The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-04-04
Terrible Disaster ON the Coast
of Samoa.
Two American and Two German Men,
of-War, With If0 Officers and Men
Cast Away and Wrecked
ON the Reefs.

~s away "hu
ON the Recfs.
AUCKLAND, March 80, lSS9.-Secretary
of Navy, Washington: Hurricane at Apis
March Is. Every vessel in harbor OF
shore except the English man.of-wal
Calliope, which got to sea. The Trenton
and Vandalia are total losses. The Nip.
sic IS beathed; her rudder is gone; she
may be saved; chances against it; will
send her to Auckland if possible. Van.
dalia lost four officers and 80 men, in.
cluding Capt. Schoonmaker. All were
saved from the Trenton. The Trenton
and Vandalia crews are ashore. The
| Nipsic's are on board. All the stores pos
sible were saved. The German ships Alder
and Eber are total losses. The Olga was
beached, and may be saved The German
losses are 96. 1t is important to send
300 men home at once; shall cnatter a
steamer Can charter one in Auckland.
Liet. Wilson will remain in Auckland to
obey your orders. Fuller accounts by
mail (Signed) KIMBERLEY.
HOW THE VESSELS SANK.
LONDON. March 30.-Further partic-
ulars of the disaster and storm at Apia
have just been received. The hurricane
burst upon the harbor suddenly. The
German man-of-war Eber was the first
vessel to drag an anchor. She became
unmanageable, and was driven helplessly
on the reef which surrounded the harbor
She struck broadside on at 6 o'clock in the
morning. The shock caused her to lurch
and to stagger back, and she sank in
moment, in deep water. Most of the
men wera under matches, and scarcely a
soul escaped.
In the meantime the United States
steamer Nipsic had been dragging her
anchor and drifting toward shore. The
captain, however, managed to keep con-
troll and ran her on sand bank. Boats
were Immediately lowered and the whole
company were saved, with the exception
of six men who were drowned by the
capsizing Of a boat.
The German war ship Adler was the
next to succumb. She was lifted bodily
by a gigantic wave and cast on her beam
ends on the reef. A terrible struggle for
life ensued among the officers and sailors
ON board. Many p unged into the raging
surf and struck out, some reaching shore
in safety; Others clung to the rigging un-
til the mast fell. OF the latter, two
gained the shore in safety. The captain
of the adler and several other officers
were saved.
The United States steamer Vandalia
was carried before the gale right upon
reef. She struck with terrible shock
and the captain was hurled against a
Gatling gun and stunned. Before he
could recover great sea swept the deck
and washed him away. The vessel sank
80 yards from the Nipsic. Several of the
officers and men were washed overheard
and were drowned. Others perished while
making desperate efforts to swim to shore
Some remained for hours clinging to the
rigging, but the heavy waves dashed un-
ceasingly over them and one by one they
were swept away. By this time night
had set in. Many natives and Europeans
gathered on the shore, all anxious to
render assistance to the wrecked vessels
and the unfortunate crews, but darkness
having fallen on the scene they were
wholly unable to be of service. Soon
after the Vandalia had sunk, the
American war ship Trenton broke from
her anchorage and was driven upon the
Vandal!a, whence she drifted to shore.
The bottom of the Trenton was complete
ly stove in and her hold was half full of
water. As morning broke the German
Olga, which had hitherto
oravely withstood the gale, although
much bal tered by heavy seas that con-
stantly broke upon her, become unmana-
geable and was driven ON the beach in a
favorable position. Following
S a record of officers and men lost:
Eber, Captain, and all officers exc ,pt
)ne and rs men.
Vandalia, Captain, four officers and 40
nen.
Nipsic, seven men.
Adler, altogether Is persons.