The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-05-30
The Elanshin Trenton.

1t stirs the sluggish blood in this cold,
calculating age to read the story of the
flagship Trenton at Samoa. Once more
the heart beats high, and mist comes
before the eyes, as there used to now and
then in war time.
We seem to see the gallant Trenton, as
we read, driven By the whistling gale
about the harbor at Apia. Her rudder
is gone, her fires have been put out by
the waves. She has no sail, no steam,
no rudder, and yet her gallant navigat-
ing officer, Lieut.. R. n. G. Brown, is able
to save her and the $50 American sailors
on board. She carries Admiral Kimber-
II too.
The navigating officer orders the storm
sail TO be set. It is done with the great
est difficulty. That helps some. but the
great Trenton drifts in towards the death
reef in spite of it. She seems surely
going to her doom. Suddenly Lieut..
Brown orders all on board into the port
rigging. There they cling for life. The
scompact mass of humanity throws thus
its weight on the side of the ship next
the storm. The close rows of bodies are
as good as sail, and act as such. The
big ship veers slowly around, and away
Sfrom the reef.
Anew danger arises. The Trenton is
being driven by the wind against the
Olga. Now nothing can save her. In
that moment those onshore see the Stars
and Stripes suddenly run up the peak of
the flagship The brave 4J0 have read
their doom. They viii go down with
colors flying. The two vessels strike.
There is crash, splintering of tim
bers, heard even above the awful ste4za.
The American flag waivers and goes down.
It falls upon the deck Of the German
.. ship Olga: strange incident. It ought
to be an omen of peace and good viii.
But it seems that a power greater than
the tempest saves the two ships. Neither
is destroyed, though both are fearfully
injured. Then the disabled giant drifts
back into the :-ilarbor. Now she drives
down upon the Varidalia. A hundred
men still cling desperately to the rigging
of the VandaIia. They have been there
twelve hours. The ropes have cut
into thoir flesh, they are bruised black
and blue, their eyes are blinded by the
salt spray, but still they are alive.
Now they see the black hull of the
Trenton bearing down upon them. 1t is
bitter thus to die by blow from their
own comrades.
But what is that? A cheering cry. It
comes from their brothers on the Tren-
ton. Those on shore hear it. "Th-ee
cheers for the Vanda1ia!" It is the Tren-
tons men, with death before them all,
;nsniring the men in the rigging. They
IL It, and il does indeed put life into
them. They even answer back feebly,
the saddest. faintest little cheer ever
human lips uttered.
Then the suffering men in Gle rigging
hear another sound Above the whis-
ting of the gale, above the roar of the
breakers, it comes, clear, strong, sweet.
1t is the band of the Trenton, and in that
-hWIuL AuOLueub tASy 1LO SSS1Ats~1ay P11yA145
the ''Star spangled Banner" Well, it is
a glorious tune to die by. Heroes souls
have been waited into the beyond By its
strains before today.
/, Not yet! That which seemed their
certain death is their salvation. Instead
of running the Vandalia down, the Tren-
ton swings gently alongside. The ex-
hausted men in the rigging are taken
quickly of. The dying Trenton drifts
back upon the reef There is no saving
her now. So stanch is her great hull,
though, and SO deep, that she settles
upon the reef high out of water, and
docs not so to pieces. She keeps her
cargo of brave men safe till the storm is
over.
Gallant old Trenton! Gallant 450
While the republic stands, while thestaI
spangled banner in triusnph shall wave,
you shall live in your country's storyl