Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-18
THE SAMOAN DISASTER.
Arrival of the Alameda Bringing Details of
the Fearful Work of the Hurricane.

SAN FRANCISCO, April A.-The steam
ship Alameda, Commander Il. j. Morse,
arrived here yesterday morning, having
sailed from Sydney March 20. She stopped
at Tutuila, an island of the Samoan group.
March 29. where she found the American
schooner Equator, with the American
mails and ten cadets from the American
warshIps wrecked at Apia- Commander
Morse, upon learning of the disaster to
the American ships, at once sailed for
Apia. On the way he met the mail cutter
and received the German mails at Apia.
The Alameda took on board thirty-six
wounded seamen; Lieutenant Ripley and
twenty-nin seamen are to come upon the
Honolulu steamer
The Alameda brought from the man-of-
war Trenton the naval cadets. R Stocker,
+. W. Hebbs, B. c. Decker, B. W. Wells,
w. s. Cloke, G.. W. Logansand R Jackson,
and naval captains H. A. Wiley, L. A.
Stafford and j. A. Lejeune, of the Van
dalia-
The Alameda also brought the following
account of the disaster from the Western
Associated Press correspondent at Apia,
Samoa:
The little group of Samoan or Navigators'
islands, which few months ago attracted the
dItCullOu VI t1C ClSAliZdA WOTlO Dy d uctCc civil
combat between two native factions and the
consequent possibility OF serious complications
between the great powers OF the United States
and Germany, has been visited by disaster
more appalling than all of the wars ever waged
here. In attempting to effect a solution OF the
Samoan difficulty, and to protect their respect
i've interest on the islands, the United States
and Germany have lost nearly $50 lives and
S. O0O,O 900 worth of property.
The most violent and destructive hurricane
ever known in the South Pacific ocean passed
over these islands on March Is and u, and as
result feet of six war ships and ten other YES
sells were ground to atoms on the coral reefs in
the harbor or thrown on the beach in front of
the little city of Apia, and 1i2 officers and men
of the American and German navies sleep for
ever under the reefs or lie buried in unmarked
graves thousands of miles from their native
lands.
The United States frigate Trenton, flagship
of the Pacific squadron, which arrived here
from Panama March II, lies within stones
throw of the American consulate total wreck.
The great hull of the magnificent vessel which
steamed into the harbor a few weeks ago rests
on the bottom, fast going to pieces.
The United States steamer Vandalia, which
arrived from San Francisco February %, is
buried out of sight between the Trenton and
the shore. Her shattered foremast and stack
rise from the water to mark the spot where the
gallant vessel struck and lay for twelve hours
before the awful torrent of water which swept
four officers and thirty nine men from her decks
| and riggings. Her comman der, Captain G. M.
Schoonmaker was among the first who
perished in the waves. The other officers who
met their death were Paymaster Frank II.
Arms, Lieutenant Frank Sutton Of the marine
corps and Pay Clerk John Roach.
The United States steamer Nipsic lay for
several days alongside the Vandalia with her
1. ~.
the waters edge. The vessel though badly
damaged, was hauled of few days after the
storm and is the only war ship afioat in the
harbor. Several of the officers and crew are
living aboard. All of the Nipsic's officers are
safe, but she lost five men by the swamping of
boat and two others who jumped overheard
were also drowned.
The three American men-of-war were swept
ashore almost at the same point.
1t was on the little German gunboat Eber
that the greatest loss of life occurred. The
Eber had complement Of six officers and
seveuty-siX men. Five men were ashore during
the storm. When the vessel struck the reef
she sank completely out of sight and minute
later there was not a vestige of her to be seen,
and all on board were lost except one officer
Lieutenant Gaedeke-and four sailors. The
other five officers and sixty-slX were either
instantly killed when the vessel crashed to
pieces or were drowned in the roaring torrent
of water that broke upon the reef. small
part of the Eber's PROV was afterward washed
ashore near an American vessel This and
few pieces OF broken wreckage near the point
where she struck are the only portions OF her
that have even been seen since the moment she
went down
Just on the edge of the reef, about 500 yards
west of the Trenton, is all that remains of the
Adler the flagship of the German squadron in
Samoan waters. The Adler was washed on top
OF the reef and turned completely over on her
side She has remained in that position since
and is almost entirely out of water. Nearly
every man aboard was thrown in the water
when the Adler struck, but only twenty sailors
were drowned and all her officers were saved
The German corvette Olga is fast upon wind
fat about quarter OF a mile east Of the Amer
ican vessels While the storm was raging and
the vessels fighting for their lives, the Olga
came into collision with nearly every man-of-
war in the harbor and was badly damaged
above her water line. 1t is thought that she
can be towed of. No lives were lost on the
Olga.
The only other man-of-war in the harbor was
the British corvette Calliope, which arrived
here in February and relieved the Royalist.
Her machinery was very powerful and she was
capable of steaming at the rate of sixteen knots
an hour, but she narrowly escaped going ashore
at the same place with the Adler, but just as
she was about to strike the reef she let go her
anchors and in the face of terrible wind
steamed out Of the harbor and put to sea.
The beach is strewn with wreckage from one
end of the town to the other. Over 80 Ameri-
can and German sailors are Quartered in Apia,
and for a few days after the storm subsided the
greatest confusion existed everywhere. large
number of men on the Vandalia and several on
other vessels were badly injured by falling from
the rigging and being thrown about decks by
the terrible seas, and it was necessary to pro-
vide temporary hospital for their accommoda-
tion.
Persons on shore were powerl ess to render
assistance to the ships. Hundreds ran to the
waters edge and stood in the binding storm
watching the great vessels pitch about on the
waves or drift to total destruction against the
reefs. The sea broke upon the reef with
roaring sound and washed far up on the beach,
carrying with it great quantities of wreckage.
The watchers on shore were submerged time
after time and many were injured by the float
ing wreckage. Great clouds of sand filed the
air and cut face and body like knife. Every
one was drenched with the rain, but stood
shivering in the storm, prepared to render
whatever assistance might be possible
The natives waded far out into the surf where
o white man could not live and many life was
saved through their efforts Americans and
Germans were treated alike; no thought was
given to the state of war existing between the
Germans and themselves, and the men who
fought the Germans at Vailele q few months
before now battled with the waves and risked
their own lives to save their enemies from
watery grave
The storm ragged furiously for nearly two days
and when the wind finally abated the scene of
destruction was awful
Monkeys have an aversion to cruelty.
In Hindoostan, where three varieties OF
sacred monkeys enjoy the freedom OF
every town, these four-handed pensioners
often assist the police in enforcing the