Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-04-18

waters edge and stood in the bl7nding Storm
watching the great vessels pitch abozt ON the
waves or drift to tosal destruction agamst the
reefs. The sea broke upon the rtSef with
roaring sound and wsBhed far up on 1he beach.
carrying with it great Quantities of WrsckAge.
The watchers on shore were submerged time
after time and many were injured by thB Heat
ing wreckage. Great clouds ef sand h1ed the
air and cut face and body like knife. Every
one was dreDched with the Tain, but stoo4
shivering ia the stornz prepared to render
whatever assistance might be possible.
The natives waded far cut'fnto the surf where
white man could not livs. and: Hany q life Wes
saved through their efcrts. AAsericans and
Germans were treated alike: no thought was
gwen 70 the state Of war existing between the
Germans and themselves and the men who
fought the Germans at vaifele a. lev months
before now battled with thewavesf and riskeai
their own lives to save their enemies from .
watery grave.
The storm ragged furiously prsneazay two days
and when the wind finally absted thB scene Of
destfuctieR was awful. On the-s sfcre houses
were unroofed and blown down and trees and
fences were thrown across the streets, % that
passage was almost blocked. Gut OF seventeen
vessels which were moored In the harbor only
two small schooners remained aAt3at' and the Sc
were badly damaged -t, g---
The survivors Of the disaster seemed ds1ed.
They Had seen friends and comfades> swelrt
away from theiT grasp and go down tps death
and had expected to follow them,as every wavp
broke over their nl-fated vessels. LONG. en-
posure had rendered them weak and exhausted
Very few had tasted food for thfty-six> houx&
OF clothing and all bore marks Of terrible sufer-
ing. The houses Of Apia were thrown opeH'and
both native and foreign residents dd al in
their power to accommodate the cshipwree,1ed
sailors.
/ Although 146 men lost their lives during the
storm there have not been more than forty
bodies recovered For the first day or two bod
les CT Americans were buried in q Gem
etery connected with the Eond0n
mission. and the bodies OF the Germans
cemetery. but IL soon became impossible 10
identity the bodies and owing to the waErn
climate 1t was necessary to bury them where
they were found. A number of rough oofhhs
were made but number OF the bodies were
buried in the native mats. Some Of them were
terribly mutilated by the beating for hours
against the coral reefs.
Paymaster Arms body was recovered; two
days aftecthe storm. 1t was positively identi-
fed by the clothing and the ring which he wore
It was ina terrible, condition and was buried in
the mats where it was washed ashore.
Some OF the natives also found q body: about
the Sane time, four miles up the coast and
from the description which they gave it wes>be'
heved to ee that OF Captain Schoonmalzer, but
the Identification was not positive. The bodies
of Lieutenant Sutton and Pay Clerk Noach
have not been recovered
On. Friday, March %, the Germans held
memorfa lservice at the French Catholic Church.
Admiral Kimberley; Captain Farquhars Consul
Blackjack and many other Americans attended
and guard of honor from the United States
war ships was also present.
The American memorial services were held
| Sunday morning March "a, in . large yard in
which the Trenton mau have their. quarters
The services were very brief and were. oon
| Quoted by Chaplain MbAlhster of the Tfenton.
| Over TOO men from the American men-of-wal
| " ere present, but none ef the German ofaoers
attended.
| The storm does not seem to have changer The
| political situation far the natives afeecon
cerned. Both the parties are still encamped II
| the positions they have occupied for severn
months past. Mataafa's men have not given-tA,
slightest fntimation that they intended tostaka
advantage of the unprepared condition Of tn,
Germans and it is not thought they win make
| any attack upon Tamasese's forces pending ths
Berlin conference.
| The German Consul, DE- Knappe, is stfn pur
| suring the spiteful course which has always
characterized his administration of affairs here
| Notwithstanding the noble work of tht
| Samoans in saving the lives OF the
| Germans during the storm. Dr.. Knapps
posted printed notices few day,
| later declaring that the Samoans daily steal ths
| produce from the German plantations and
warning the public. not to- purchase any thing
| from them.
| the injuries received during the storm.