The Helena independent., 1889-04-14

deck 10 the matches and poured down
into the fire room. All attempts
n keep 10 out failed, and in short time the
firemen were up 10 their waists In water
and all the fires weTe extinguished From
10 o'clock Ia the morning until In the
evening The Trenton held out against
the storm without steam or rudder, and
the skiltul management Of her navigating
officer, Lieut.. Brown, was all that saved
the lives ~ every man ON board. Capt
FaTquhar. Ia his official report 10 Admiral
Kimberly n few days after the storm, paid
n high tribute b. Lieut.. Browns skill. As
soon as the steam gave out the mizIen
storm sail was set with the greatest diff
Guilty Oh was also poured overheard, but
il had had no effect In stilllng the waves.
AFEw LIVES SAVED.
Nearly every man who jumped OF was
washed into the water succeeded in reach
ing the Nipsic, and most Of them got upOn
the deck. None Ot those who were swept
into the current came near enough 10 shore
tO be reached by The natives, and such
were all carried out and drowned. BY this
time the 0nly part of the Nandalla which
stood out Of water was the after part OF the
forecaste. More than one man who was
climbing the rigging gave way under the
terrible strain and fell 10 the deck, only 10
be washed over and drowned. Several
persons on shore succeeded in making a
hawsrr fast from the Nipsic to the beach,
and the Nandalla's men who had reached
the Nlpsie escaped in that way. The stern
OF the Nipslc had by this time swung out
straight from the shore, 50 that the distance
between the two vessels was rot more than
twenty yards. A white man named Blck.
ering went aboard the Nipsic from the
shore and threw a small line 10 the Van.
dalia. A sailor caught IL and small rope
was made fast from the fOremast Of the
Nandalia 10 the stern OF the Nipsic. A
few men escaped that way, but before all
on the foremost could be taken of the line
parted, the Nipsic's stern swung back 70
the shore and II was Impossible TO get
across.
The Trenton was maneuvered in this
way all the time and succeeded in keeping
clear Of the reef until the middle of the
afternoon, when the force OF the wind and
waves bore her down almost upon It. She
came brOadslde on toward the reef and II
seemed as II the great vessel, with her 400
men, was lost. Lieut. Brown ordered
every man into the port rigging,
so that the compact AInass Of hu.
at the same time keep the weight OF the
vessel on the side next to the storm. This
novel experiment was all that saved the
Trenton from destruction. The wind
struck against the men In the rigging and
forced the vessel out into the bay again.
remained there only short time, however
and soon commenced to drift back against
the Olga, which was still standing of from
the reef and holding up against the storm
better than any other vessel IN the harbOr
The Trenton came slowly down on the
Olga. and this time II seemed as though
both vessels would be dashed TO pieces
Suddenly the stars and stripes were
seen floating from the gaff on the Trenton
Previous 10 this no vessel In the harboI
had raised flag, as the storm was raging
SO furiOusiy at sunrise that the ceremony
was neglected. II seemed now as II the
gallant ship knew she was doomed and
was determined 10 20 down with the flag
Of her country floating above the storm
The stern Of the Trenton was nearing the
Olga's bow and Capt Vonerhard, believing
sure destruction was upon him, let 90 hi,
anchors and attempted to steam away. II,
was too late, however, for Just as the Olgs
commenced 10 move against the wind he
bow came into contact with the star
board quarter Of the flag shin
The olga's bowsprit and tigurehesd wer
carried away and the heavy timhers on tn
3 Trent0n's quarter were shivered. Seyera
boats were torn from their davits and tn
American flag which had iloated from tn
Trenton was carried away and fell 10 tn
deck Of the Olga. Fortunately the vessel
drifted apart after the collision and IN
| Olga steamed ahead towards the mud Hat
in the eastern part of the harbor. The en
gines were worked TO their full capacit
and II was only moment before the Olga
prov struck and the steamer lay imbedde
In soft mud In the safest part of the bay.
| DRIFTING ON THE SHORE.
The Trenton was not able to get into th
bay again after her collision with the Olga
She was now about 200 feet from the wrecl
of the Vandalia and was slowly driftin
towards the shoal. A new danger nov
arose. The Trenton was sure 10 strike tn
Vandalia, and TO those on shore il SCENE,
that the huge hull OF the flagship woul,
crush the Vandalia TO pieces and throw th
hundred men still clinging to the rigginJ
into the water. Ii was now after o'clocl
and the light was beginning to fade away