New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-14
THEAWFUL SAMOAN STORM.
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low water west Of the men-of-war. The Trenton
and vandalia had the most dangerous bsrths In
the harbor, while the position Of the Nipsic was
considered safest
For q FEW days preceding the hurricane, the
weather was cloudy and the barometer had been
steadily falling, but one anticipated the STORM
which began on Friday afternoon. BY IL o'clock
at night the wind had increased TO gale and
nearly all the warsbips had their engines working
to- relieve the stra& upon their anchors The
crews on most Of the sailing vessels threw out
extra anchors and then went ashore. The RAIN
began 20 fall at midnight and the wind increased
In fury. Great waves were rolling in from the
open ocean and the pitching Of the vessels was
fearful Every man was kept at work. The
Eber began to drag her anchors at midnight and
an hour later the vandalia's were also dragging
However by using full steam-power they both
suooecded in keeping well of the reef and away
syorn The other vessels. The wind blew stronger
and stronger and the rain fell in torrents,
NIGHT FULL OF TERRoRs.
By o'clock the situation had become alarm
inR Nearly every vessel In the harbor was
dragging anchors and there was imminent danger
Of collisions A panic began to break out
among the men on several of the vessels and they
were kept ut their posts with the greatest diff
emily. On the shore the bowling of the wind
among the trees and houses and the crash OF
faIfinQ roofs had aroused many persons from their
beds and figures were soon grouping about the
streets looking for some spot OF shelter nom
thss tempest. The tide was coming In rapidly,
and waves were washing all over the street.
hundred feet above the usual high.water marx
The spray was thrown high in the air and beat
into the windows OF houses nearest the snore'
Rasn fell Ind sieet and men and woIhef who were
wa4acrinr ~ sb8N in the storm shielded
shesr sfacess With small pieces of " board
ar = suy other article that coun be
used as a protection against the wind and sano.
m. natives seemed TO realize more than any one
elsa thar the storm would result in awful destruc-
zion. People gathered in little groups and peered
ont into the darkness across the SEQ Of fosming
waters.
Through the blackness of tho night could De
seen the lights Of the men-ofw ana even ABOVE
the rushing and roaring Of the w1nd ana waves
The shouting of officers and men on board came
family across the water and struck terror to the
hearts of all who listened. 1t could be seen that
the vessels were dragging, as the lights were NOV
ina slowly in different directions. and apparently
crossing and recrossing each other. Every moment
Il seemed as though two or more Of the great war
&hIUS were aDOuU 10 Julio oShSeNSNs ~~ N~~
watchers on the beach waited in breathess anxiety
10 hear the crash Of the collision ana TO see tne
vessels 20 down to destruction.
A little after o'clock the first rays OF dawn
broke upon the scene and revealed spectacle
NOT often witnessed. The positions Of the vessels
were entirely changed, the wind, which was dow
ing from the northeast, had swept them rom
their former moorings and they were all bearing
down, in tho direction of the reef. Black smoke
Vas mourning from their tunnels, showing that
aeapsrate efforts were being made TO keep them
nm AGAINST the wind. The decks were swarmins
with men clinging to masts or any other OBJECT
where a hold could be obtained. The huls OF
the warships were tossing about like corks. One
hou,ent the vessels seemed almost to stand upon
thejr beam ends and tho next instant the soerhs
,v.u,d raise out of the water and expose to view
she rudders aud rapidly revolving wopelera
Thea the prows would be lifted high IN the ar
only 70 plunge into che next wave ana aeiugs
the sbsps with q torrent Of water several sn,s =
a.i1iug vessels had already gone ashore IN o"e
vsstcrn Part Of the bay. The Trenton ana van
daIis. being further ont from shore than She oener
hips. were almost obscured by the nnnoins ms'0
Tbe vessels most plainly visible were the Eoer'
81. Aaler and the Nipsic. They were clsse To-
retber and only few yards on from the mel.
THE Distribution VI AZ 1A'A''
The little gunboat Eber was making desperate
struggle for life, but every moment she was Delns
drawn nearer and nearer the reef. her 200" ""s
certain. Suddenly she shot forward as II making
last struggle TO escape destruction. lhe eurreh''
ho,yever. bore her of to the right. and her Prov
struek the port quarter OF the Eipsie. The shock
caryitd away several feet of the Eipsies rail and
oue heat The Eber then fell back and fouled
,vfth che OlQa but neither vessel sustained much
damage by the collision. The two collisions, now
aver had checked the Ebers progress, ana sac
seemed unable TO make any further effort TO save
hevsnN She swung around broadside to the wlnd
End drifted slowly toward the reef. Awful seas
broke over the little vessel and forced her on to
xeytrastion. In moment great wave rolled i'll
toward shore; the Eber was lifted high on Its
crest and carried broadside on the reef. She came
down with great force, and in an instant there was
net . vestige to be seen. She struck fairly upon
her bottom. rolled over toward the open SEQ and
disappeared from view. <>
Every timber OF the gunboat must have been
shattered. and half the poor wretches aboard her
crushed 70 Death before they felt the waters
clastpo above their heads. Hundreds Of people
srere on the beach by this time. and the work of
destruction had occurred in full view Of them all
TbeT stood for moment appalled, by the awful
seene. and then cry Of horror arose from the
lfrs az every man who had seen nearly hundred
az his fellow creatures perish in an instant
Then with one accord. they al rushed 70 the
waters edge nearest the point where
*as Eh<rs khsd foundered. "a The natives
ran .8intoerthe surf far beyond the point
wters q whitsgman could hsvesli~sa, and stood
,s3ttng 70 ave any poor creature who might
de from the wxter. There was no thought OF
the war between Germany and Samoa. There
was no ssgn u snmity against the people who
carried OF their king and banisAed him on q
bonsly isle thousand miles from his native land.
The savage forgot the oppression which civilized
peopls placed upon him, and he now held out his
hsnd 70 save human life, caring little whether
n was THAI Of g friend or foe. At first tt seemed