The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-17

ahoat but about o'clock in the afternoon the
position of the Trenton and the Olga had
changed and they were almost on the rect near
the point where the Eber struck The Trenton
coming down upon the Olga and coils
ion seemed inevitable. The condition of the
flag ship was most pltiable, as at 10 O'Clock IN
the morning her rudder and propeller had
been carried away by fouling with piece of
wreckage. When the rudder came in contact
with the wreekage the shock was so great that
the pilot wheel on the deck was whirled around
like lightning and every spoke in IL was broken.
Two men who were at the wheel at the time
were thrown violently to the deck and one had
his leg broken. To add to the discontinue of
the steamer the water poured in through he
hawser pipes and flooded the decks. The
hawser pipes, which are large openings in the
bow through which the anchor chains pass,
were unfortunately located on the berth deck,
instead of the gun deck above, as Is usually
the case. Efforts were made to close the pipes
but the force OF the water was so strong that
the coverings were blown of pre-
maturely. The water rushed in on the berth
decks, found its way to the matches
and poured down into the fire room.
All attempts TO keep it out failed, and in
short time the tremen were up to their waists
in water, and all the fires were extinguiShed.
From 10 o'clock in the morning until o'clock
in the evening, when she grounded, the Iren-
ton held out against the storm without steam
or rudder and her escape from total deStruc-
ton the reef was miraculous The skillful
management of her navigating officer, Lieut. r.
NJ. c. Brown, was all that saved the lives OK
every man on board. A few days after the
storm Capt. Farouhar made an official report to
Admiral Kimberly, in which he paid high
tribute to the skill with which the navigating
officer Unanswered the vessel and declared that
Lieut.. Brown had, on one occasion at least, kept
the Trenton of the reef and saved all OF the 40
lives.
Admiral Kimberly, Capt Farquhar and
Lieut. Brown. stood upon the bridge the whole
day and directed the movements of the ship.
As the storm gave out the mlzzen
storm sail was set with the greatest difficulty.
Oil was also poured overheard, but II had no
effect in stilling the waves. The Trenton was
Unanswered in this way all the time and
ceeded in keeping clear of the reef until the
middle of the afternoon, when the force OF the
wind and waves bore her down almost upon
il. She came broSdside on toward the reef,
and il seemed as If the great vessel
with her $50 men were lost. Lieut.. Brown or
dored every man into the port rigging, so that
q compact mass of humanity could be used as
sails and at the same time keep the weight OF
the vessel on the side next to the storm. This
novel experiment was all that saved the Tren-
ton from destruction. The wind struck against
the men in the rigging and forced the vessel
out into the bay again. She remained there
only for a short time, however, and soon COM
menced to drift back against the Olga, which
was still standing of from the reef and
holding up against the storm better
than any other vessel In the harbor had
done. The Trenton came down slowly on the
Olga, and this time it seemed as II both vessels
would be swept TO pieces The crowds on
shore rushed down TO watch the ledse and
peered through the binding storm 10 hear the
crash which would send both men-of-war and
their loads of human freight TO the bottom.
Suddenly the stars and stripes were seen float
ing from the staff of the Trenton. Previous TO
this vessel IN the harbor lad rs-sed a Tag.
as the storm was raging so furiOusly at sunrise
that that ceremony was neglected. Ii seemed
now as If the gallant ship knew she was
doomed and had determined to 60 down with
the flag OF her country floating above the storm.
The stern of the Trenton was nearing the Olgas
bow and Capt. Won Erhard, believing that sure
destruction was upon him, let 60 his anchors
and attempted TO steam away. He was too late,
however for Just as the Olga commenced 10
move up against the wind her bow came INTO
contact with the star board quarter of the flag
ship. The Oga's bowsprit and hgure-head
were carried away and the heavy timbers on
the Trenton's quarter We're shlyereds
several boats were torn from their davItles.
and the American flag, which had hoated
from the Trenton was carried away and ien 10
the deck of the Olga. Fortunately the vessels
drifted apart after the collision, and the Olga
steamed ahead toward the mud flats IN the
eastern part of the haTbor Capt On liar E.
had determined TO run her aground; her en-
gnes were working TO their fullest capacity,
prov struck and the steamer lay imbedded in
the soft mud in the safest part of the bay. No
life was lost The waters beat over her all dur
ing the night but the only damage they did
was to flood her decks with water, and carry
away several boats.
The Trenton was not able to get out into the
bay again after her collision with the Olga.
She was now about 200 feet from the wreck Of
the Nandalia, and was slowly drifting from
the shoal. A new danger now arose. The
Trenton was sure TO strike the Nandalia, and
to those on shore it seemed that the huge hull
of the flagship would crush the Vandalis TO
pieces. and throw the hundred men still cling
ing to the rigging into the water. Ii was now
after o'clock, and the light was beginning TO
fade away. In halt an hour the Trenton
bad drifted on to within a few yards of the
Nandalia's bow, and the men who were IN the
rigging of the latter vessel tTembled with fear as
they saw the Trenton approach. Feelings hard
to describe came over the hundreds who
watched the vessels from the shore. Presently
the last faint ray of daylight faded away aud
night came down upon the awful scene. The