Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-14


The other FIVE officers and sixty-six men
we're either killed instantly when the
vessel was crushed to pieces, or were
drowned in the raining torrent OF water
that broke upon the reef.
THE MEN IN HOSPITAL.
The beach is strewn with wrecksge
from one end of the town to the other.
Over 900 American and German sailors
are quartered in Apia, and for a few days
after the storm subsided great confusion
was present everywhere. A large num-
ber of men on the Vandalia and several
on the other vessels were badly injured
by falling from the rigging and being
thrown about the decks by the terrible
seas, and it was necessary 10 provide a
temporary hospital for their sccommoda-
ton. A good many men from the
wrecked vessels became intoxicated as
soon as they reached the shore, and the
town was placed under strong guard OF
United States marines. The bodies
soon commenced to wash ashore, and
almost every hour a funeral procession
could be seen passing along the street on
the way to the cemeteries. Many bodies
were horribly mangled by beating
against the reef and were beyond identi-
fication. The force of the storm was
never equalled in this part of the world.
The barometer had been falling steadily
for several days previous to the storm
The wind commenced to blow Friday af-
ternoon, March 18th, and continued un-
til Sunday morning. Rain fell in tor
rents during the whole time. and great
clouds of sand swept over the town.
There was every indication that there
would be hard blow, but no one antici-
pated the storm which began to set in
Friday afternoon, March 10Th. By IL
O'Clock at night the wind had increased
to gale, and nearly all the war ships
had their engines working to relieve the
strain on their anchors. The crews on
most OF the sailing vessels threw out ex-
ira anchors and then went ashore. The
rain began to fall at midnight and the
wind increased in fury. Great waves
were rolling in from the open sea, and
the pitching of the vessels was fearful.
By O'Clock the situation had become
alarming. Nearly every vessel in the
harbor was dragging.
THE MEN PANIC C-sTRICKEN.
A panic commenced to break out
among the men. On shore the bowling
of the wind among the trees and houses
and the crash OF falling roofs had aroused
many people from their beds. Men and
women who we're wandering about in
the storm sheltered their faces with
small pieces of board or any other article
that could be used as protection against
the wind and sand. The natives seemed
to realize more than any one else thai
the storLl would result in awful destruc
tio1.
Through the blackness of the night
could be seen the lights of the men-of
war, and even above the rushing anC
roaring of the wind and waves the shout
ing of officers and men on board, came
family across the water and struck terror
to the hearts OF all who listened. Every
moment it seemed as if two or more o
the great warships we're about to come
together. A little after 5 o'clock fain
rays of dawn broke upon the ecene anC
| revealed spectacle not often witnessed
| The position of the vessels was entirely
changed. The wind, which was blowinl
from the northeast, had swept them from
their former moorings, and they were al
bearing down in the direction of the
reef. Black smoke was pouring from
their tunnels, showing that desperate
efforts were being made to keep them III
against the wind. The vessels seemed
to stand almost upon their beam ends
and the next instant the sterns woul(
rise out of Il 9 water and expose to view
the rudders and rapidly-revolving pro
pellors.
Then the large prows would be lifted
high in the air, only to plunge into th'
next wave and deluge the ships with tor
rents of water. The little gunboat Ebe
was making desperate struggle for life
but every moment she was being draw
nearer and nearer to the reef. Her doom
was certain. Suddenly che shot forward
as if making a last struggle to escape de
her off to the right, and her prov strucl
the port quarter of the Nipsic.
THE END OF THE EBER.
In moment a great wave rolled il
towards the shore. The Eber was lifteC
high on its crest and carried broadside OF
the reef. She came down with awfu
force, and III an instant here was not {
vestige of her to be seen. She strucl
fairly upon her bottom, rolled owe
towards the open sea, and disappeared
from view. Every timber in the gun
boat must have been shattered, and hal
the poor men aboard of her crushed tC
death.
THE NIPsIC IN TROUBLE.
1t was only by the most skiIlful man
agement that the officers of the Nipsi(
and crew were saved from the same fate
that befel the Eber. The Nipsic also
narrowly escaped destruction by being
run into by the Olga, and it was the blow
she received from that vessel that finally
sent her ashore. The Nipsic had on al
the steam it was possible for her to carry
and had just succeeded in getting clear
of the reef when the little schooner Lily
got in her track and was cut down. The
Olga was bearing down on the Nipsic al
the time and latter vessel was trying tc
avoid a collision with the German vesse
when she struck the Lily. The schooner
sank out of sight in moment, There
we're three men aboard of her. Only one
was saved. The Nipsic got we'll away
from the reef after she struck the Lily
and the men had attached a hawser to
heavy eight-inch rife on the forward
deck and were preparing to hoist the
gun overheard to assist her anchors
when the Olga again bore down upon
her. The Olga struck the Nipsic amid
ships. Her bowsprit passed over the
port side of the Nipsic and after carrying
away boat and splintering the rail
came in contact with the smokestack.
The smokestack was struck fairly in the
center and fell to the deck with crash
like thunder, The crew believed the
steamer was going down and the men