The Helena independent., 1889-04-14
THE GREAT STORM
Confined Prom First Page.

useless 10 attempt 10 steam out tom tie
reef ln the face 0f the wind Capt Mullen,
who was on The bridge, gave
the order 10 beach the vessel.
One anchor WAS shlpped hnu
the few pounds of steam which could still
BIZ used kept her IN deep water until she
had cleared the end NJ the reef when she
finally struck the sandy beech. The vessel
swung around, forming an acute angle
with the line Of the shore. Orders were
given 10 lower the boats. Five sailors
Jumped Into one, but the falls did not work
properly, aud before The boat was lowered
one end had dropped, the men were thrown
into the water and drowned Another boat
containing Surgeon Dtrr and half dozen
sick men was lowered IN safety, but
cApsized before II had reached the shore
The natives, who were standing in the surf
seized The floating men and passed them To
the beach. Several other men on the Mp
sic ran 70 the rail and Jumped overheard,
among them beiug Lieut., Davenport. All
reached the shore In safety but two sailors.
| liy desperate effort line was got "a the
bow Of the steamer and double hawser
passed ashore and made fast
RESCUED BY MATAAFA's MEN.
Mataafa's men gathered In great mum.
bers IN the surf and along the hawseTs 20
assist the men on shore. The waves were
rolling high on the beach and the undertow
was ~ strong the natives narrowly escaped
being wash Il out into the bay, The terri
bic force of the wind can not be Imagined
The rain continued 10 pour and the clouds
0f lying sand grew thicker every moment
Above the roar Of the wind and waves
could be heard the shouts ot officers and
men on deck, mingled with the loud cries
and singing Of the natives as they stood
batllng against the surf Capt Mullen
and several other officers stood by the rail
and directed the movements OF the men.
| The sick and injured were sent of first,
and after that the men came down the
ropes quickly. The waves were rolling so
high that when the men had come ten feet
down the hawsers they would often be en-
tlrely submerged and nothing but the
noble efforts Of tho natives prevented them
| from being washed of and carried away by
| the current. Capt Muller was the last to
leave the Nipsie. The Nipsic's surgeon
and his assistants were busy several hours
| administering restOratives TO the wounded
and exhausted men. There was not much
shelter ashore for the men, however, and the
dry clothing with which they were proyid-
ed was soon drenched by the terrible
storm. They had been at work all night
without food and II was impossible t0 give
| them all food for some time. great mum
| ber Of them visited the saloons and many
Of them were soon intoxicated and quar-
rssOme Lieut.. Fillette and a small guard
Of American marines did everything in
their power 10 preserve order and several
times tho sailors had to be handled rough
ly, many OF them being put In irons.
WRECK or THE yANDALIA.
About 10 o'clock In the morning the Van
dalia and Calliope were seen to be Ia the
most dangerous position bearing back
against the reef rapidly. The Calliope was
nearest the shore and her bow was close TO
the stem OF the Vandalla. Suddenly the
great iron prov OF the English vessel arose
high in the air ON the crest of An enormous
wave and came down with full force upon
the port quarter Of the Nandalla The
crash was awful. The jib-bOom of the
Calli0pe was carried away and the heavy
timhers Of the Nandalia were shiyered. A
hole was torn below the rail and the water
rushed into the cabin. The men rushed up
from the matches in the belief the vessel
was sinking, md IL was only after an ef-
fort the officers persuaded them 70 return Ia
their posts.
just after this collision Capt Jane, Of the
Calli0pe, determined TO make an effort 10
steam out of the harbOr, as he saw "a
would lead 10 another collision with the
Vandalia OF throw his vessel onto the
reefs. He accordingly gave orders 10 LEI
20 all anchors. The Calliope's head was
swung around to the wind and her power
full engines worked 10 their utmost capac
ity. The steamer seemed 10 stand still for
a moment and then the rapidly revolyinl
propeller had Its effect and the vessel slow
ly moved up against the great waves. She
made headway at first inch by inch, bu
gradually increased her speed until IL be
came evident she could clear the harbOr
As she passed abreast OF the Trenton q
great shout went up from the 400 men on
!, the flagship and three hearty cheers wer'
given for the Calliope, which were re-
turned with Will. The English vesse
passed safely out OF the harbOr and steamed
J far out TO sea, returning after the storm
had abated. She sustained no injury out
side OF the loss Of her boats.
When the excitement on the Nandali'
, which followed the collision with tho Cal
Hope had subsidized a little, IL was ftun,
necessary 10 act quickly 10 save the ship
Lieut.. Carlin, the executive officer, wa
, practically In charge OF the vessel, as Capt
SchO0nmaker had been thrown across tn
cabin the night before and was seriousl,
injured, his head being badly cut and on
, ear almest torn away. N0twithstandinl
his injuries he faced the storm and stood b,
his first officer until finally swept of 10 hi
death, but was IN such weakened conditiO
9 he was able to do but little towards direct
+ ing the movements of the ship. The high
b been on duty since the morning before an
had not tasted food In ali that time
Though weak and exhausted he kept hi
position by the side OF Capt. SchOonmake
K and Lieut. Wilson, the navigating Officer
A and encouraged everyone around him. Th
: Nandalia was now fast bearing down o
the reef alongsi the wreck OF the Eber All
!. hundreds of people ON the shore expecte
l. eveIe minute 10 see her strike. She Wa
soon, however, to move away from the ~,
+ and make slight headway toward the pOir
d where the Nipsic lay. Capt Schoonmake
: and Lieut. Carlin saw II was useless
d make any further attempt 10 save the shi
u as the engines were not powerful enoug
" To steam out TO sea- as the CalliOpe ha
IA done, they determined TO beach the yesse
n Two OF her anchors were shipped and fu
T. steam put on. She came on until her bow
et struck on the soft sand about forty yari
I, from the stern of the Nipsic. The Va
10 dalia swung around broadsido to the beac
rs and II was seen her officers and crew we
at in great danger.
y BATTLING FOR LIFE.
In half an hour the vessel was seen 10
10 hlling with water and settling down, lyiI
n as she did, almost broadside to. The SCI
ia broke over her furiously and the wat
~ poured down her matches. BY noon d
=" gun deck was under water and from tn
time on the condition of the men WAS mt
pitiabe The torrents Of water that swe
I'd over the rail knocked them from their f.
ee and threw them violently against the sid,
several being $ verely injured. Most