Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14
AFTER THE STORM.
DETAILS OF THE TyPsooN IN THE
SAMOAN HARB0R
1sw tns Wsr~Ships snd Their Crews Went
to DestructiOn-ss, 900, 900 Of Pro-
perty Lost.


f-"tf'ff'Rf
mere per steamer Alsmeda from samoa bear
ash OF March Both The hurricane OF
Msrch 10Th and 18th IL described "a the most
violent ana destructive ever known Ia the
south Pacific, aud a. the result 4 fleet OF six
wT'ShipS aud ten other vessels we're ground
10 stoms In the harbor, and l42 officers and
men OF the American and German nayies
sieep forever under the reefs or lie hurled In
unmarked graves thousands OF miles from
their native lands. The property destroyed
VIII reach S3,00O,000 in value. The United
states irigste Trenton, the flagship Of the
Pacific squadron. which arrived here from
Panama March ii,h. lies within stones
throw OF the American consulate = total
wreck. The great hull Of the ship which
steamed into the barbor = lew weeks ago
rests on The bottom fact going to pieces
BURIED OFT OF SIGHT.
The United States steamer Vaudala,
which arrived from san Francisco February
23d, IA buried out OF sight between the
Trenton aud the shore. Her shattered fore
East aud smoke-stsck rise from the water 10
mark The spot where the gallant vessel struck
and law for twelve hours before the awful
torrent Of water swept four OF her officers
and thiriy-nine meu from her decks snd
rigging. Her commander, Captain SchOon.
maker, was among the first wbo persisted in
the wsves. The United states steamer Nip
sic lev for several DAYS alongside OF The
Nandalia with her how high on the beach
snd within five feet OF the waters edge.
The vessel. though badly damaged. was
hauled of few days after the storm. and Is
the only war>ship ahOst In the harbor. Seve.
raj Of her officers and crew are living
aboard. All 81 the Nipsic's officers are safe,
but she lost five meu by the swapping Of a
boat, and two Others who jumped over
board were also drowned. Three Amrr-
can meD-oi-war were swept ashore almost at
the same time.
GREATEST LOSS or LIFE.
II WAS on the little German cunbont Eber
that the greaiest loss OF life occurred. The
sEber had a complement Of six officers and
seyeniy-six men. Five men were ashore
duriGg the storm. When the vessel struck
the reef she sank completely ont OF sight and
IN a minute later there was not ves,ige OF
her 10 be seen. All on board were lost ex-
cept one officer, Lieutenant Galdeke, aud
four sailors The other five officers and
Sixty-siX men were either instantly killed OF
were drowned in the roaring torrent OF water
that broke upon the reef. A small part OF
the EbCPs PROV WAS afterwards washed
ashore near an American vessel This and "A
few pieces % broken wrecksge near I've
point where she struck are the only portions
Of her that have ever been seen since the
moment she went down. Just on the edge
Oi the reef. about 500 yard, west OF the Tren-
ton. IL al that remains Of the Adler, the flag
ship OF the German squadron in Samoan
waters.
on TOP or THE REEF.
The Adler was washed on top OF the reel
md turned completely over on her side. She
hss remained in that position since. and Is
almost entirely out OF the water. Nearly
every man abOird wosthro@n into the water
wien the Adler struck, but only twenty
ssOfs were drowned and all her officers
were saved. The German corvette Olga 10
ftst OF the wind fiat about quarter OF mile
cast Of the American vessels. While the
storm was ragiug ana the vessels fighting Tor
their lives. the Olga came into collision with
nearly every other mn. oi-war and was
badly damaged shove her water-ne. II -
thought that she can be lowed oil. No lives
were lost on the Olga.
qHE CALLIOPE.
The only other mau-oi.war In the barber
was the British corvette CaUiOpe, which ar
rived here in February and relived the Row
abst. Her machinery was very powerful
and she was capable OF steaming st rate OF
sixteen knots an hour but she narrowly &C.
capped going ashore Mt the same place with
The Adler, but just a she was about 10 strike
the reef she slipped her anchors, and In the
fnce Of the terrible wind steamed out OF the
bnrhOr and put % sea.
The merchant vessels which were wreck
81 were principally small craft. NcSrlv all
OF them we're thrown on the reef near the
wreck, nut one or two 81 them escaped with
eiiGht damage. One OF these WAS + schooner
belonging 10 German trading company.
snd she was made ready at once to send 10
Tutuita 10 meet the Ocesnlc Steansip CONS
p1uy's steamer Mafiposa, IRON San Fran
cisco, so that the news 81 the disaster could
be forwarded TO Auckland and from there
csoled 10 Europe and America.
TIE STORMS FORCE.
The force Of the storm was never cqualled
in this part 81 the world before. The ba-
rometer had heen falling steadily for several
days, and the wind commenced TO blow Fri
day afternoon. 81 arch 18th. and continued I'M
III sunday morning The rain fell IN torrents
during the whole time. and great clouds OF
sand swept over The town. Hundreds OF
people stood on the beach and watched the
awful spectacle ~ the harbor. The vessels
al bad fuli head Of steam on ana three or
four anchors out rhelr yards aud topmasis
were down and every precauilon was taken
10 insure thu safety ~ the ships, but The wind
constantly shifted from northeast to north
west The force was 20 great that the vessels
dragged their Anchers Hl over from one side
OF the bay to the other, and came into collision
adOzen times.
PUT OUT TIE FIRES
Tremendous seas broke over the decks and
torrents OF water rushed down the hatch
WAYS and put out the fires. There was great
confusion among The men on several OF the
vessels early Saturday morning. but the OIL
Gers did noble WORK and the men became
orderly and attended 10 their business. In
the face n danger the persons on shore were
powerle.s 10 render assistance to the ships.
Hundreds ran To the waters edge and stood
IN the binding storm, watching the great
vessels pitch about on the waves or drlft 10
e-tnl destruction against the reefs. The sea
broke upon tho reef with sr0srng sound
nnd washed lar up on the beacn' carrying
with Il great quantities Of wreck. The
watchers on shore were submerged time
sitter time, and many were injured 10y noat-
INK wTeckase.
CLOUDS OF SAND.
Great clouds Of sand filed the sir and
cat the face and body like knife. The
beach Is sircwn with wreckage from one
end o, the town 20 the other. over 900
American and German sailors are qulTtered
IN ANA, and for few days after the storm
subsided the greatest confusion existed
everywhere. A large number o! men on the
Vaadklia and several on other vessels were
hanlv Toured by falling from The rigging
aud beiog thrown about the decks by the ter
mule sens, and u was necessary TO provide
temporary homes for their accommodation.
great rpADy men ffom the wrecked vessels
Beosme intoxicated as soon as they reached
Ahore.
AID PROM IHE NATIVES.
Natives waded far out into the surf where
awhite man could not live, aud many life
was saved through theiv efforts Americans
aud Germans were treated alike. No Thought
was given 10 the state Oi war existing be-
tween the Gcfmsns and themselves aud the
men WHO fought the Germans at Nailele q
few months before Eow bauled with the
waves and risked their own lives TO save
their enemies from wtteTy graves. Tbs
storm ragged furiouslv for nearly two days,
and when the wind finally aosled the scene
Of destruction Was awful. On shore houses
were uuroOicd aud blown down sud trees