage her
by the storm sails and putting men in the
rigging. We drftcd by the port side. OF
the Olga and across 10 the western reef,
dragging the anchor aud failing now on
the western reef rs We had before done on
the stern. Some OF the wrecked vessels
were now IN plain sight-Nipsc, well in
shore on good bottom, stem 10 the seas;
Nandaia sunk against the reef, masis
standing and tops and rigging filed with
men; spray and surf flying 10 their mast
heads; Eber no where 10 be seen; Adler
on her side high on the reef. The Olga
had turned for shore and going ahead
under steam and sail, was bcachcd on
good bottom and In a good position 10 the
seas. All this time the gale was blowing
with undated fury. Abou. o'clock we
were expecting 10 strike the reef momen-
tlrily. II was directly under our stem,
but on the eastern side an undertow OF
current seemed TO carry us along the reef
and keep us Just clear OF striking Thus
VIC camo on 10 where the Nandala was
lying and Il was evident that our stem
would soon strike against her port side
As VIC approached her rockets were fired,
carrying lines, with the hope OF res.
cuing people on her mas.s. This
proved very successful and the men
from the main aud mizEen masts
were rescued first. Soon after We struck
the Nandalia with violence and her main
and mizzen masts went by the board. We
then swung gradually and settled into a
position alongside OF her, just touching
the bottom and our stern grazing a small
wreck and tho reef. The men were rescued
from the forcmast OF the Nandalia and
thence on during the night we continued
10 beat the bottom and against the Van
dalia with great force. The wind during
this Saturday night blew with hurricane
force, squall following squat with hardly
any apprcciablc interval. The seas, how
ever, were not 10 high rs they were furth-
CT out and We got through the night with
out additional serious misfortune.
Just before daylight the ilagship was
visited by two boats manned entirely by
natives who carried lines 20 the shore.
This was dangerous work owing 10 the
darkness, 10 the sea and current, 10 tho
reefs aud wrcckagc and TO the difficulty OF
approaching tho Trenton on account OF
tho Nandalia's wreck. Two men were
kept at the pumps and buckets without
cessation, with view 10 hauling of the
ship n possible aud keeping her afoat
when the gallo abated.
In the morning the wind moderated. II
was then hsccrtained that the propeller
was missing. The ship had settled hard
on the bottom, and the water could not be
oil stHNU N In sift..
and rising. Under those circumstances
and In the absence Of any docking facili-
ties or marine railway appliances aud pow
criul pumps, the abandonment Of the ship
became necessary. Stores were gotten up
rs rapidly rs possible, and the people got
their effects ashore. Immediately there
after the crow were set TO work getting out
aud saving from her everything possible.
On Monday the water was up 10 her gun
deck, aud she had settled a little on her
port side. On Tuesday she had settled
moro TO port, and was still lower In the
water.
The Yandalla Is completely submerged,
aud only her foremost aud head booins
showing above the water. The Nipsic IL
lying IN about seven feet Of water at low
tide lriso aud fall four ieet). She would
probably have 10 DO hauled astcrn some
300 feet TO float her at high tide. She lost
her smokopipe; also her Tudder, and her
propeller IL badly damed. Her crew re-
NAMED ON board, and she keeps her
bllgcs free Of water by the steam pump.
have ordered board TO investigate nj
once the possibility Of saving the Nipsic,
anu 10 further investigate and report upon
all circumstances connected with the loss