Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-14
THE OTHER VESSELS.
A British Ship Escapes After Being in CoI-
IisiOn With the Vandalia-The Latter
Forced to the Beach-Her Cap.
tain Swept Frem the Deck.

The Nipsic, Adler and Eber were the
smallest ships of war in the harbor. The
four large men-of-war, the Trenton, Calliope,
Vandalia and Olga, were still afloat and we'll
off the reef. Nearly all the sailing craft had
gone ashore. The Trenton stood well out
into the bay, her steam and anchors barely
holding her head up to the wind. The Olga
was rolling terribly. The Vandalia and
Calliope were close together, nearest the
reef than the other vessels.
About 10 o'clock in the morning the excite
ment on Shore which had quieted little COM
menced to grow more intense as the Vandaiia
and Calliope were seen In a most dangerous
position and collision between the two vessels
seemed inevitable Great waves were tossing
the two vessels about and they were coming
closer together every minute The space be-
tween the men-of-war was next seen to close
altogether, when suddenly the great iron prov
of the Englishman arose high in the air on the
crest of an enormous wave and came down
with full force upon the port Quarter of the
Vandalia
The crash was awful. The lib boom of the
Calliope was carried away, and the heavy tim
bers of the Nandalia were shivered Every
man who stood upon the poop deck of the Van
dalia was thrown to his feet by the shock A
hole had been torn below the rail and the water
rushed into the cabin. 1t was impossible TO
ascertain the extent of the damage in a mo-
ment, but at the time it seemed the Vandalia
up the matches in the belief that the steamer
was sinking, and it was only after great effort
that the officers persuaded them to return to
their posts.
The Escape of the CaIIiope.
Just after this collision Captain Kane, of the
Calliope determined to make an effort to steam
out of the harbor, as he saw that to remain in
his present position would lead to another COL
lision with the Vandalia and throw his vessel
on the reef. He accordingly gave orders to let
90 all anchors. The Calliope's head was swung
around to wind and her powerful engines were
worked to their utmost capacity. 1t was an
anxious moment on board the corvette as with
her anchors gone she had nothing but her en-
gines to depend upon to keep her off the reef.
She seemed to make her headway at first
inch by inch, but her speed gradually increased
until it became evident she could clear the
harbor. As she passed abreast of the Trenton
a great shout went up from our over 400 men
aboard the flagship and three hearty cheers were
given for the Calliope. Three cheers for the
Trenton and the American flag was the answer
that came back from across the angry billows
The Calliope passed safely out of the harbor
and steamed far out TO sea, returning after the
storm abated.
When the excitement on the vandalia which
followed the collision with the Calliope had
subsided little, it was found necessary to act
quickly to save the ship. Lieutenant J. w
Carlin executive officer. was practically in
charge of the vessel, as Captain Schoopmaler
fore and severely injured. His head had been
badly cut and one ear almost torn awav nv
striking violently against a chair NotWith-
standing his injuries, he faced the storm like
hero, ana stood by the side of his first oficer
until the sea finally swept him of to his
death.
The Vandalia Beached.
The Vandalia was now fast bearing down nm
on the reef alongside of the wreck of the Eber.
and hundreds of people who were watching her
from the shore expected to see her strike and
go to pieces every minute, but she was seen To
move away from the reef and make her way to-
ward the point where the NipSic lay Captain
Schoonmaker and Lieutenant Carlin saw ii was
useless to make any further attempt to save the
ship, and as her engines were not powerful
enough to steam out to sea as the Calliope
bad done, they determined to beach the YES
sci.
It was nearly Ii O'Clock when the shin struclr
and Notwithstanding her easy position, it soon
became apparent that her officers and crew
we're in great danger. Nearly all Of the officers
were on deck, in sight Of every one on shore
The men were scattered about the gun deck
ana forecastle, holding on to the masts and the
sides of the ship. In half an hour it was
noticed that the vessel was filling with water
and settling down.
sistance, but were powerless. No boat could
have lived a moment in the surf. Three
natives were found who were. willing to vent
ure out in the surf and attempt to reach the
Vandalia with a cord. The men entered
the water a quarter Of a mile above
the spot where the steamer lay. waded
out as far as they could and then
struck out into the current with the cord tied to
their bodies. Shouts of encouragement went