New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-14

wooen fairies Mr. Stewart y also enabled e asS
f nGAi and tapestries.
exhausted, but they were quickly removed to
the Consulate and revived in few hours. Sew
eral men on the Nipse ran to the rail and Jumped
overheard among them being Lieutenant H. G
Davenport They all reached the shore in safety
except two sailors who were unable to swln
through the current and were swept QUO INTO the
bay and drowned. By this time every man aboard
had crowded on the forecastle. The natives
rushed down near the bow OF the steamer ana
shouted 10 those on deck above to throw nne'
Double hawsers were soon made fast from deck 10
shore and the natives gathered around the lines 10
assist the men of. Senmann Taea. chief Of the
Apia district and Salu Ana. King Mataafa's secre-
tary directed the men In their work. Inc scene
was one of intense excitement. Inc seas oroRe
upon the stem OF the Nipsc with AWFUL force ana
It seemed as IL the vessel would be shattered
to pieces before men on her decks could DC saved
The waves were rolling high on the beach, ana the
undertow was strong that the natives narrowly
escaped being washed out into the bay. The ter
rible force of the wind can hardly be imagined.
The rain continued TO pour, and clouds OF flying
sand grew thicker every moment. Above the roar
of the wind and waves conld be heard the voices
with the cries and singing Of the Samoans as they
stood battling against the SURF Efskng their lives
to save the, American sailors. ,KeaEly all Ameri7
can and - English residents - els Apia were
on the shore in front OF ,1s1the - Con-
sulate. and there seemed TO be willingness on the
mart OF everSdfhaR 10 render whstetef Assistance
was in hts poTeti Ensign ]. L. Purcell of the
Nipsic who had been on shore during the night,
was up to his waist in water. helping TO rescue
his comrades from their perilous position. 49,,
On board the Nipsic the excitement which had
prevailed among the men Just after the faH of
the smokestsck had subsidized. and there was no
attempt made to leave the vessel in disorder.
Captain Mullan and several officers stood by the
rail where the hawsers were made fast, and
directed the movements Of the men, All who were
in any way sick or injured were
allowed to leave first. and after that
the men came down the ropes quickly.
The seas were rolling so high under the bows OF
the steamer that before the men had advanced
ten feet down the ropes they would often be
entirely submerged, and nothing but the noble
efforts Of the natives prevented them from being
washed off and carried away by the current AS
soon as each man would come within reach he
would be grasped in the strong arms OF hall a
dozen Samoans and carried to the Consulate.
had tied some articles in their handkerchiefs
which they held on 70 firmly. Captain Mullan
insisted upon being the last man to leave the
ship. He finally found himself on deck with
Lieutenant John A. Sherman and two sailors
by his side. He ordered the sailors 10 leave which
they did The captain, being unable TO swim, did
not care to trust 10 descending the rope by means
of his hands and legs all the others had done, 80
he procured an empty water cask which he
attached to the hawser When he was seated in
the cask Sherman stood alone on the dTk
and started his brave commander down the rope
The pluclSy lieutenant then climbed down tho
rope in the usual way and the Nipsic was left alone
TO battle with the waves.
SUFFERERS CARED FOR At THE CONSULATE.
Lieutenant Fillette, Of the Marine Corps, who
was in charge OF the Consulate, had Anticipated
the destitute condition in which the men would
be, and bad ordered o quantity OF dry clothing
from a neighborlng store. AS the men were taken
into the Consulate, he provided them with dry
suits of clothes, and did everything possible 10
make them as comfortable as circumstances would
permit vice-ConsuI Blackjack and several other
persons also assisted in relieving the men, and
Dr. Dren and his spothecary WIRE busy for several
hours IN administering restOratives to those who
were exhausted. D.
The Nipsic, Adler and Eber were the smallest
warships in the harbor. The four large men-of-
war, the Trenton, Calliope, Yandnlis and Olga,
were still adoat and well of the reef Nearly oil
the sailing craft had gone ashore. The Trenton
stood well out into the bay, her steam and anchors
barely holding her up TO the wind. The Olgn
WAS rolling terribly. The Vsndalia and Cslliope
were close together nearer the reef than the
other vessels.
Much trouble was then experienced ashore
with the sailors who had been rescued from the
Nipsic. There was no place Of shelter for the
men TO 20 10. The dry clothing with which they
had been provided was soon drenched. They
had been at work all night without food and It
WAS impossible TO give them breakfast on shore for
some time A great number OF them visited
saloons, and il was not long before many were in
toxicated and looking for an opportunity TO cause
trouble Lieutenant Fillette bent all his energy
toward the work, and during the whole day and
part of the following night did everything In his
power to relieve the men who were taken 10 the
consulate, and also to preserve order among the
sailors In the streets. His guard Of marines was
small, and they were all needed at the consulate,
but he used his men TO the best advantage, and
they attended TO their duty well. Several times
during the day a number OF drunken sailors went
10 the consulate and demanded dry clothing and
hundred other things which 1t was impossible 20
give them Itabfaifne necessary V Aeep them
away from the Ttfihng altogether 10 protect the
Government property thege. Le1tshaht Filctte
talked TO the men quietly but firmly, and it Is due
greatly to his that serious trouble was pre-
wanted. The handful Of marines stood by their
officer, and carried out his instructions faithfully
They were Obliged to use force with the sailors
several times during the day, and one or two un-
ruly men were put in irons.
About 10 o'clock in the morning the excite
ment on shore. which had Quoted little, began
to grow more intense as the Vandalia and CalIope
were seen in most dangerous position, and q
collision between the two vessels seemed In
evitable. They were both Bearing back against
the reef. near point where the wreck OF the