The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-17
Latest From Samoa and the American
Ships.

APIA, SAMOA, June 22.-Per steam.
er Alameda, San Francisco, July Z:
The Oceanic steamer Alameda touched
at Apia and took away nine officers
and sixty men of the United States
frigate Trenton, who were left here
when the steamer Rockton sailed for
San Francisco last month with $50 sur
viyors of the recent hurricane.
Admiral Kimberly and his two staff
officers, Lieuts. Rittenhouse and Mer-
riam, and five men will remain in
Apia. The Admiral states that the de-
partment had probably issued orders
under the impression that the United
States man-of-war Alert was here, but
as there was no American war vessel at
Apia now, he did not care to abandon
the place entirely. The Admiral in
tends to remain here until the arrival
of an American man-of-war, when he
will probably use her for flagship.
During the last six weeks the Sa.
moan Islands have enjoyed a period OF
Quiet such as has not been known for
many months before. The native par
ties declared a truce early in May, and
since that time the political situation
Of the country has assumed peaceful
aspect. The only man-of-war here
now Is the German gunboat Wolf,
which arrived from New Zealand on
June 10. The Nipsic, the only Ameri-
can vessel saved from the storm, has
gone to Honolulu for repairs, under
convoy of the Alert.
The Nspsic and Alert return to Apia
and in q JeaO hours teave for HonoLutat.
The two ships left here for Auckland
on May 9, but in six days they return
ed, and Capt. Mullan, of the Nipsic,
and Capt. Green, of the Alert, report.
ed that. after going two hundred and
fifty miles they had deemed it inadvis-
able to proceed further. The Nipsic's
rudder broke and she became practical
ly unmanageable. The rudder was re-
paired, but the vessel made such slow
progress that there seemed to be no
probability of their reaching Auck-
land before the third week in May.
Severe weather might be expected off
the New Zealand coast. Capt. Null
Ian desired to proceed, if possible, but
he laid the matter before the line Off
GERS of his ship. Not one of the Nip
sic's officers desired to return, and all
expressed their willingness to accept
the risk of encountering bad weather.
Capt. Mullan, however, believed it
would be impossible to launch boat
from the Nipsic in case it became nee
essary to do 80, and there seemed to be
some danger that if the vessel met
rough water she would lose her rudder
and then be swept into the trough of
the sea and rolled over. Capt. Mullan
accordingly gave orders for the ships
return to Apia. Admiral Kimberly
expressed considerable displeasure at
the return of the Nipsic and Alert, af-
ter having gone 250 miles, and re-
preached Capt. Mullan for his action.
Capt. Mullan asked to be relieved of
his command, and the Admiral at
once detached him and ordered Lieu
tenant Commander H. w. Lyon, Of
the Trenton, to take command of the
Nipsic. He also issued orders for the
ships to 60 to Pago-Pago to take on
coal and proceed to Auckland.
The Nipsic and the Alert sailed for
Pagb.Pago within a few hours after
their return here. The orders were af.
terwards changed and Honolulu was
made the destination of the ships in
stead of Auckland. The vessels sailed
from Pago-Pago for Honolulu on June