The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-31
The Trenton, Vandalia, Adler and Eber,
However, We're Completely Wrecked.
The Americans Lose Four Officers and Thirty
Nine Men, Belonging to the Vandalia, While
the German Losses Are Ninety-Five.
THE APIA DISASTER.
-Four Warships Wrecked and One Hundred
and Thirty-Eight Lives Lost.

-Four warships Wrecked and One Hundred
and Thirty-Eight Lives Lost.
WASHINGTON, March 30.-The following
cable message was received at the Navy
Department this morning:
AUCKLAND, March 80, 1889.
Secretary OF the Navy, Washington:
There was hurricane at Apia, March
10. Every vessel in the harbor went on
shore, except the English man-of-war CAL
liope, which got to sea. The Trenton and
the Vandalia are total losses. The Nipsic
was beached; her rudder Is gone. but the
ship may be saved, though the chances are
against it. will send her to Auckland if
possible. The Vandalia lost four officers
and thirty-nine men, namely: Captain
Schoonmaker, Paymaster Arms, Lieutenant
of Marines Sutton, pay clerk John Roach,
Henry Baker. w. Brisbane, VIM. Brown,
Quartermaster Michael Cashen, NJ. Cragin.
b. +. Davis. Thomas G. Downey. NJ. Erck-
son. S. c. Gehring, Adolph Goldner,
George German, u. b. Green. Joseph Grif-
fin. +. NJ. Hammeur, John Hanchett. c. H.
Hawkins, w. Howat, Frank Jones, George
Jorden. NJ. II. Joseph. John Kelly, Thomas
Kelly. N. Kinsella. G. p. Kratzur. Charles
Kraus, Fr. Lessman, George. Merrage Ayl-
mer Montgomery. Thomas Riley, III. p.
Stallman, G. G. Stanford, John Sims, G. II.
Wells, John milford, Henry Wixted, An
kow Ahpeck, Pending Tachor. The Nipsic
lost seven men, namely: w. Calm, Geo. Gill,
Joshua Heap, Thomas johnson, David Kel-
leher, Henry Poutzell, William Watson.
&C fha ,bo
ton and Vandalia crews are ashore, and the
Nipsic's on board. All stores possible are
saved.
"The German ships Adler and Eber are
total looses. The Olga was beached and
may be saved. The German losses are
ninety-six.
1T is important to send 800 men home at
once. Shall 1 charter steamer Can char
ter in Auckland. Lieutenant Wilson will
remain in Auckland to obey your orders.
Fuller accounts by mail. KIMBERLY"
The following dispatch has been sent to
Lieutenant Wilson for Admiral Kimberly,
care American Consul, Auckland:
"Take such steps with regard to the Nip
sic and the wrecks and sending men home
as you may deem proper. Full power is
given you. The Monongahela sailed for
Apia, Feb. 21. TRACY"
Capt. Selfridge, United States navy, was
found at the Navy Department., this morn
ing, poring over chart of the harbor of
Apia. which he visited several years ago.
He said that while it was very bad har-
hrr ha1 a.k <lo
Like all of the Pacific island harbors, that
of Apia is formed by a coral reef, encir-
cling the island at short distance from
the shore. The anchorage space available
for men-of-war is contracted, being about
one thousand feet wide at the mouth of the
harbor. The bottom is sandy, affording
| slight hold for an anchor. and the harbor is
| exposed on the north. On each side of the
| entrance are coral reefs, which are awash
| at high water, and surrounded by shoals.
The depth of water ranges from four to
! eight fathoms, pretty deep water being
found close in-shore, which would enable
ship to get close in. Hurricanes
| or cyclones at Apia are usually
| from the southwest, and, revolving in
| the harbors, tend to force vessels on the
rugged reefs or rough shores. The last hur-
| ricane occurred at Apia just six years
| ago. Fortunately, no men-of-war were in
the harbor, but every merchantmen was
driven ashore or wrecked, houses were de-
stroyed and palm trees upro0ted.
| 1t is the opinion of Admiral Harmony,
| who is also familiar with the Samoan
islands, that the English man-of-war owed
her escape to the fact that she had steam
up and was enabled to push out to sea.
The number of vessels lying in the small
harbor was a source of danger to them ir-
dividually, for if one dragged her anchors,
she would very probably collide with and
carry away another ship which might 9TH
erwise have held securely. The news of
the disaster created q profound sensation
| at the Navy Department, and everybody,
from the Secretary down, freely expressed
his regret. Secretary Tracy could not see
cause to condemn anyone. The officers
| in command of the vessels were
competent men and had doubt
less adopted all proper precautions
against disaster. but these hurricanes
which assume cyclonic proportions. are
| SIMPLY lTItSlotlDlc, as was pIOScu ny Tux
| extent of the loss of vessels.
In the Navy Department it was notice
able that while the line officers mourned
for the men lost. the bureau officers had an
equal regret for the ships. Naval Con.
| structor HichbOrn, who is acting as chief o1
the construction bureau during the illness
of Commodore Wilson, said: THE Trenton
which was Admiral Kimberly's flagship
was the best wooden vessel in the American
navy, and the best ship of the old navy
The Vandalia was another fine vessel, and
had been thoroughly refitted in the Mare
Island navy-yard at considerable expense
just before she sailed"
Engineer officers recall the fact that thu
Trenton, which is set down as having
speed of 1916 knots, when In the Red sea as
tonished Englishmen by easily running
away from crack vessals of their fleet
rated at IA and Is knot vessels. She wa
launched in New York in 1877, at tn,
navy-yard. She was ship-rigged, %
feet long, 4S feet beam drew 20.6 feet, ant
was $500 tons displacement, or about s0'
tons more than the Boston and Atlanta
She had 42O officers and men aboard whei
she sailed from home. The Vandalia wa
| built at the Boston navy-yard, anC
launched in 1876 She was 216 feet long
80 feet beam. I7.3 feet draft. and 2.1O0 ton
displacement. She was rated as a 12-kno
ship. and carried 200 officers and men. Th,
Nipsic was q vessel of the old war navy
but after six years at the Washington
| yard she emerged in 1879 as O practicall,
new vessel. little but the old keel remain
lag. She was bark-rigged, 1S5 tee
long, S5 feet broad, drew IA