Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-04-02
THE SAMOAN DISASTER.
The Storm Burst Upon the Inflated
Vessels Without Warning.
ONTO THE REEFS.
Ono by One the Ships Yielded to the
Gales Fury and Were Dashed to
Pieces-Tbe Terrible strug-
gle for Life.

-
LONDON, April Further particulars
of the disastrous storm in Apia have
just been received. The hurricane burst
upon the harbor suddenly. The Ger
man man-of-war Eber was the first YES
sci to drag her anchor. She became un-
manageable and was driven helplessly
on a reef which runs around the harbor.
She struck, broadside on, at & o'clock iii
the morning. The shock caused her to
lurch and to stagger back. and she sank
in a moment in deep water. Most of
her men were under the matches and
scarcely a soul of them escaped.
The German war ship Adler was the
next to succumb. She was lifted bodily
by a gigantic and cast on her
beam ends on the reef. A terrible
struggle for life ensued among the Off
GERS ~and5sailors aboard. Many plunged
into the raging surf and struck out,
ONE reaching shore in safety. Others
chung to the rigging until the masts
fell. OF those in the rigging only two
gained the shore. The captain of the
Adler and several other officers were
saved.
In the meantime the United States
ship Nipsic had been dragging her an
chors and drifting toward the shore.
The captain, however, managed to keep
control and ran her on a sand bank.
Boats were Immediately lowered. and
the whole company We're saved with
the exception of six men. These were
drowned by the capsizing of a boat,
The United States ship Nandalia was
carried before the gale right upon the
reef. She struck with a terrible shock,
throwing the captain against a Calling
gun and he fell, stunned. Before he
could recoye a great wave swept the
deck and washed him and others away
into the sea. The vessel sank fifty
yards from the Nipsic, and several Of
the officers went down with her. 9th
ers persisted while making desperate
efforts to swim to the shore. Some of
the ships company tried to save them
selves by clinging to the rigging, but
heavy and swift running waves dashed
over them, and one by one they were
swept away.
By thisstime night had set in. Many
natives and Europeans had gathered on
the shore. all anxious to render assist
ance to the unfortunate crews, but ow-
ing to the darkness they were wholly
unable to be of service.
Soon after the Nandalia had sunk the.
American war ship Trenton broke from
her anchorage, and was driven upon
the wreck OF the Vandalia, when she
drifted to the shore. The bottom of
the Trenton was completely stove in,
and her hold was half full of water.
As morning dawned the German man
of-war Olga, which had hitherto with
stood the gale, although much battered
by the heavy seas that constantly broke
upon her. became unmanageable and
was driven upon the beach, where she
lay in a favorable position.
Following is the record of the officers
and men lost:
Eber-Captain and all other officers,
except one, and seventy-six men.
Vandalia-Captain, four officers and
forty men.
Nipsic- Seven men.
Adler-Altogether fifteen men.
Mataafa sent q number of his men to
the ass stance of the wrecked ships.
They rendered splendid aid in trying to
ave the men.
Charles Ii. Cramp, the Philadelphia
ship builder, said that his visit to the
capital had no connection with the
Samoan disaster. Even if | desired to
hurry operation on the vessels now IN
process OF construction he said, 81
would not work any faster, nor could
any more men be employed in my ship
yard. ! expect to have the war ships
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Newark
launched this year, although the New
ark may not be completed until late in
the winter. Germany is in the same
fix as the United States and cannot
afford to lose any of its vessels. for it
has not q powerful navy. Orders have
been sent to San Francisco by which
work will be hurried as much as pos
slble on the Charleston, which is being
built there, and that ship viii
probably be ready for service some time
before any of the vessels for which |
have contracts. Before | leave Wash
ingtoE3 will probably have a talk with
Secretary Tracy and go over with him
the plans of the vessels upon which /
am engaged. In my opinion nothing
would be gained by calling an extra
session of congress TO agree upon new
plans for increasing the numerical
strength of the United States navy, for
several months would be needed to for
mulate new ideas and make designs,
and ! doubt if any improvement could
be made IL the progress of operations
now under way i'll the various ship
yards throughout the country.
A Serious Ereirhf Wrncl.