The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-31
SAMOA'S FURIOUS STORM
THE NEWS OF THE NAVAL DIS
ASTER CONFIRMED.

Losses ty-SlX-Cbaracter OF the
Harbor-A Description of the Ameri-
can Vessels-The Effect on the Navy.
AUCKLAND, March 30-Later advices
received here regarding the hurricane which
devastated Samoa and wrecked a number
of German ard American war ships, says
the storm swept the island on March l6.
All the war ships attempted to put to sea,
but only the English steamer Calliope sue
ceeded in getting out. Merchant vessels
suffered severely. The bark Peter Godeff-
rey, one other bark and seven coasters were
wrecked, and four persons were drowned
The Calliope sailed for Sydney. The Peter
Godeffrey was a German bark. She had
arrived at Samoa from Sydney.
A CABLEGRAM FROM KIMBERLY.
WASHINGTON, March 3O.-The following
cable message was received at the navy de-
partment this morning:
AUCKLAND, March 80. 1899
Secretary of the Many, Washington. d. c.:
A hurricane occurred at Apia March Is.
Every vessel in the harbor is on shore except
the English man of-war Calliope, which got to
sea. The Trenton and Vandalia are total losses.
The NipsIc is beached and he- rudder is gone,
but she may be towed. The cndnces are against
it, / will send her to Auckland If possible.
NAMES OF THE LOST,
The vandalia lost four officers and thirty
nine men, namely Capt Schoonmaker, Pay
master Arms, Lieutenant of Marines Hutton,
Pay Clerk John Roach, Henry Baker, W,
Brisbane William Brown. Quarter Master
MicRael CaShinshun, M Craigln, b. F, Davis
Thomas G. Downey, NJ Erickton, S. c. Ghring,
Adolph Goldnere. George German, N.
3. Green, J. Griffin, E. NJ. Ham
meur, John Hanchett. C, Hawkins,
W. Howatt, Frank Jones, George Jordan, NJ. H.
Joseph. John Keely, Thomas Kelly, n. Kinsella,
c. P. Kratzer Charles Kraus, F. R. LeSsman,
George Message, Aylmer Montgomery, Thomas
Sims, G. IT, Wells, John Milefold, Henry
Wieted, All Row. All Peck, Pendang, Trechore.
THOSE LOST FROM THE NIPsIc.
The Nipsic lost seven men, namely; George
W Callan. John Gill, Joshua Heap, Thomas
johnson, David Kelleher, Henry Pontsen Will
lam Watson. All were saved from the Trenton.
The Trenton and Vandalia crews are ashore.
The Nipsic's men are on board the vessel. All
the stores possible were saved.
The German ships Adler and EbeT are total
losses The Olga Is beached and may be saved
The German losses are So.
1t is important to send the 800 men home at
once Shall charter a steamerg Can charter
ia Auckland. Lieut. Wilson will remain in
Auckland to obey your orders. Fuller accounts
by mail. KIMBERLY
KIMBERLY GIVEN FULL POWER.
The following dispatch has been sent to
Lieut.. Wilson for Admiral Kimberly, care
OF the American consul at Auckland;
Take such steps with regard to the Nipsic and
wrecks and sending tie men home as you may
deem proper Full power is given you. The
MononL ahela sailed for Apia Feb. 81. TRACY.
CHARACTER OF THE HARBoR.
Capt. Selfridge of the United States navy
was found at the navy department this
morning porting over a chart of the harbor
OF Apia, which he visited several years ago.
He SAID that while it was very bad har
Dor it was the best on the island Of Uporia
Like all Pacific harbors, That of a pia is
formed by a coral reef encircling the lsla
at a short dista from the shore. The
anchorage space available for men Of war
is contracted, being about 900 feet wide at
the mouth of the harbor. The bottom Is
sandy, affording slight hold for anchor, and
the harbor is exposed to the north.
On each side of the entrance
are coral reefs which are awash
at highwater, and are surrounded by
shoals. The depth Of water ranges from
four to eight fathoms, pretty deep water
being fou close in shore, which would
enable a ship to get close in.
hurricanes or cyclones at Apia are usu-
ally from the southwest, and revolving in
the harbOrs tend to force vessels on the
rugged reefs or rough shores. The last
hurricane occurred at Apia just SIX years
ago, and fortunately no men-of-war were
in tie harbor, but every mercha ltman was
driven ashore or wrecked, houses were de-
stroyed and palm trees uprooted.
ADMIRAL HARMONY's VIEWS
1t is the opinion of Admiral Harmony,
who is also familiar with the Samoan
Islands. that the English man-of-war owed
her escape to the fact that she mad steam
up and was enabled TO push out to seq. The
number of vessels lying in the small harbor
was source Of danger to them individu-
81 FFNW-
would very probably collide with and carry
away another ship which might otherwis,
have held securely
The news Of the disaster created a pro-
found sensation at the navy department,
and everybody, from the ecretary down.
freely expressed his regret. Secretary
tracy could not see cause to condemn any
one The officers in command of the yes
aels were competent men and had doubtless |
adopted all proper p ecaution agai ST the
dlsaSt r, but these hurricanes, which as
sumed cyclonic proportions, are simply ire
,suole, as was proved by the extent of the |
loss Of vessels.
An OLD SHIP MATE MoURNED.
Lieut.. Lucien Young, who is himself al |
most the sole survivor Of the Inflated |
huron, off Cape Hatteras, looked sadly |
over the list Of drowned and marked down |
POOR Roach, the paymaster's clerk, as an
Nv OIL pIilhO6 gone.
lhe department of state was without |
oi'iclal news Of the wrecks until a copy Of |
admiral Kimberly's dispatch was sent over |
from The navy department, at the request |
Of Walker Blaine.
AT tie navy department it was noticeable |
INA while line officers mourned for the men |
LOST bureau officers had equal regret for
BOTH GOOD VESSELS.
naval Constructor Hichborn, who is acting |
az cuiet OF the construction bureau during |
WE M ess Of Commodore Wilson, said: |
me Trenton, which was Admiral Kim
Deriys flagship, was the best wooden vessel
~ inc American navy and the best ship of |
sUe Oh navy. The Vandalia was another
lNe vessel and had been thoroughly refitted |
~ VLe Mare Island navy yard at consider
que expense Just before she sailed.n En-
hAeer officers recall the tact that the
LIehton, which is set down as having a
Ieed OF l2.G knots, when in the Rcd sea
s,vouisned Englshmen by easily running
.ay from the crack vessels of their feet,
rated as LAG knot vessels.
WHEN THEY WERE BUILT.
one was launched in New York in 1877
az a. tIe navy yard She was ship-rigged, 253 |
zee, ,'e long, IS feet beam, drew 20.G feet. and
r ~es '.JUO tons displacement, about 500 tons
I l.T Than the Boston and Atlanta. She
selled from home.
me Nandalia was built at the Boston