Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-22

Srecial Correspondence Of THE EvESISG STAR.
APIA, CPOLC. SAMOA, March %. 1889.
Political intrisues, diplomatic maneuvers.
jealous dissensions and chickering's incident to
Samoa and its government. are absorbed and
forgotten in tie overwhelming calamity that
has fallen like thunderbolt upon the vessels
Of-war o. two great nations and sent message
OF death to many happy homes on both sides of
the Atlantic
On the 18th instant the steady fall of the
barometer, the dark clouds that ominousIy
began 10 mass themselves in TIE northwest. the
increasing of the usually gentle swell in the
harOOr. were sufficient indications of another
such gale occurred on the 18th of Feb
ruary. and referred to i'll the last Samoan letter
10 IHE STAR. No one. however. anticipated
the violence of the hurricane that was to burst
upon the devoted vessels riding so quietly at
anchor.
FIRES WERE LIGHTED
and steam raised on all the men-of-war in the
harboT. These were seven in number-the L.
:. 5. Trenton. the flagship of the Pacific squad
ron; TIE [. 5. steamers Vandalia and Nipsic:
the German war ships Adler. Olga, and Eber
and the English corvette Calliope. There were
also numerous merchantmen and small craft in
the bag. The small harbOr was necessarily
crowded and the swinging room was confined
1libtiStibUt TIE 43IA the weather remained
moderately Tranquil. but with threatening in
hc@t.ons from the northwest and occasional
r&ln-5GGalIs. BY O'Clock at night the wind
and sea had increased to such an extent that
the war ships were obliged TO steam ahead to
prevent dragging. BY O'Clock on the morn
lEg OF the 10th every ship was steaming at full
speed 70 their anchors and some were piung-
ing wildly in the heavy sea. About this time
one of The barks went upon the reef, and was
dashed to pieces. The first man-of-war lost
TIE GERMAN GUNBoAT EBER,
which was anchored Immediately in the rear
OF the Nipsic. At about $50 she went upon the
reef astern of her and it is supposed blew up
CD striking. as fragments of her were after
ward found IL various places along the beach
Either the boilers or dry gun-cottOn are sup
posed TO be the cause o. the explosion. But
one officer and Tour men were saved; the re-
malnder OF her crew, seventy-tiye in number,
persisted.
TIE ADLER.
short time after the Eber struck the Adler
went upon the reef little distance above her
10 the westward. So great was the force with
which the Adler struck that she was east far
upCn the rect ON her beam ends and her posi-
ton shows the strength and ferocity of the
gaze IL seems Incredible that any one on this
III lated ship should have been saved. and vet
she lost but twenty men. Her complement was
about one hundred and sixty. The officers and
men chung to her lee side. her bottom being a
baI~ark between them and the angry serf. On
Sunday morning, tine 18th. they were rescued
tTOa their peTiiOus and uncomfortable posi-
ton. where they had remained for twentv-four
hours. Capt. Fritze, the commander of the
German force here, although badly injured,
refused TO be removed until all of his officers
and men had preceded him.
THE L. $. S. xIPsIc.
The Nipsic had been riding comparativelv
until nearly mn oil
obliged TO steam rapidly ahead 10 avoid the
ram of the Eber ut her stern. In one of these
eEdt Svors TO escape thrust FROM the Eber she
ran down and sunk the English schooner Iily
which was anchored ahead of her. II was after
ward ascertalned that Capt. Douglas of the
LILY, escaped by jumping into the chains of the
Olga IS his sinking craft floated rapidly past
her \ citlzen named Ormsby and a native
were drowned from the Lily At $40 the big
German corvette Olga tOuled the Nipsic on her
port side, carrying away the steam launch
whale-bOat and second cutter, steering of the
smOkestacA and cutting away all of the main
Raging except two stays. which were FORUM
a'ely sufficient to prevent the mainmast from
FALLING.
1t was intensely dark, and the noise Of the
big stack laundering around the deck. the
crashing OF tllnUeTs and spars, the shrieking of
the gale and TIE hoarse shouts of the men ySera
blended III an appalling chorus Steam at once
commenced 70 fall on the loss of the SNAKE
n
gines were kept going until the longed-for dav
EGht should appear. As a last resort salt pork
was USED ;1s fuel IN the fires. and the engines
Kept IN motion. When the welcome day an
Peared II was evident that the Nipsic couid no
longer stand the terrible strain and To 90 npon
the coral reef. whose frowning edges were now
starthnSly near. meant death to the crew Tha
Olga still followed her ike an ayenging Nena1
Sis, and threatened again TO ram her every in
slant All that skill. ingenuity and eyneri
enee could suggest had been tried in vain and
at about Z o'clock her chain was Skinned tLa
helm put hard over. and the brave little shin
ran hard upon the sandy beach i'll front of the
the United States consulate. She grazed the
point of the reef, which carried away her stern
post and rudder
The cold rain, driven by the bowling blast
cut like hail the skins of the haIf-naked crew
anu many were almost benumbed with the cold
The surf was tremendous. but most Of the crew
succeeded by various methods in gaining the
shore. aided by the natives. who. clustered on
the beach. did valiant service in saving life
Seven poor fellows were drowned and among
the number was young Geo. W. Calan. a Wash,
lngtou boy. who was much liked and respected
Tor his brave and manly disposition.
The Z. S. 5. yANDAIIA
was the most unfortunate of our vessels At q
O'Clock she dragged her anchors and drifted
between the Caliiope and Olga. coming into
collision with both The Calliape's bow struck
her tremendous blow on the stern. doing
CONSIDERABLE damage. Both the CaIliope and
Nantsha. after their collision. CONTINUED IN
urn together toward the reef. when suddenly
.ie '"iloPe slipped her remaining chain and
va seen 10 De surely yet slowly forging ahead
toNaru me entrance OF the harbor She was
eNiuehtS steaining out to sea in the teeth of