The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1889-04-04

OIUCcfS III COuHlduu vi Iuc ScSpci
were competent men. and doubtless |;
adopted all proper precautions
against disaster; but these huiri
canes which assumed cyclonic pro-
portions were simply irresistible, as
was proved tby the extent OF the
loss of vessels.
The Trenton, which was Admiral
Kimberley's flag ship. was the best
wooden vessel in the American
navy, and tire bes, ship IN the old
navy. The Vandalia was another
fine vessel and had been thoroughly |
retitted in The Maryland navy yard
at considerable expense just before
she sailed.
Engineer officers recall the fact
that the Trenton, which is set down
as havirg speed OF l2.6 knots
when IN lhe Red sea, us.omshed the
Eng'ishmea by 9 silly running away
from crack vessels OF their fl. ct
rated at 1 4 and 16 knot vessels
She Nas launched IN New York in
1877 1T the navy yard. She was
ship rigeei. 253 teet long, As feet
beam. 206 draft, was 5000 tons
displacement, or about 500 tons
more than the Boston and Atlanta
She had 430 officers and men aboard
when she sailed fiom horle. The
Vandaiia was built al the Boston
navy yard and launched in 1877.
She was 2i6 feet long, 80 #. beam.
17.3 draft and 2100 tons displace-
ment. She was rated as n - knot
ship and carried zoo officers and
men.
The Nipsic was a vessel Of the
old war navy, but after six years
repairing at the Washington navy
yard sho emerged IN 1879 us a prac
lically new vessel, little but the
old keel remaining. She was bark.
rugged. 185 feet long. a5 feet broad, |
drew 14.3 feet. displaced 1875 tons
and was slow vessel as thinl s |
now 20, being set down as little !
over 10 knots in speed. She sailed
away from the United States with
$50 officers and men aboard. maxi
Ing the total strength of the Ameri.
can fleet at Samoa 500 men, nearly |
double the strength of the German
forces. The Olga had 267 men.
the Adler 1913 men, and the little
Eber 81 men; yet with one half the
number of the American forces
these unfortunate vessels appear to
have lost more than twice as many
men. Some naval officers think
this is an indication that the Anne
rican vessels had greater structural
strength than the German ships, or
that superior seamanship was
shown.
Further particulars of the dlsas
ter at Apia have just been receiv
ed. the hurricane barstnp,n the
harbor suddenly. The German
man of war Et=r was ihe first ves-
sci to drag her anchor. She bel
came unmauageab.e and was driy.
en- helpless'y o.. the reef which runs
around the haroor. She struck,
broadslde on, at 6 O'Clock in the
moraing. The shock caused her 10
lurch and to stagger buck. and she
sank in u moment III deep water
Most of her men were under matches
and scarcely soul of them escaped.
The German war ship Adler was
the next to succrmb. She vas
lifted bodily by gigantic wave
and Cast on her beam ends on tho 4
reef. A terrible struggle for life
ensued among the officers and sail
ors aboard. Many plunged in the
raging surf and Struck out, some
reachIug the shore in safety. 9th
ers c!uns to. the riggings in the
masts OfiLosc in the rigging on !
y two gained the shore. The cap
.aIn Of the Adler and several other
ifficers were saved. Meantime the
United States steamship Nirsic !
had been dragging her anchors and
drifting towards the shore. The
captain, however managed to keep
control and ran her On sand bank F.,
Boats were Immediately lowered
md the whole company We're saved
With the exception Uf six man. who
we're drowned by the carsizing Of a
Dat.
Tne U. S. steamer Vandalia was
arrled before the gale right upon
he reef. She struck wi,h terri 4
,le shock. hurting the captain !
gainst q Gatling gun sn! he fell {
tumhed. Before he could recover !
great wave swept the deck ard J
Washed him and others away into \
he sea. The vessel sank fifty =
ards from the Nipsic and several :
f the officers and men went dnxn
.ith her. Others perished while
making desperate e4orts to swim
o the shore. Some of the ships
ompany tried to save themselves
" cllnsing to tho rigging, but
Isavy and swift running waves :
l.ished over them and enc by one
hey were swept away. By this
lme night had set in. Many ma
ives and Europeans had gathered :
n the shore, all anxious TO sender
ssistance TO the unfor, innate crews.
ut owing to the darkness they
7cre wholly unable to be OF service. >
Soon after the Vandalia had sunk
be American war ship Trenton
roke from her anchorage and was ~
rlvcn upon the wreck of The Van I
aha, whence she drifta,l to shore. &
he bottom of the Trenton was (
stove and her hold was {
alf full oi' wa'ec. &
As morning broke the German =
an Of war Olga, which had M,h-
to witbstood tho gale. although
nch bait cred by the heavy seas a
lat constantly broke upon her, &
came unmarageahe and was s
iven upon the beach, where sho =
y in q tolerably favorable posi- 81