Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-04-20
BATTLING WITH THE TEMPEST,

Fierce but Futile Struggle with tho
Worst Hurricane Ever Known In That
Region-The Number Drowned Was lac
Noble Work of King Mataafa's Sub
jects.
ApIA, Samoa, March 30-1he hurricane
which passed over the Samoan Islands March
l6 and II was the most violent and destructive
storm ever known in the South Pacific. The
loss To life and property was very great
The United States and Germany alone
lost 1la Nves and 100000 worth OF
property Six war-ships and ten other YES
sells were dislodged or driven ashore. OF
the American gun.b0ats the Trenton ! es near
the Tn ted States consulate and is fast going
to pieces. The Vandalia is buried out oi sght
between the Trenton and the shore. Her shat'
tered foremast and smoke-stack rise from
the wafer to mark the spot where the
gallant vessel struck and lay for twelve
hours before the awful torrent OF
water swept four officers and thirty
nine men from her decks and rigai.c, &c. TN. Tho
dalia, Win her bow high on the beach and
within FIVE feet of the waters edge. The YES
sci, Tuugl badly damaged was haaled,of1 o
few days after the storm and is the only war
ship afioat in the harbor. She lost five men
by the swamplng OF boat, and two others
who jumped overheard were drowned.
1t was on the little German gun-bOat Eber
that the greatest loss OF life occurred She
had compliment of six officers and seventy
six men. Five men were ashore during the
storm. When the vessel struck the reef she
sank completely out Of sight and minute
later there was not vestge OF her to be
seen. Every man on board was lost except
one officer and four sailors. The German cor
II laFs -,Nft tHa ln
vessels. The British ship Calliope was the
only one that escaped. She having very pow
eriul machinery put to sea. All the other YES
sells had a fun head of steam on and three or
four anchors out but before that awful storm
they were like toys in the hands OF giant,
Many Of the sailors became drunk soon after
they got ashore. But the officers rallied them
and the injured were cared for. The natives ren.
dered every ass Stance, Americans and Ger.
mans being treated alike. The damage on
shore was also very great Houses were un-
rooted and blown down and trees and fences
were bio En across the streets 50 that passage
was almost blocked.
| The storm was not unheraded For severa
| days the barometer hal been steadily falling
| and Friday the wind began TO blow How
ever, nobody thought the gale would be SC
| violent The gun-boats had Their engines
working to relieve the stra on their anchors
but no commander had foresight enough Il
| Tut to sea.
All the vessels weathered the storm througl
Friday night, but all had dragged !he
anchors. little after o'clock the first ray
of dawn broke upon the scene and 10 those OF
shore revealed spectacle not oftei
witnessed. The position Of the vessel
| was entirely changed The wind, whCl
| was blowing from the northeast has
| swept them from their former mOorngs ant
they were all bearing down in the direction. 0
the rect. Black smoke was pouring from thei
funneli, showing that desperate efforts wer
being made to keep them up against the wind
Their decks were swarm ng with me
clinging to the masls or an
other objects. The hulls of the wal
ships were tossing about like corks. One nc
ment the vessels seemed to stand almost upo
their beams end and the next instant the!
sterns would rise out Of the water and expos
to view the rudders and rapidly'revolvin
propelers. Then the huge prows would b
lifted high in the air, only TO plunge into til
next wave and deluge the ships with torrcu
of water. II was then seen that the vessel
were doomed and they soon succumbed to th
Jury of the tempest.
Soon the Adler came ashore and she wa
he latter were got to shore on hawser whic
the natives made fast The British shi
lying near the Vandalia and collision b
tween the two seemed certain Tn
Callone was nearer shore and her no
close to the stem of the Vandalia. Grej
waves were tossing the two vessels about au
they were coming closer together every minu
Suddenly the great iron PROV of the EnClisI
man rose high IN the air on the Gre
of an enormous wave and came down wii
full force upon the mort quarter Of The VA
; lnlla The crash was awfu, Tho bboo
of the Call.one was carried AWAY and II
pcayv timber, of the Vandalta were ,biyerr
rverv man who stood unop ,ho noon.d.c
Of Tho Vatdalil WAS thrown from his fept
the sboel; A hole had bnen Torn hclo
the ro and The water rushed into the cab.
II seemed mai tho Vondalia had received II,
death blow and the men rushed nm the hatch,
n the belief that the steamer was sinking. nm
twas only after areai effort that the once
re suaded them To re urn TO tbetr nos,s
Ius, o,,er ,bie collssio, cor,oin Ea,e -, ii
roIliona doterr nod IN m1l,a mn cg,rt
.t,or, ont Of tho b,rhor .s la s,v that
remain In his prcsent posit ON would lead
lnothpr coil sion with The Vandala or tbro
his vessel on the reef. He accordingly ga,
he order TO let 70 all anchors The ca
10, e's head was swung around TO the win,
and her powerful engines were worked to the
utmost capacity. II was an anxious momci
on board the corvette as with her aucho
gone She had nothing but her engines TO d
mend upon TO keep her of the reef n
steamer seemed to stand still for a momen
and then the rapidly revolving r.opell
had its effect, for the vessel moved I
slowly against the great waves, viii,
broke over her bows and flooded her decl
from stem 10 stern. Clouds of black smol
poured from her tunnels and fresh coal WI
thrown into the furnaces. All her great DOW,
was used in the desperate struggle again
he storm. She seemed to make her hea
way at first inch by inch, but her spe,
gradually increased until IL became evidel
she could clear the harbor. As she pass,
abreast of the Trenton great shout went I
from over iOl men aboard the flagship an
three hearty cheers were given for the Calliop
'srhree cheers for the Trenton and the Amer
| can flag was the answer that came back aero
the angry waters. The Calliope pass ed safe
ont of the harbor and steamed far out TO Sc
returning after the storm abated
An ct,orn, w,s than moda IN heocb +,
: va,doiia arI sbn wos run oIo,,si5o tho ra
a3 ,t,I|n ,nn ,ords of shoro y,bor :,
o,,,,1ad ca,.sroi a,,emn,s yoro ,,ode he :,
0 a,t,,as =, ,at.o i, Iira 10 hor ,,, ,ha, vcro
,,"t, NM rosscI svvrnr .ronrd v.,b h,
nrnads do n tho waves and ono nv one h,
oo,.'ars ara oro,, ,ors .,re, on hy tho ,orren