The morning news., 1889-04-14

raised flag as the storm was raging so furi-
ously at sunrise that the ceremony was neg
leeted. Ii seemed now as if the gallant ship
knew she WAS doomed aud had determined
TO 60 down with the flag of her country
floating above the storm. The stern OF the
Trenton was nearing the Olga's bow,
and Capt. Won Erhard believing that sure
destruction was upon him let go his anchors
and attempted TO steam away. he was too
late, however, for just as the
Olga commenced to move up against
the wind her bow came into contact with
the Starboard quarter OF the flagship. The
Olgas bowsprit and figure head were car
ried away, and the heavy timbers on the
rreuton's quarter were shIvered.
FALL OF THE FLAG.
Several boats were torn from their
davits, and the American flag, which had
fioated from the Trenton, was carried
away, aud fell on the deck of the Olga
Fortunately the vessels drifted apart after
the collision, aud the Olga steamed ahead
toward the mud fats IN the eastern part of
the harbor. Capt. Won Erhard had de-
termined to run her aground. Her engines
were worked TO their fullest capacity, and
1t was only moment before the Olga PROV
struck, and the steamer lay imbed1ed In the
soft mud in the safest part of the bay.
No life was lost. The waters beat over her
oil during the night, but the only damage
they did was Co food her decks with water
and carry away several boats.
DRIFTING TOWARD THE vANDALIA.
The Trenton was not able to get out into
the bay again after her collision with the
Olga She was about 200 feet from the
wreck of the Vandalia and was slowly
drifting toward the shoal It was now
after o'clock and the light was beginning
to fade away. In half an hour the Trenton
had drifted on to within a few yards OF the
Vandalia's bow and the men who, were In
the rigging Of the latter vessel trembled
with fear as they saw the Trenton ap-
proach. Feelings hard to describe cana
over hundredswhow watched the vessels fro m
tho shore. The storm was still
raging with as much fury as at any time
during the day.
DYING WITH A CHEER ON THEIR Lips.
Suddenly shout was borne acrosi the
waters. The Trenton was cheering the
Vandalla. The sound Of 450 voices broke
upon the air and was heard above the roar
OF the tempest "Three cheers for the Van
DALAI was the cry that warmed the hoarts
Of the dying men In the rigging. The shout
died away upon the storm and there arose
from the quivering masts of the suuken
ship response so feeble that 1t was scarcely
heard upon the shore. The men who felt
they were looking death in the face aroused
themselves TO the effort and united in a
faint cheer for the flagship. Those who
were standing on the shore listened in
silence for that feeble cry was the saddest
they had ever heard. Every heart was
melted to pity.
THE STAR sPANGLED BANNER
The sound of music next came across the
| water The Trenton's band was playing
"The Star Spangled Banner" A thousand
men on sea and shore had never before
heard the strains OF music at such time as
this. An fndescribable feeling came over
| the hundreds Of Americans on the beach,
who listened to the notes of the national
anthem mingled with the howl of the
| storm. For a moment only were they
silent, and then they broke forth with a cry
that rent the air and reached each of the
struggling men on the rigging Of the Van
dAlia~-men who had exhausted every means
during the whole Of that awful day Of
rendering some assistance TO their comrades
now seemed inspired to greater efforts.
They ran about eager TO do something even
at the risk of life itself.
NO SMALL BOAT COULD LIVE.
They looked desparingly at the roaring
torrent OF water that broke upon the shore
and knew that no boat could live In such a
sea. Bravaly as the Bamoans had acted
there was not one Of them who would again
venture into such surf where certain
death would befall them. Three officers
who had been untiring in their efforts dur
| ing the day, Lieut.. Sherman and Ensigna
Purcell aud Jones, peocured a boat and got
| it ready to launch the moment the sea
should subside.
BRAVE VOLUNTEERS.
| Several natives aud one or two OF the
Nipsic's saiIors volunteered to 20 i'm the
boat, aud with the three officers a sufficient
number Of men were procured to man the
oars, but the storm did not abate in the
least, and there was no opportunity during
the whole night 10 take the boat out 10 the
vessels. The collision of the Trenton and
| Vandalia, which every one thought would
crush the latter vessel to pieces, proved 10
be the salvation of the men in the rigging.
| Notwithstanding the tremendous force Of
the waves the Trenton dragged back slowly
and whom her stem finally struck the side
Of the Vandalia there was no shock, and
she gradually swung around broadside to
the sunken ship.
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
As soon as the vessels touched, the men In
| the mizzen rigging crawled out on the yard
and jumped to the deck Of the Trenton
| The men escaped Just In time, for as tue
last one left tho yards, the nizzenmast OF
Of the Vandalia fell with a crash on the
side next TO the shore. The men on the
mainmast next escaped in tho same way
The men in the foremast escaped means
Of line thrown from the de.k OF the
Trenton. The mainmast OF the Vanlalia
| fell soon after the mizzsnmast, and it was
believed that several men were killed In the
rigging
HAD BEEN CLINoING FOR TWELVE HOURS.
The men who escaped TO the deck Of the
| Trenton had clung TO the Vandalia's rigging
nearly twelve hours. All were weak and
exhausted, and many had received severe
| injuries. The Trenton was rapidly filling
with water, and but little could be done for
| the rescued men. However, theY were
made as comfortable as possible untll day
light. The storm was raging furlo sly at
midnight, and the stern Of the Trentol was
forced back against the reef. The waves
continued 10 beat over her, bat her
draught was so great, that after she
| had settled entirely on tile boo
tom she was still about her usual
hight out Of water, and there seema1 70 no
no great danger OF her going to pieces be-
fore the men on board Of her could be
taken of.
BREAKING OF THE SECOND DAY.
Little could be done on shore but walt for
morning. Long before a ray OF dawn ap-
peared crowds began TO gather on too rhore
again. BY o'clock the wiud had abaGsd,
though the sea was still very roug How
ever, natives volunteered to man a boat n
49, ~ aFN .al