The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-04-19
FRIDAY. APRIL 10. 1850.
HOW THE SHIPS SANK.
Eye witnesses Tell OF the Wreck
ing Oi the American ana Ger
man Boats at Apia.
The Vessels Much Damaged by Un-
ayoidable Collisions Before Being
Wrecked.
Remarkable Stewardship Displayed by
Officers Undoubtedly Saved Many
Lives.

SAN FRANCISCO, April l5.-The steam
ship Alameda arrived at her wharf
from Australia. She touched at the
Samoan islands, and has on boa I'd mum.
Der of officers and sailors from the men,
of-war wrecked in Apia harbor. The
Alameda brought ten naval cadets from
the u,2n- of-war Trenton. The following
facts with regard to the hurricane are
CLEANED from the shipwrecked men: The
storm commenced at about 2 O'Clock on
Saturday morning, March 10, and lasted
until Sunday at q little after o'clock in
the morning. The Eber was driven on
the shore reef. She broke up in pieces
in few minutes, only one officer and
four men being saved. When she struck
the reef she keeled over into deep water
and probably her guns, which
were of great weight, assisted
i'll smashing up the vessel quickly;
Shortly afterward the Adler also drifted
on the same reef a little further west
ward. 1t would hardly be credited by
any one who had not seen it how such q
heavy ship as the Adler could be lifted
so high ON the reef, which is uncovered
at low water. She is now lying on her
port side. high and dry, only few feet
of her side being under water at high
tide. The exact number of men lost
from the Adler was twentys
The Nipsic was the next on the list OF
casualties. She was drifting toward the
reef and at o'clock she headed for the
shore and Just touched the point of the
reef with her rudder. which was carried
away, together with her stern post, but
by the skilful management of the cap
tain and officers they succeeded in beach.
ing her on the sand. Great credit IL due
for the manner in which the Nipsic was
handled, for if she had gone on the
reef larger number of lives would I'M
doubleday have been lsst.
The Vandalia was the most unfortu
nate vessel of the United States squad
ron. She drifted about 8 o'clock near to
the Calliope and the Olga, and came into
collision with both. The Calliope struck
her with great force on the port, doing
considerable damage. The Vandalia
still continued drifting almost in COM
pany with the Calliope, but the latter
vessel, having lost nearly all her anchors,
put full steam on and went steadily out
to sea. The captain of the Vandalia,
seeing no hope of saving his ship, headed
her for the shore, and In endeavoring to
reach the sandy beach unfortunately
struck the reef, and filled and sank be-
fore she could beach, within about 90
yards from the stern of the Nipsic. The
vessel was completely submerged, and
all hands had to take to the rigging,
where they remained until the Trenton
was driven alongside about o'clock in
the night. when most of the officers and
crew got on the Trenton. The loss OF
life in Vandalia were the commander,
three officers and 80 seamen and marines.
Divers have been engaged since Monday.
On Tuesday the safe was recovered,
which contained about $4,000.
The Trenton meanwhile was gradually
coming closer to the land. She had heI
bridge ports broken in, which left an
opening, and the sea came in great guam
titles through this opening and through
the hawse pipe, getting into the fires.
this was fatal to the chances of saving
the admiral's ship. The engineers were
unable to keep up steam. About
toward the Olga, which was then about
500 wards from the reef. Both ships
tried to avoid touching, but a collision
Trenton on the quarter. opening a large
breach and doing other damage, and the
| Olga's bow was smashed. After the yes
sells cleared each other the Trenton
drifted still further toward the reef, and
one time held fairly well to her anchor
but at about 8 o'clock she dropped down
| Just clear of the reef and on the Van
dalia. The Trenton's stern was aground
She was broadside on the sunken vessel
and the poor fellows who had been or
the Vandalia's yard about twelve hour:
got on to the Trenton.
The Olga was the last boat afloat in
the harbor. She rode the gale well, and
at one time it was thought she would
weather the storm. These hopes proved
vain; but the vessel was sufficiently
controlled to be beached in the best pos
sible position and comparatively unin
jured. The Vandalia Is totally lost
nothing can be saved from her. Nearly
every day since the wreck of the vessels
bodies of the drowned are being washed
up, greatly decomposed and unrecog
nizable. A rumor is current in Api;
that the admirals and consuls are en-
deavoring to arrange matters between
Mataafa and Tamasese, so as to Undue,
them to return to their homes until afte
the Samoan conference.