Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-22
OUR LOST WARSHIPS.
Admiral Kimberly's Report of the Naval
 Disaster at Apia.

WASHINGTON, April 22.-A portion of the long expected official report from Ad- miral Kimberly, of the terrible naval dis aster at Apia, Samoa, has been received at the Navy Department
 The report received is as follows: U. S. CONSULATE, APIA, SAMOA, MARCH 2lST 1SS9
 The Honorable Secretary of the Nauy:
 STR: The Nipsic was got off last night and is now af1oat without rudder or rudder- post, and her crew is trying to get up her chains.
 The Trenton is sunk, the water coming over the port side Of her gun deck at high water. 1 think her back is broken. She might possibly be freed of water if we had the proper appliances, powerful steam pumps, etc. She has no rudder, rudder post or propeller, and lies with her deck slightly inclined to seaward. She lies almost along side the wreck of the Vandalia which is shoreward of her.
 The latter vessel is a total wreck and broken in two. At hightde the water rises over her torecastle. Only her foremast Is standing.
 We are engaged in securing moorings for the Nipsic and in wrecking the Trenton and Vandalia.
 A good deal of what we save might be sold at auction to save expense of storage and transportation
 Our sick and injured are doing we'll It would perhaps be well to send a wreck ing vessels here later in the season to save the Trenton's heavy guns, ammunition, etc. 1 have received from Captain Henry c. Kane, Royal Navy, diving suit and appa- ratus and will use it for all it is worth, but we ought to have another in case of acci dent to this. 1 hope the department will not forget Captain Kane's kindness to us in our distress. He commands H. B. M. s. Calliope, which vessel having but one boa l gave her one of our ten-ored cutters. As she did not consider it safe to lie here at this season of the year, she sailed this morning for Sydney where she will be re- paired, as she was considerably damaged by the Olga colliding with her.
 Almost every vessel was at one time or another in collision with some other yes sel, and great deal of the damage that oc- cured was owing to this cause.
 If l can save the Nipsic, which can be done if the weather permits, I will send her under canXas to Auckland to be dec5ed and repaired.
 Another ship should be sent here for the purpose of conveying her as the risk of an imp1royised rudaer is too great to earn sna e of ets the oonaon nave of ft the machinery and propeller but shall be in formed in the course of a few days.
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
 l.. A. Kimberly. The following letter from Admiral Kim berly under date of March 19 was also re- ceived
 Secretary of the Navy.
 Sir: have to commend to the govern ment of the United States the very great assistance we have received in saving the public property from our wrecked vessels at this place from Mataafa Malietoa, who without any request on my part called on me personally and sent some hundreds of his men to assist our people in saving stores and materials from the wrecked vessels
 If some recognition of these services could be made, think it would be appre- ciated very highly by the Samoans, partic- ularly as they have so generally given their services and in two cases their lives to be- friend us. Very respectfully,
 Your obedient servant,
 l.. A. KIMBERLY,
 Rear Admiral