Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-22
BEFORE AND AFTER THE GALE

until the 10th, when she again returned to Apia
unlnJured, save the loss of her bowsprit and
few boats.
The Vandalia meanwhile continued to drift
toward the reef. and her captain seeing no
hope for his ship. headed her toward the sandy
beach where the Nipsic Law. Unfortunately
she went too far to the southwark and struck
the reef. whore she quickly filed and sank her
bow being about 100 feet from the stern of the
| NIpslc. The waves broke over her with great
violence. and her captain was among the first
to be washed away. All hands took to the rig
ging. where they remained for twelve hours in
a most agoniz1ng position, and with constantly
decreasing numbers, as one after another suc-
cumbed TO numbness and fatigue, gave ND their
hold on the rigging and were imme diateIv en-
quilted i'll the angry torrent below. Many per-
lshed IN an attempt to reach the Nipsic living
so near them. bu. the surf was such that it
formed a veritable whirlpool. dragging to death
those who cast themselves upon its treacherous
snow-white bosom. Forty-three officers and
men were lost from the Nandalia.
THE FLAGSHIP TRENTON.
Probably the most sorrowful sight witnessed
on this sad sad day, was that of this noble
frigate. slowly bat surely drifting to her doom.
Early Ill the morning she had lost her rudder.
and her bride ports were broken in: great seas
came rushing through these openings and the
hawse pipes. pouring down into the fire-room
and quenchlnG the fires. Al day long without
steam or rudder she drifted around the harbor
saved from wreckage only by the skillful ma
nipu!ation OF her sails. At o'clock the Olga
and Trenton. III spite of strenuous efforts to
prevent it, came into collision. The Olga struck
the Trenton violent blow or the quarter
opening large breach, and causing other dam
age. The Olgas bowsprit and portion of her
stem were carried away. On clearing each
other the Trenton continued to drift slowly to-
ward the reef, on which her stern struck at
about o'clock. The men were ordered into
the rigging so that the wind might blow the
vessel alongside of the Vandalia, in order
to rescue the perishing men cinging in
the rigging. As the TrentOn's crew went aloft
a ringing cheer went over to the VandaIia 10
assure them of speedy deliverance. which was
Ieebly answered by the exhausted sufferers
The feat of laying the Trenton by the side of
the Nandalla was successfully ACCOMPLISHED
Lines were shot from the Trenton into the Van
daiIas rigging, and the men quickly removed,
ana none too soon, for scarcely had the last
man crossed the line than the Vandalia's ,niz-
2en-mast went over with great crash All were
safely landed from the Trenton bv boats the
following morning. The Trenton lost no men
by drowning. but in the morning when the
brldle-ports were bursted III q walking-chuck
struck ward-room boy. named Jos. AfeWIett.
on the head, killing HIM instantly.
THE OLGA
This vessel, which had proved so disastrous
to her sister ships in the harbor, went upon the
beach short time in advance of the Trenton.
She probably owes the comparatively advan-
tageOus position in which She was beached and
the lives OF her crew. to Capt Douglas the
pilot, and master OF the schooner Lily which
vessel 1t VIII be remembered. was sunk by the
SlpsIc. and from which Capt. Douglas made
MS miraculous escape TO the Olga The Olga
Was landed upon fine sandy beach, where she
now lies IN an easy position. unaffected by the
rise or faIi OF the tide. She can probably be
hauled off i'll a comparatively serviceable com
dluon. No lives were lost on this vessel.
SAMOAN BRAVERY.
Many lives were saved by the untiring efforts
of the Samoans. At daybreak of the 10Th King
Mataafa sent down to Apia several hundred of
his brave warriors. who. under the direction of
their chiefs, rendered invaluable assistance
these bold and fearless swimmers, accustomed
TO the sea. and familiar with all of the mvs-
terles OF the treacherOus surf from boyhood
plunged unhe5itatingly into the boiling tide
and snatched many fainting and exhausted sail
ors from the grasp of death. and bore them in
their strong arms IN safety to the shore. Two
OF the Samoans were drowned in their humane
endeayors to take line to the perishing crew
OF the Nandaila. With characteristic magma
nlmlty, King Mataafa, forgetting all that he
had suffered from German aggression. in
structed his men to render succor to friend and
foe alike. and these orders were strictly obcyed
Many father. mother, brother, sister and wife
owe the safety of their loved ones to the efforts
gratitude to them will be hard indeed to repay.
AFTER THE STORM
The scene after the gale was mechanically
one. The beach was strewn with wre ckage of
every description. OF the six fine men-of-var.
representing the navies of two great powers
hye OF them lay upon the beach shattered and
broken, and only remnants of the other were
TO be seen, scattered along the shore. Not a
vessel was left III the harbOr. The destruction
was awful and complete. Yet the waves now
play1ully Tapped the beach. the sun plinted
brightly on the merry little riplets in the bav.
and one would not have suspected the terrible
wrath OF elemental fury that had so lately api-
tated IT'S now peaceful bosom were il not for
the sad evidences around him; the absence of
familiar faces, and the crippled and suffering
forms, clad IN nondescript raiment, that
hObblcd through the streets, or were to be seen
lying in the hospitals
The Adler, Eber, yandaiia, and Trenton are
total wrecks, as are also the bark Goddeffroi.
barkentine Agur. schooner Lily. schooner
Upolu. cutter Fituan. schooner Tafua. and mn
saved.
TIE NIPsIc AGAIN AFLoAr
AFTER survey OF the bottom of the Nipsic.
by divers from II. u. S. Calliope, it was de-
cided to float the ship again if possible. Re-
sldes the loss OF the rudder and rudder most
and part OF the stern post and shoe. the diver
- ~ th' propeller blades curleQ over and
1ne lalse Keel gone, also portion of the stem
ne Nipslc Is sprung III many places and some
oi the main deck carlins are split King
Ma'aafa untiring in his zeal to serve Amerf,
cans, sent down large force of men. who
alded by the Nlpsic's crew, succeeded i'm yet
ing the ship atioat on the morning OF the Dist
Anchors were picked up and the ship moored
IN the harbor near her former anchorage All
i - ou sue ana ACTIVITY IN getting the ship back
. .i per oid shape. 1t is said to be the inten
tion' IN case temporary rudder can be at
taehed, 10 send the vessel to some port prob-
aoIy Honolulu or Sydney. for repairs. The
cost OF repairs to the Nipsic. from a superficial
estimate, could not be less than $50 doc and
IL Is doubtful II 1.-The government would be will
ing TO expend this sum and be unable bv sncb
expenditure to restore the ship to her primary
recent appropriation of Congress gove
Sloo,oc0 Tor the improvement of the harbor of
fahSo-fango and to erect necessary BUILDINGS
Tor coaling station. In the Nipsic the coz
ernment would have Just such a depository for
coal as II would require, and the Condition nj
the vessel would warrant its conversion 10 that
purpose. II ~