Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-14
ON BOARD THE NIPSIC.
The American Crew Make a Desperate
Attempt 10 Save Their VesseI-A
Number of Collisions Add New
Horrors to the situation.


Just after the Adler struck the attention
of everyone was directed toward the Nipsic.
She was standing off the rect with her head
to the wind, but the three anchors which
she had out at the time were not holding
The steamer was beating back toward the
point where the Eber went down. It was
only by most skillful management that her
officers and crew were saved from the same
fate that befell the Eber.
The Nipsic also narrowly escaped de-
struction by being run into by the Olga, and
it was the blow which she received from that
vessel that finally sent her ashore. The
Nipsic had on all the steam il was possible
for her to carry, and had Just succeeded IN get
ting clear of the reef when the little schoon-
er Lilly got in her track and was cut down. The
Olga was bearing down and the latter vessel
was trying to avoid collision with the Olga
when she struck the Lilly.
The schooner sank out of sight in a moment
Captain Douglass, pilot living in Apia, An
tony Ormsby, trader, and Hawaiian native
all struck out for the Olga, but only one was
saved. Douglass sank underneath the Olga
twice, but finally succeeded in grasping one of
the anchor chains and drew himself mp on the
steamer. Ormsby almost reached the chain
but was washed away and drowned. The
Hawaiian was swept out to sea. Life buoys
were thrown to him from the CaIliope and Van
dalia. but he was not able to save himself.
Trying TO Tighten the Ship.
The Nipsic got well away from the reef after
she struck the Lilly, and her men had attached
a hawser to heavy eight-inch rife on the for
ward deck and were preparing to hoist the
gun overheard to assist her anchors when the
Olga again bore down upon her. The Olga
struck tho Nipsic amidships; her bowsprit
passed over the port side of the Nipsic, and
after carrying away boat and spIintering the
rail. came in contact with the smokestack
The smokestack was struck fairly in the center
and fell TO the deck with crash like thunder.
Il was difficult to realize for moment what
had happened.
Great confusion occurred. The crew be-
neved that the steamer was going down, and
men run up the rigging for safety. The officials
allayed their fears as well as they were able
The iron smokestack rolled from side to side
with every movement of the vessel and men
ran TO keep clear of Its track. Heavy blocks
were finally placed under If, but at that time IL
was found that the Nipsic had swung around
and was again approaching the reef. 1t was
an anxious n9ulet pI stri io1 ID al t On DoaIo: Ihey
it seemed certain that they would go down in
the same way.
Having lost her smokestack the Nipsic was
unable to keen her steam power up, and it was
useless to attempt to steam out from the reef
in the face of the wind. Captain Mullane was
was upon the bridge at the time, and remained
cool and collected during tns dangerous mo-
the highest pitch Several men stood by their
posts bravely, but many were demoralized and
refused to listen to orders.
MuIIane Gives Up the Fight.
1t was plain that in another moment the
Nlpsic would be upon the reef, and probably
every man on board would be lost. Captain
1lulane saw that any further attempt to save
ms vessel would be useless, so he gave the
OToer 70 beach her. One anchor was slipped,
aho the lew pounds of steam which could still
be used kept the vessel in deep water until she
eieaneq the end of the reef. Boxes of salt pork
anu o1ner inaammable material were thrown