Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14
barbcr. while the position Of the Nipsic was
considered the safest

III nignt the WIND hau increased 10 gale,
and nearly sll the war.ships bad their en-.
gines working 10 relieve the strain upon
1neir anchors. The crews on most OF the
sailing vessels threw ont extra anchors and
then went sshorc. RAtu commenced TO fall
az midnight and the wind increased in fury.
Great waves were rolling in from the open
ocean, and the pitching Of the vessels was
fearful Every man was kept at work.
TIE TROUBLE BEGINS.
The Eber commenced to drag her anchors
st midnight, and an hour later the VAN
dahA's was also dragging. However. by
using full steam power they both succeeded
in keeping well OF the reef aud away from
other vessels. The wind blew stronger and
stronger and the rain fell In torrents. by
O'Clock the situation had become Alarming.
Nearly every vessel in the harbor was drag
ging its anchors, and there Was imminent
danger OF collision. pane began to break
out amorg the men on several OF the ves-
sells, and they were kept at their posts with
great difficulty. On shore The bowling Of the
wind among trees and houses and the crasD OF
falling roofs had aroused mnny persons from
their beds, and figures were soon cropping
about the streets looking for some spot OF
shelter from The tempest. The tide WIS
coming IN rapidly. aud the waves were wash
ing all over The street n hundred feet aobve
the usual high-water mark. spray was
thrown high in the air and beat in the
windows OF houses nearest the shore. Rain
fell like sleot. and men and women who were
wandering about In the storm sheltered
their faces with small pieces OF board or any
other article thst could be used as protection
against wind and sand
THE NATIVES REALIZE THE SITUATION.
The natives seemed to realize more than
any one else that the storm would result in
awful destruction. People gathered IN little
groups and peered out INTO the darkness
across the sea OF ioamIng waters. Through
the blsckneSs OF the, night could be seen the
lights Of the men. Of war, and even above the
rushing snd roaring OF the wind and waves,
the shouting Of the officers and men on
board came family across the water and
struck terror 10 the hearts OF all who listened.
II could he seen that the vessels were
dragging, "a the lights were moving slowly
in different directions and apparently cross
ing and recrOssing each other. Every mo-
ment II seemed ~ though two or more OF
the great wor-ships were about TO come to-
gether, and the watchers on the beach waited
in breaihless anxiety TO hear the crash Of a
collision and 10 see the vessels 20 down TO
destruction.
The SCENE At DAWN.
just before O'Clock the first rays OF dawn
broke uDOn the scene and revealed spects-
Gle not often witnessed. The position OF
the vessels was entirely changed; the wind.
which was blowing from the northeast, bad
swept them from their former moOrlngs. and
they were all bearing down in the direction
Of the rect. Black smoke was pouring from
their tunnels, showing that desperate efforts
we're being made to keep them up against
the winds. The decks swsrmed with men
clinginC 10 mnsts or any other object
where hold could he obtained. The hulls
OF the war.shIps were tossing about like
coTks. One moment the vessels seemed to
stand almost upon their beam ends and the
next instant their sterns would rise out OF
the water and expose 10 view the 'Iudders
and rapidy.reyOlving propelIerS. Then
prOws would be lifted high into the air only
10 plunge into tho next wave and deluse
the ships with torrent Of water. Seye-
raj small sailing vessels had already gone
ashore on the western part OF the
bay. The Trenton and Nandalia being
further out from shore than the others. the
ships were almost obscured by the binding
mlsts. The vessels most plainly visible were
the Eoer, Adler and Nipsic. They were
very close together and only few yards oil
from the reef.
THE GUNBOAT EBER.
The little gunboat Eber WAS making a des-
perate struggle for life, but every moment
She was being drawn nearer and nearer the
reef, ard her doom was certain. Suddenly
she SHOT forward a. if making n last struggle
10 escape destruction. The current, how
ever. bore her off 10 the right, and her Prov
struck The pOrt-quarter Of the Nipsc. The
shock carried away several feet OF the
Nipsic's rail and one boat. The Eber then
fell back and foulcd with the Olga, hut
neither vessel sustained much damage by the
collision. The two collisions, however, had
checked the Eber's progress, and she seemed
unable TO make any further effort 10 save
herself. She swung around broadslde to
the wind and drifted slowly towards the
reef. The awful seas broke over the little
vessel and forced her on TO destruction.
In a moment a great wave rolled
in towards the shore. The Eber
was lifted high on is crest and
carried brOadside on the reef. She came
down with awful force and in an instant
there was not a vestige to be seen. she
struck fairly upon her bottom and rolled
over towards the open sea and disappeared
from view. Every timber OF the gunboat
must have been shattered and the hslf-frozen
wretches aboard crushed TO death before they
felt the waters closing above their heads.
hundreds % people were on the beach by
this time and the work OF destruction oc-
CURED IN full view OF them all.
APPALLED, ny THE SCENE.
They stood for moment appalled, by the
awful scene, aud then a cry OF horror arose
from the lips OF eyerv man who had seen
in
perish In an inst ut. Then with one accord
thew all rushed 20 the waters edge nearest
the point where the Eoer had foundered.
The natives ran into the surf Tar beyond a
point wnere a white msu could have lived
aud stood waiting to save any poor creature
who might rise from the water. There
was no thought Of war between Ger
many and Samoa. There was no sign
OF enmity against the people who car
ried of their King and bsnished him
on lonely island a thousand miles
from his native land. The savage forgot the
oppression which civilized people had
placed upon hIm, and he now held out his
hand TO save human life. caring little
whether il was that Of friend or foe. Al
first il seemed az II every man on the Ill
fated steamer had gone to his death, not
even hand appearing from the depths where
the Eber SANK.
A FEW STRUGGLING MEN.
But the breakers on the reel had hidden q
few struggling men who had come TO the
surface and struck out ieebly fO- the shore.
Five OF these-Lieuicnsut GeOdeke and
four sailors were rescued by the natives
aud provided with dry clothing at The
American Consglate's. II was about 6
o'clock in the morning when the Ehtr
ioundered. During the excitement a,tend-
ing that calamity the other vessels had neen
for the moment iorgo'ten, but IT was soon
noticed that the positions OF several OF them
had become more alarming. The Adler had
been swept scross the bay. being Tor
a moment IN collision with the Oiea. she
was pow close to the ree;, about 200 yards
west Of the point where the Eber struck.
Like the EDcr she was approaching her doom
broadsiGe on. IN hait an hcur she was lifted
on top Of the reel and turned completely over
on her side. Nearly every man was thrown
in the water. Fortunately, however, the
Adler was thrown so far upon the reef that
when she turned over on her side nearly the
entire hull was out OF the water. Her deck
was at right angles with the water and was
facing the SHORE.