Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-06
CORY GALLANT TARS.
AMERICAS CHANCES IN A FIGHT AT
SAMOA
Washington Naval Officers Think That Uncle
Sans Boats Would Fight and Probably
Hurt Some Of "Blzy's Msn-0r
Naval Strength at the Island.

WASHINGTON, March 5.-The reported
fight between German and an American
man of-war off Samoa, referred TO in yes
terday's cable dispatches, wss the subject
of considerable comment among naval Off
GERS.
One and all are of the opinion that if the
German cruiser Olga came in contact with
any vessel at the island it must have been
with the little Nipsic, or possibly with the
Trenton.
Although the vandalia and Trenton are
due in Samoa by this time, 1t is not yet
known whether either of the veeels have
completed the passage Naval officers have
been lsying wagers on tha result OF the
race between the ships. The Trenton and
Vandalia left for Samoa about the same
time, the Trenton starting from Panama,
with Admiral Kimberly on hoard, and the
Vsndalia from San Francisco, with Captain
C. NJ. Schoonmsker in command. Both
vessels have good speed records, and 1t has
been conceded that the race would De
tight one, with perhaps the slightest sd-
vantage in favor of the Vandslia. The
Nipsic has been at Samoa under the COM
msud of Commander Mullen, ever since the
officer relieved the Adams from the island
work.
1t ia very easy for naval officers to un-
derstand how an American war vessel
could be SO iusulted by the Germans, la
boring as they are under the excitement OF
the time to warrant the placing Of a shot
fha (,QTmQnQ
resented the shot Of warning by firing one
of their ship batteries in return, nothing
would be likely to restrain the Americans
from dischaTging broadside in return. 1t
is well known before the Adams was re-
lieved by the Nipsic that the former yes
sci was compelled TO keep her decks
cleared for quarters" and her position
so selected as to enable her to keep gun
coma emily trained on the Germans. Ii
fight hae occurred it is more than likely
that the little Nipsic has had hand In 1t.
The German cruiser Olga is much her su-
perior in size.
II the Trenton was on the scene, and
there had be an occasion for using pow
der, Capt. n. H. Farquhar, her comman-
der, would have thrown the big ships
rifles into action in twlnkllng. III the
Trenton took hand Americans need have
little fear about the reeult, for, with Cap
tain Farquhar in command, she "ouid
prove more than match for any vessel In
the German navy short of the Konig Will
helm, the Dutchland, aud half dozen OF
the iron.clad fleet. Captain FaTquhar has
one of the most enviable regulations In the
navy. He graduated from Annapolis high |
in his class, in the latter part OF the mites, |
and WAS shortly afterward sent out on the
African coast as one of the detail OF mid
shipmen when the United States was one
OF the powers engaged in suppressiug the
slave trade.
While on the station many slavers were
captured, and many Of the vessels were
among the finest of Americsn-puilt craft
necessarily go, sincs the business IN
which they we're engaged demanded swift
and able ships. The prizes when tsken
were usually sent 10 America IN charge oi
some officer and small prize crew. Mid
shipman Farquhar, being the senior mid
shipman aboard, suddenly found himself
ordered to take to America prize, and
with crew of only dozsn men he started
on his long voyage Shortly after leaving
the coast yellow fever brtke cut, and so
terrible was the work that when Midshlp-
msn Fsrquhar passed the Virginia capss,
bourd no for Norfolk, he had only two
men left capable of doing duty.
During the war Lieutenant Farquhsr re-
ceived distinguished honors, and was con
spicuous at sll the heavy naval hghte. AT
Fort Fisher the visor of his cap WAS torn
off by a round of grapeshot as be was lead
ing an assault, and rs a souvenir of the oc-
casion he still retains the tattered rem
nants. Asa seaman there is no better IN
the navy. and as an officer and gentleman
he is universally respected. His last shore
DUTY was az commandsnt of cadets at An
nspols, but since that time he has received
his full captaincy.
Naval officers are certain that If the
Trenton was at Samoa during any hgnt-
inc, aud Farquhar was not bampered by
the Admiral, the big eight-inch rifles OF
tho Trenton would have been brought into
plsv. The battery of the Trenton consists
of ten eight.inch rifles. They were all
formerly eleven inch smooth bore Dahl
grene. Eight of these guns are mounted
on the gun deck and two on the spar
deck. The gun deck has four guns of the
battery on each side. The Trenton form
erly carried three eight-inch rifles on the
spar deck, two of which were mounted on
the forecastle; but the heavy pitching
caused By this weight forward necessitated
the taking offOf Oneoi the forecastle guns;
The Wyoming now carries this gun. All
the carriage, were made by the Delamater
Cannon Works, of New York, and were OF
a most handy type. The Trenton is we'll
provided with machine guns. The Van
dalia carries nine-inch Dahlgrens for her
broadside battery, with two Parrott rifles
for niYots.