The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-22
HOW THE TRENTON WAS HANDLED,
AS She was Swept Toward the Reefs
In ApIa Bay.
Admiral KImberIy's Official Report Of
the Samoan Disaster.
skIIfuI Sailors Poweriess to Resist
the Fury Of the Storm.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. April 20. The
mornings mail delivered at the navy depart
ment today, brought two letters from Admir-
al Kimberly, referring to the wrecking of
the American fleet at Apia. They were ac-
companied by long detailed report. The
first, Admiral Kimberly's official report to
the Secretary of the Navy. is dated Apia,
March 49, it says: Indications Of bad wealth
er appeared during the morning Of Friday,
March 10th, and at one o'clock that day /
commenced preparations 20 meet gale by
sending down the lower yards and housing
topmasts. Fires were lighted and steam
raised. By three o'clock the gale had devel-
oped. 1t blew hard during the evening and
about p. m. we parted our port cable.
During the night II blew with great violence,
but with the aid of steam the vessels kept in
good shape until morning. At daylight we
had hoped for moderation Of the wind, but
were disappointed. The gale set in with
renewed fury. and early in the forenoon it
was was evident that some Of the inner ships
riding uneasily. The flagship lost her wheel
about this time. The ship had begun to
leak during the early morning. The hand
pumps were manned and all bilge pumps In
VIC cueiuo lOOm put Ou. lub WdttI gained
and threatened to put out the fires, the great
er part seeming to come through the hawse
pipes which are situated on the berth deck.
All hands were set to bailing and the handy
pllly rlgged, but by $50 a. m, the fire had
pee neea put out and the men driven up from
tne nre room: Work at the hand pumps and
with the buckets continued from this time
throughout the gale, with the hope of being
a6le TO light the fires and keep the ship
afi0at.
A little before noon the Calliope was seen
to be very nueasy at her moorings, and soon
she steamed toward US, having parted or
slipped her cables, and made an effort to 90
out OF the harbor. She came near colliding
with us, and steamed out in the force Of the
hurricane: In the afternoon, the wind hav-
ing hauled a little, the flag ship was more
unsteady at her moorings and parted two
chains, one soon after the other. We then
dr1fted over toward the eastern reef escap-
ing the wreck OF merchant bark by the
mere chance OF her dragging as we ap-
preached her. We drifted until our stern
was almost against the reef Destruction
seemed imminent, as the vessel was within
lew feet Of the reef for a long while and
p,tched heavily: We drifted in this position
along the reef for considerable distance
until we came to where it turned more to-
ward the east. Here we found smoother
water and our remaining anchor seemed to
nold quite well for time. This position,
however, put us directly in the hawse of the
Olga, which vessel had one of the smoothest
berths in the harbor at this time. She was
riding well, and had control of her engines.
Efforts were at once made to heave over the
S-inch rifle gun from the forcastle. to assist
In holding. but it could not be done In time.
We slowly drifted upon her, and she avoid
ed us twice by skilful use of helm and en-
gines, but soon after cut into our quarters,
first one side and then the other, carrying
away boats, rigging and quarter galiies, but
not essentially injuring the hull.
During all this time the officers Of the flag
ship made every effort to manage her by
storm sails and putting men in the rigging.
We drifted by the port side Of the Olga and
across to the western reef, as we had before
vessels were now in plain sight, the Nipsic
well IN shore on good bottom, stem to the
seas, the Vandalia sunk against the reef,
masts standing and tops and rigging filled
with men, spray, and surf flying to their
mastheads. the Eber nowhere to be seen,
the Adler on her side. high on the reef. The
Olga had turned for the shore, and going
ahead under steam and sail was beached on
good bottom and in good position to the
seas seas, All httaS TINS time the gale was bloying
were expecting to strike the reef every
minute. 1t was directly under our stem, but,
as on the eastern side, an undertow seemed
to carry us along the reef and keep us Just
the Vandalia was and it was evident that
our stem would soon strike against her port
side. As we approached her, rockets were
fired, carrying lines with the hope Of rescu-
ing the people on her masts. This proved
very successful and the men from the main
and mizzen were rescued first. Soon after
we struck the Vandalia with violence
and her main and mizzen masts
went by the board. We then
swang gradually, and settled into a position
alongside of her, just touching the bottom
and our stern grazing small wreck and the
reef. The men were rescued from the fore
mast Of the Vandalia, and thence on during
the night we continued to beat the bottom
and against the Vandalia with great force
The wind during this Saturday night blew
with hurricane force, squall following squall
with hardly any interval. The seas however
and we got through the night without addi-
tional serious misfortune. Just before day
light the flagship was visited by two boats
manned entirely by natives, who carried
lines to the shore. This was dangerous work
owing to the darkness, to the sea and cur
rent, to the reefs and wreckage and to the
difficulty in approaching the Trenton on ac-
count of the Vandalia's wreck
The crew were kept at the pumps and
buckets without cessation, with view to
hauling off the ship If possible and keeping
her afioat when the gale abated. In the
morning the wind moderated. 1t was then
ascertained that the propeller was missing.
The ship had settled hard on the bottom and
the water could not be reduced. 1t was up
to the engine room platform and rising. I'M
der these circumstances, and in the absence
OF any docking facilities or marine railway
appliances and powerful pumps, the aban-
donment of the ship became necessary.