New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-14

of-war in the harbor, and was badly damaged
above her water-lne It is thought that she can be
towed off. No lives were lost on the Olga. The
only other man-of-war in the harbor was the Brit
ish corvette Calliope, which arrived here in Feb
ruary and relieved the Royalist Her machinery
was very powerful and she was capable of steam
ing at the rate of sixteen knots an hour; but she
narrowly escaped going ashore at the same place
with the Adler. Just as she was about to strike
the reef she let 20 her anchors and in the face Of
terrible wind, steamed out of the harbor and
put to sen
The merchant vessels which were wrecked
were principally small craft. Nearly all of them
were thrown on the reef near the wreck Of the
Adler, but one two of them escaped with slight
damage One of these was o schooner belonging
to the German trading company, and she was made
ready at once TO send to Tutuila to meet the
Oceanic Steamship COmpanys steamer Marposa
from San Francisco so that news Of the disaster
could be forwarded to Auckland, and from there
cabled to Europe and America.
The beach is strewn with wreclage from one
end Of the town to the other. Over 900 American
and German sailors are quartered in Apia, and
for few days after the storm subsided the
greatest confusion existed everywhere. A large
number OF men on the Vsndalia, and several on
other vessels were badly injured by falling from
the rigging and being thrown about decks by
the terrible seas, and it necessary to provide
temporary hospital for them. great many
men from the wrecked vessels became intoxicated
as soon as they reached the shore. Every one was
drenched with the rain, but stood shivering IN
the storm, prepared to render whatever assistance
might be possible.
The force Of the storm was never equalled IN
this part of the world before. The barometer had
al g1,, far davg
the storm, and the wind began to blow Friday
afternoon, March 15: and continued until Sunday
morning The rain fell in torrents during the
whole time, and gyat clouds Of sand swept over
the town Hundreds Of people stood on the beach
and watched the awful spectacle in the harbor.
The vessels all had full head Of steam on, and three
or four anchors out. Their yards and topmasts
were down, and every precaution was taken to
insure the safety Of the ships, but the wind con-
stantly shifted from northeast TO northwest. The
force was so great that the vessels dragged their
anchors all over from one side Of the bay to the
other and came into collision a dozen times. Ire
mendous seas broke over the decks, and torrents
OF water rushed down the hatchways and put out
the fires
There was great confusion among the men on
several Of the vesSe Is early Saturday morning. but
the officers did noble work, and the men became
orderly and attended TO their duties bravey, in the
face of danger. Persons on shore were poweress
TO render assistance TO the ships. Hundreds ran
to the waters edge and stood in the binding storm
watching the great vessels pitch about in the
waves or drift on TO total destruction against the
reefs The sea broke upon the rec I with roaring
sound, and washed far up on the beach, carrying
with IL great quantities OF wreehnge. The watch
ers on shore we're submerged time after time, and
many were injured by the ecatiug wrechage. Great
clouds Of sand lled the air and cut face and body
like knife.
The natives waded far out into the surf, where
white man could not live, and many hfe was
saved through their efforts Americans and Ger
mans were treated alike. No thought was givon to
the state of war existing between the Ge1fhanS
and themselves, and the men who fought the
Germans at Vsilele a few months before now
battled with the waves and risked their own
lives to save their enemies from a watery grave.
The storm ragged furously for nearly two
days and when the wind finally abated the scene
Of destruction was awful On the shore houses
were unroofed and blown down. and trees and
fences were thrown across the streets so that
uassaRe wos almost blocked Out Of seventeen
vessels which were moored in the harbOr, only
two small schooners remained sHoat, and these
were badly damaged. The survivors OF the DIS
aster seemed dazed. They had seen friends and
comrades swept away from their grasp ana go
down to DEATH and had expected TO follow them' US
every wave broke over their ill-Iated vessels
Long exposure had rendered them weak ana
exhausted Very few had tasted food for thirty
six hours. Many had clung to the Rigging WIN
out a particle OF clothing, and all pore marks
OF terrible suffering The houses at Apia were
thrown open and both native and foreign resi-
dents did all in their power 70 accommodate tne
shipwrecked sailors.
THE DANGERS OF APIA HARBoR'
Ania Harbor, where the frghtful disaster oc-
o,rrod "a n little semi-circular bay situated on
the nortbern side of the Island of Upam. The
distance across the entrance TO the bay is about
three miles. A coral reef, most of which Is
visible at Tow water, extends in front OF the
harbor, but Is broken for a distance OF tnree-
fourths of a mile, about half way between Mhtaulu
Point on the east and Mutinuu Point on the west.
This break In the reef forms gateway for shipS
70 enter the harbor. The space within TINS reei'
where ships can lie at anchor, is small rs there
is a shoal of large dimensions IN the eastern
pert of the bay, and the western portion Is oo-
sAructed by another coral reef, which Is locateo
from goo TO 400 yards of shore, and extends
almost from the western extremity OF the Day
to point directly In front OIL the american
consulate, which is situated near the middle OF
the crescent-sha ped town. 1t was on this inner
reef that most of the vessels were wrecked as the
wind blew into the harbor from the open sea
and forced them back against it.
The water in the open space between the outer
reef on the north and the inner reel
and shoals the west south ana
east. is very deep; but the space IS not
capable of accommodating with safety the NUMBER
of large vessels which were lying in the hsroor
when the storm began. There is no holdng-gronnd
at the bottom Of the bay, and IT. has been no un-
common thing for vessels to drag their anchors
U6,never stiff breeze would spring up. Another
great disadvantage which the hsrbot possesses is
the ranid currents which shoot about in several
diroc+iors the velocity Of which greatly In
creased by the immense volume'of water emptylng
into the bav from several rivers. The principal
4 lA I'd