The Springdale news., 1889-04-26
THE SAMOAN DISASTER.
Report From Admiral Kimborl to
 the Navy Department.

the Navy Department.
 The Scenes, During tho Terrible Hnrri4
 cane. in the Harbor of Apia Con-
 cisely Stated-IncIdents of tho
 WreeIss, Etc.
 WASHINGTON, April 1t.-4fn his report to the Navy Department, of the appalling disaster in the harbor of Apia, Samoa, on the 18th and 16th of March, Admiral Kim berly, under date of March 19, says
 It becomes my painful duty to report to the Department the disastrous injury and loss of life sustained by the vessels under my com mand in the harbor of Apa during the hurri- cane which swept these waters March r. and 16. When the gale commenced there were in the harbor the following men-of war United States ships Trenton, Vandala and Nipsic; H. B. Nj sh D Calliopc, and H. I. G. M. ships Adler, Olga and Eber. There were also few merchant vessels and small craft The Nipsc had the inner berth and the Trenton 0ast to ar rve) had the outer berth Indications of bad weather appeared during the forenoon on Fri day. March 15, and at one o'clock on that day 1 commenced preparations to meet a gale by sending down the lower yards and housing top masts. Fires were lighted and steam raised b9 l!iItt v ClONh luC B'tlc Hil utNtlOptu IL blew hard during the evening, and aboutS D. III we parted our bow port cable. During the night it blew with great violence, but with the aid of steam the vessels kept in good shape un- til morning.
 At daylight we hoped for moderation of the wind, but were disappointed The gale set in with renewed fury, and early in the forenoon it was evident that some of the inner ships were ashore, and those nearer to us were riding uu- steadily. The flagship lost her wheel about this t!me; it was carried away with crash, and seriously injured some of the helmsmcn. Relieving tackles and spare tiller were ap- piled promptly but it was scovered that the rudder was broken, and soon it was entirely useless. The wind by this time was blowing with hurricane force and the seas were very heavy. The ship had begun to make water dur ing the early morning. The hand-pumps were manned and all bllge pumps in the engine room put on. The water gained and threatened to put out the fires, the greater part of 1t seeming to come in through the hawse pipes. which are situated on the berth deck. Every effort made Co stop the entrance Of water at this point by jamming in bedding and by putting moldng on the chains and by steering into the hawse pipes. It could be checked in this way, but not stopped, for the violence Of the seas was great that 1t would force back every thing opposed to it. All hands were set to baiiug, and the handy-blly rigged; but by 9:3J a. m the fires had been put out and the men driven up from the fire rooms Work at the hand dpumps and with the buckets continued from this time throughout the gale with the hope of being able to relght the fires and keep the ship ahoat.
 A little before noon the Calope was seen to De very .asy at her mo0rings and soon she steamed toward us, having parte or slipped her cables, and making an effort to go out Of the harbor She came near collidng with us and steamed out into the face Of the hurricane In the afternoon. the wind having hauled lit tle the flagship was more unsteady at her moorngs and pitched her chains one after an other We then drifted over toward the east ern reef escaping the wreck of merchant bark by the mere chance of her dragging as we approached her. We drfted until our stern was almost against the reef. Destruction seemed imminent as the vessel was within a few Feet of the reef a long while and pitching heavily. We drtted in this position, along the rec for a considerable distance until we came to where it turned more toward the eastward. Here we found smoother water, and our remain ing anchor seemed to hold quite well for time. This position, however put us directly in the hawse ot the Olga wh ch vessel had one of the smoothest herlh r the harbor al this time She was riding wcu and had control ot her engines.
 Efforts were at once made to heave over the
 
 holding but it could not be done in time. We slowly driftei upon her and she avoided Us twice by the skillfui use of helm and engines, but soon she cut into our quarters, first on one side then on the other, carrying away our boats, rigging and quarter galles, but not est sentially lniurng the hull During all ths time the officers of the flag ship made every effort to manage her by the storm sails and put ting men ln the rigging. We driftei by the port side of the Olga and across to the western reef dragging the anchor and trailing now on the western reef as we had before on the east ern.
 Some of the wrecked vessels were now in plain sight: The Nipsic well inshore on good bottom, stem to the seas; the Vandalia sunk against the reef masts standing, and tops and rigging full of men, spray ana sIrf flying to thelr mastheads; the Eaer nowhere to be seen; k; the Adler on her side high on the reef. The Olga had.turned for the shore, and going ahead under steam and sail was beached on good bottom and in good position to the seas All this time the gale had been blowing with un- abated fury Abo' ksix o'clock we were ex- pecting to strike the feef momentarilv. It was directly under our stern, but on the eastern side an undcrtow or current seemed to carry us along the reel and keep Us just clear Of striking Thus we camc on to where the Vandalia was lylng, and it was evident that our stem would soon strike her port side. AS approached her rockets were fired, carrying lines with the hope of rescuing the people on her mastS. This proved very successful, and the men from the main and mizzen were res cued first. Soon after we struck the Vandalia with violence, and her main and mizzen masts went by the board. We then swung gradually and settled into a position alongside of her, just touching the bottom and our stern grazing a small wreck and the reef The men were rescued from the forenast of the Nandalia and thence on during the night we continued to beat the bottom and against the Vandala with great force. The wind during tn Saturday, night blew with hurricane force, squall follow ing squall. with hardly any appreciable inter val The seas, however, were not as high as they were further out, and we got through the night without additional serious misfortune.
 Just before daylight the flag ship was visited by two boats manned entirely by natives, who carried lines to the shore This was dangerous work, owl ing to the darkness, to the sea and current, to the reef and wreckage, and to the difficulty of approaching the Trenton on ac- count Of the Vandalas wreck. The men were kept at the pumps and buckets without cessa tion, with a view to hauling of the ship, if pos sible and keeping her af1oat when the gale abated. In the morning the wind moderated It was then ascertained that the propeller was missing The shp had settled hard on tht bottom, and the water could not be reduced. Il was up to the englue-r0Om platform, ana rlSlng Under these circumstances, and in the absence Of any docking facilities or marine railway ap pliances and powerful pumps, the abandon ment of the ship became necessary. Store were gotten up as rapidly as possible and th' people got their effects ashore.
 Immediately thereafter the crew were set t work getting out and saving from her ever, thing possible. On Monday the water was III to her gun-deck and she had settled little ol her port side On Tuesday she had settled more 10 port and was still lower in the water The Vandalia is completely submerged, an' only her foromast and hcad-booms showing above the water. The Nipsic is lying in abou seven feet of water at low tide (rise and fal | four feet. She would probably have to b | hauled astern some five hundred feet to foa | her at high tide. She has lost her smoke stack. Also her ruddcr and her propeller ar | badly damaged. Her crew remained on boar | and she keeps her bilges free Of water by tn | steam pumps I have ordered board to in | vcstgate at once the possibility of saving th Npsic, and to further investigate and repor upon all circumstances connected with the los | and damage of the vessels by the gale. Tn | report of this board will be forwarded by tn l first opportunity after it's receipt by me. Tn crews of the Vandala and Trenton are in bal | racks on shore. The Calliope steamed into tn | harbor this morning, showing signs of havin aal hAn4 thnr la f1 Cxrf