Morning journal and courier., 1889-07-08
NEWS FROM SAMOA.

S1XtY.Ntne survivors OF the Ehuff1cane
Sail for San Franclsco-The Nipsic
Taken to Honolulu for Repairs-Ad-
miral Kimberly Relieves Captain
mullane of His Command.
| copyrighted, 1889, by the New York Associated
Press,l
APIA, Samoa, June %, 1889, per steamer
Alameda, San Francisco, July THE
Oceanic steamer Alameda touched at Apia
and took away nine officers and sixty men of
the United States frigate Trenton who were
left here when the steamer Rockton sailed
for San Francisco last month with 450 sur
vivors of the hurricane. Admiral Kimberly
and his two staff officers, Lieutenants Ritten-
house and Merriam, and five men will remain
in Apia. The admiral states that the de-
partment had probably issued orders under
the impression that the United States man
of-war Alert was here, but as there was no
American war vessel at Apia now he did not
care to abandon the place entirely.
The admiral intends to remain here
until the arrival of the American
man. of-war, when he will probably use
her for flagship. As soon as mail
had been received Lieutenant Graham, the
officer in command, went to the barracks and
read dispatch to the men announcing the
fact that they were to return this week.
When the Alameda arrived to-day the men
and baggage were placed on board. In q
few hours a number of natives boats went
out to the steamer and hundreds of natives
stood on the shore and gave the American
sailors parting cheer. During the last six
weeks the Samoan Islanders have offered a
period of quiet such as has not been known
for many months. The native parties vir-
tually declared q truce early in May, and
since that time the political situation of the
country has assumed a peaceful aspect.
The only man. ofwar here is the German
gunboat Wolff, which arrived here from New
Zealand June Is. The Nipsic, the only
American vessel saved from the storm, has
gone to Honolulu for repairs, and under the
convoy of the Alert two ships left here for
Auckland May 9,but in six days they return
ed and Captain Mullane of the Nipsic and
Captain Green of the Alert reported that af-
ter going $50 miles they had deemed it In
I'D visable to proceed further. The Nipsic's
rudder broke and she became practically nm
manageable. The rudder was repaired, but
the vessels made such slow progress that
there seemed to be no probability of their
reaching Auckland before the last week in
May, at which season severe weather might
be expected off the New Zealand coast.
Captain Mullane desired to proceed If
the line officers of his own ship. None of
the Nipsic's officers desired to return and
they expressed willingness to accept the risk
| of encountering bad weather. Captain Null
| lane, however, believed it would be 1mpossi-
BILE to lower boats from the Nipsic in case it
became necessary to do 80, and there seemed
| to be some danger that If the vessel met with
| rough water she would lose her rudder en-.
| tirely, and then be swept into the trough OF
l the sea and roll over. Captain Mullane ac
cordingly gave orders for the ships return tc
Apia. Admiral Kimberly expressed consid.
cradle displeasure at the return of the Nip
| sic and the Alert after having gone $50 miles
and reproved Captain Mullane for his 40
ton.
Captain Mullane asked to be relieved OF
his command. The admiral at once detach.
ed him, and ordered Lieutenant Commander
q. w. Lyon of the Trenton to take command
of the Nipsic. He also issued orders for tn
ships to go to Pagopago, and take on coal
and proceed to Auckland. The Nipsic ant
the Alert sailed for Pagogago within few
hours after their return here. The orderi
were afterward changed and Honolulu wa
made the destination of the ships, instead O
Auckland. The vessels sailed from Pago
psgo for Honolulu June l.
The regular mail schooner which runs t.
Tutuila every month to connect with tn
Oceanic steamers to and from San Francisc,
failed to meet the north bound steame
Zelandia which passed May 25 and conse
quently no mail left here for America an
Europe. Last month Captain Mullane hat
| gone to Tutuila on the schooner to take tn
| steamer for San Francisco but he wa
left at Leone, a small settlement. on the Isl
and for month to wait for the next eteame
to pass. Chief Engineer G. w. Hall, of tn
| Nipsic, who was Ill with dysentery, was de
tached from his vessel by the medical board
; He was also left at Leone to wait for tn
June steamer, but died on the 10th instant
His home was at Syracuse, N. Y.
During the last two months there has bee
practically state of peace between the ne
tive parties. Mataafa wrote to Tamasese ex
pressing desire that peace be proclaimed
y Tamasese replied that he was willing to sto
| fighting for the present, but declined
make any negotiations for perm,
nent peace until the result of the Berlin col
ference should be learned here. Mataai
abandoned his Notifications early in Ma
sent his men home and moved to the easter
D end of Apia. He stated he desired to sho
r Admiral Kimberly and the American peop
generally that he desired to do all in h
4 ready to abide by the decision of the Berl
conference. Mataafa gave feast two wee
ID ago to which he invited over a hu
70 dred foreign residents and visitor
[t including all American naval Office
a here and the American, British and Germ
consuls. None Of the Germans were preser
% Nataafa made a speech, in which he thank
ls Amiral Kimberly for bringing about t
= present peaceful state of affairs in Same
W Most of Tamasese's men have left their car
W at Luatannua and gone home. A number
ID them have visited Apia recently and he
X not been arrested by the other party.
he
an It is stated that the Pope at the rec
at consistory advised that Cardinal Lavigre
4 selected his successor,