Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-01
THE DEADLY TYPHOON.
II Struck the Fleets at Samoa Early
In the Morning

I'm the Morning.
TIE wARsHrPs ABSOLUTELY HELPLESS IN THE
FURY OF THE GALE-THE GERMAN VESSELS
FIRST TO suTTER-How CAPT. scHooSMAKER
DIED.
The typhoon of March 16, which caused the
Dreadful disaster in the harbor Of Apia, struck
the neet OF war vessels before O'Clock in the
morning. The German ship Eber dragged her
anchor first, and was driven helplessly on the
reef which runs around the harbor. She struck,
oroadside on, at 6 o'clock. The shock caused
her to lurch and stagger back and she sank in
moment in deep water. Most of her men
were under matches, and scarcely a soul es-
capped Tha Adler lifted bodily by a
gigantic wave, and cast on her beam ends on
the reef. terrible struggle for life ensued
among the officers and sailors. Many plunged
into the ragiag surf and struck out, some
reaching shore in safety. Others chung to
In the rigging only two gained the shore. The
captain of the Adler and several other officers
were saved.
HOW THE SIPs1c WAS SAVED.
Meantime the United States steamer Nipsic
had been dragging her anchors and drifting
toward the shore. The captain, however, man.
aged to keep control, and ran her on a sand
Oank- Boats were lnmeulately lowered, and
the whole company were saved with the excep-
ton of six men. These were drowned by the
capsiZing of boat.
The yandalia was carried before the gale
right upon the reef. She struck with terrible
shock, hurting Capt. Schoonmaker against a
gatling gun and he felled stunned. Before he
could recover a great wave swept the deck and
he was washed away with others into the sea.
The vessel sank so yards from the Nipsc. Sew
eral of the officers and men were washed over
board and drowned. Others persisted while
making desperate efforts to swim to the shore
Some remained for hours in the rigging but
heavy and swift succeeding waves dashing over
them carried them off one by one.
THE NATIVES OFFER ASSISTANCE
By this time night had set in. Many natives
and Europeans had gathered on the shore, all
anxious to render ASSISTANCE to the unfortunate
crews. but, owing to the darkness. they were
wholly unable to be Of service. Soon after the
tandalia had sunk the American war ship Tren-
ton broke from her anchorage and was driven
upon the wreck of the Vandalia, whence she
drlfted to the shore. The bottom of the Tren-
ton was completely stove and her hold was half
full of water.
AS morning broke the German man-of-war
Olga, which had hitherto withstood the gale
although much battered by the heavy seas that
constantly broke upon her, became unmaDage-
able. and she was driven upon the beach, where
she lay in a toerably fair position.
Mataafa sent number of men to the assist
ance of the ships. They rendered splendid aid
IN trying to float the Olga.
BRITAIN CLAIMS SUPERIOR sEAMAysHIP
London special to the Philadelphia Press
says: The terrible news from Samoa caused
profound sensation here. and much sympathy
is felt and expressed for the gallant men who
lost their lives. At the admiralty the officials
were very Jubilant at the escape of the CALI
ope, which they unhesitatingly attributed to
the superior quality of British seamanship.
Admiral Howell. formerly of the United
States navy, who has been for some time STAY
ing at BOurnemouth for the benefit of his
health, Is just now in London. He is sore at
heart at the loss of the ships he knew so well
and OF the officers who were once his comrades
He was sure no fault attached to any of the
American officers, least of all to Admiral KIM
berry, whom he knew well as a splendid officer
farquhar, too, was one of the best men in the
United States navy, and Schoonmaker was
capital sailor and good fellow.
SURVIVORS COMING HOME
The Auckland agent of the Oceanic steam
ship line, whose steamships ply between San
Francisco and Australia, cabled John d. Spreck-
les. president OF the company, that Lieutenant
Wilson desires to secure accommodations on
the steamship Mariposa. which touches at
Auckland on her return trip from sydney the
latter part of April, for three hundred of the
wrecked sailors at Samoa, to be taken TO San
Francisco The MaripOsa is only entitled to
carry two hundred and fifty passengers, but an
appeal having been made to the government
authorities here the Treasury department re-
Piled that the naval office would impose no re-
strIctiOn on the Mariposa CARRYING more than
the usual number of passengers, providing
they were shlpwrecked sailors. The steamship
Alameda left Auckland some days ago. 1t is sup
posed that she touched at Samoa Saturday. and
II Is thought she will bring large number Of
the shlpwrecked sailors to San Francisco with
out waiting for the MaripOsa to receive orders
The Alameda is due at San Francisco April h.
THE STORM OFTEN COMES WITHOUT WARNING.
storm similar TO the one of March 16 oc-
CURED at Apia in February, and at that time
the English warship Calliope and the German
ship Eber had narrow escape from being
wrecked.
Capt. Holland. of the schooner Bonanza. at
San Francisco, said yesterday that March was
always bad month for hurricanes in the South
Pacific. No harbOr Is safe in these storms; the
only course Is to put to sea. While there is
sometimes warning beforehand. as much as
twenty-four hours, Of the approach Of gale of
this kind. at other times il comes entirely with
out warning. Capt. Holland did not consider
for moment that the escape of the Calliope
was due to superior seamanship on the part of
her officers. She probably had steam up at the
time
Captain Leary, of the United States steamer
Adams. which recently returned to San Fran
cisco from Samoa. said on Saturday: '.Thefe
Is hardly any anchorage in Apia harbor and it
is very dlfhcult matter TO keep vessel off
the shore IN ordinary weather. The anchors
keep dragging, and when / was there with nv
vessel found II necessary to carry nv anchors
out every morning to keep the vessels from
going ashore"
Other San Francisco advices say that the
Nonongahela, which left there February 81
Tor Samoa, has probably reached her destina-
ton.
The seven naval cadets on board the Tren-
ton and the three on the yandalia were saved
The Berlin dispatch saws Emperor William
wac deeply moved by the news OF the Samoan
disaster. He Immediately telephoned Prince
Henry and afterward conferred with Count Won
Molike, Prince Bismarck and Others
SYMPATHY FROM THE QUEEN.
Expressions of sympathy were yesterday re-
ceived from Queen Victoria, cabled by Lord
Salisbury TO the British legation. Her majesty
directed her prime minister to express to the
President her sorrow and COMMUNICATION on
the terrible naval misfortune at Samoa. The
message was delivered yesterday afternoon by
Secretary Edwardes, the British charge daft
fares, who was accompanied by Secretary
Blaine la reply the President expressed his
warm appreciation, and that of the whole
people of this country, of the queens consider
ate sympathy with the United States over the
calamity which had overwhelmed its naval
forces at Samoa. The President said that a
more formal reply would be made to her
majesty through the Secretary of State.