The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-17

providing clothing and other necessaries for
the officers and men of the Vandalia, as they
down, and majority of them had little
or no clothing. Accordingly Fillette
wrote to Admiral Kimberly, who was
still aboard the Trenton, asking that an
police the town and protect property. The
admiral complied with this request and Capt.
r. w. Huntington, marine officer of the Trenton
was sent ashore with guard of about fifty men.
The next thing TO be done was TO provide food
and quarters for the shipwrecked sailors. The
copra warehouse, belonging to William Nc
Arthur & Co., was obtained and men were sent
there for the time being. A hasty examination
was made of the Nipsic, and although there
was considerable water in her hold, she was
found in fair condition and her officers and men
were sent aboard as quickly as possible. Con-
tracts were made with various parties for feed
ing the sailors though il was a difficult matter
TO provide them with much food during the
day. Lieut.. Brown took charge of the Trenton
men. Lieut.. Carlin, though hardly able To
stand took charge of the Vandalia men, and
was assisted by Lieuts. Wilson and Heath, En-
sign Gibbon and other officers who were able
to be on duty. A temporary hospital was pro-
vided for the large number of men who had been
injured or were suffering from exhaustion. DR..
c. A. White of the Trenton, medical director of
the Pacific squadron, took charge of this, and
all other surgeons assisted him in the work.
DR.. j. II. Harvey, surgeon OF the Nandslia,
though greatly exhausted, went to the hospital
and did all he was able TO relieve the sufierings
of the men; but in few hours he broke down
completely and was removed to a neighboring
house, suffering from severe nervous prOstra-
ton, from which he did not recover for a week.
DIR. Cordeiro of the Nandalia was unable to
give much assistance during the first day,
owing to the dislocation of his knee cap, but
the next day he was carried into the hospital
on a chair and assisted in caring for the in
jured, and has since then faithfully attended to
the wants of the suffering men.
1t is difficult TO imagine the great confusion
that prevailed on shore during the first day
after the storm. All of the blankets and mat
tresses that were saved were soaked with water
and had to be spread in the sun to dry. Many
new ones were purchased. Men were controlled
with great difficulty. Many disorderly sailors
were placed under arrest. Capt. Fritze,
senior German officer, was asked to cooperate
in providing police protection, but he notified
the American officers that he was afraid to
trust his own men as guards, as the American
soldiers would attack them and he requested
the Americans to take full control of the town.
This was accordingly done. Capt. Huntington
and Lieut.. Fillette stationed their marines all
over Apia, and the sailors were not permitted
to go to that part of the town where the
Germans have their headquarters AS soon as
it was possible to do so, wrecking parties
were formed and a great amount of stores were
saved from the Trenton. Several bodies OF
American sailors were washed ashore during
the day and were buried in the French catholic
cemetery.
One Of the first questions to be considered
after the storm subsidized was how to get the
news of the disaster 10 Europe and America
The only communication between the Samoan
islands and America is by steamers of the
the Oceanic steamship company, which run
from San Francisco TO Auckland and Sydney
and pass the island of Tutuila at the eastern
end of the group and about sixty miles from
Apia.
The steamer Mariposa was to pass in a few
days on her way to Auckland and small
schooner, which had not been badly damaged
by the storm, was fitted up to start in two days
for Tutuila to take dispatches to Auckland for
America. The admiral in his dispatches to the
naval department at Washington asked that
vessel be sent from San Francisco at once TO
take the American forces home or that a steam
er be chartered in Auckland for the same pur-
pose.
On Sunday evening the Calliope, which had
gone to sea the day before the storm, was sight
ed about ten miles off the island. Much anx-
iety had been felt on her account, and there
a general feeling of relief when 1t was
found that she was safe She entered the har-
Dor the next morning, and every one supposed
that owing to the distressing condition OF az
fairs she would be ready to offer all possible
assistance to the American and German sailors.
However, Capt Kane announced that he would
take on board more coal and leave for Sydney
at once. English residents criticised his
actions severely. The Calliope loaded
100 tons of coal Thursday morning,
fred a salute of thirteen guns in
honor of Admiral Kimberly and steamed out
of the harbor on her way TO Sydney. The adj
miral sent duplicate dispatches by her TO be
forwarded to Washington from Sydney in case
the Calliope arrived there before the Mariposa
reached Auckland. There was also some diff
Guilty in communicating with the steamer Ala
media, which was TO pass Tutuila March 30.
bound for San Francisco. Admiral Kimberly
had important mail matter to send to San Fran
cisco, and there were seven naval cadets on the
Trenton who were obliged TO return to America
10 attend their final examination at Annapolis
in May. Another small schooner which had
been saved from the wreck was gotten ready to
go to Tutuila, and the admiral also sent letter
there to Capt. Morse of the Alameda, asking
him to stop at Apia.
Order was generally restored in Apia after
few DAYS. A large force of Samoans was put 10
work on the Nipsic and the steamer was hauled
of. 1t was found that she was not leaking,
but her boilers were sprung and her propeller
would not work. Her rudder, smoke stack and
most of her boats were gone and she was badly
shattered above the water line. All of her ofl-
GERS and crew are living aboard. Admiral
Kimberly has not yet decided whether to send
the Nipsic to Auckland or San Francisco. The
Vandalia will be total loss.
Apia has the appearance OF a camping
ground. The Trenton sailors have erected
temporary tents in a large yard near the center
of the town. and the Vandalia survivors have
quarters near the American consulate. The
survivors of the Adler and Eber are quartered
in the warehouse of the German trading COM
pany. The officers and crew Of the Olga are
living aboard their ship. The town is still
under marine guard. The greatest precautions
are being taken 10 keep the town clean and
prevent disease from breaking out among the
Americans.
The following is correct list of the victims
Of the disaster:
Il. s. steamer Vandalia:
CAPT. SCHOONMAKER.
FRANK III. ARMS, paymaster.
LIEUT.. FRANK f. SUTTON, marine officer.
JOHN ROACHE, paymaster's clerk.
GEORGE MORRAGE boatswain's mate.
GEORGE GORMAN, carpenters mate.
NJ CRAlGAN captain of the after-guard.
WILLIAM BROWN, quartermaster.
L. q. DOWNEY, pay yeoman.
b. F. DAVIS, equipment yeoman.
NJ Fl. JOSEPH, equipment yeoman.
n. B. GREEN bayman.
II. p. STALLMAN, bayman.
C. II. HAWKINS, storage steward.
r. G.. STANFORD, landsman.
w. BRISBAN, captains steward.
THOMAS KELLY, fireman.
JOSEPH GRIFFIN, fireman.
w. HOWAT, coal HEAVIER.
L. NJ. HAMMER, seaman
NJ ERICKSON, seaman.
/ c. p. KRATZER, seaman.
THOMAS REILLY, seaman.
JOHN KELLY, seaman.
HENRY BAKER, seaman.
JOHN HANCHET, sergeant of marines.
FRANK SESSMAN sergeant of marines