Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-16
MORE ABoUT rae GREAT sroRm
Details of the Trenton's Collision
with the Olga and the vandaiia.

with the Olga and the vandaiia.
A telegram from San Francisco gives the
following additional particulars Of the great
storm 10 Apw hsrbor and the gallant con
duct OF the American seamen in the face OF
death.
The Treuton was not able to get out into
the bay again after her collision with the
Olga She was about 200 feet from the
wreck OF the Vandala and was slowly drift
ing toward the sboal. II was now after s
O'Clock and the light WAS beginning 70 fade
away. in bali an hour the Trenton bad
drited on 10 within few yards Of the Van
dallas bow, aud the men VINO were IN the
rigging Of the latter vessel trembled with
fear A. hey saw the Trenton approach.
Feelings hard 10 describe came over huns
dTcds who watched the vessels from the
shore. Tue storm was stil raging with as
much fury as at any time during the day.
DYING WIN CHEER on THEIR LIPS.
suddenly a shout was borne across the
waters. The Trenton was cheering the Van.
dalia Tue sound 81 80 voices broke upon
Inc mir ana was beard above THE rOsr OF the
tempest. Three cheers for the Nanda'ia
was The cry that wormed the hearts OF the
dying men IA the rigging. The shout died
away upon the storm and there arose from
the quiyerIug mas's Of the sunken ship re-
spouse 80 feeble that IL was scarcely heard
upon the shore. The men who felt they were
looking death in the face aroused themselves
10 m, effort apd united in faint cheer Tor
the flagship Those who were standing on
the snore listened in silence, for that feeble
cry was the ssddest they had ever heard.
Every heart was melted 10 pity.
TIE srAR-sPANGLED BANNER.
The sound OF music next came across the
wsicr. The TrentOn'S hand was playing
5" The star. Spanglod Banner A thousand
men on sea and shore had never before heard
the strains o. music a. such time as this.
An indescribabe feeling came over the hum
dreds Of Americans on the beach, who lis
tened 10 the notes OF the national anthem
mingled with the howl OF the storm. For
moment only were they silent, and then they
broke forth with a cry that rent the air and
reached each Of the struggling men IN the
rigging ot the Vsndalia. Men who had ex-
hguSted every means dunng the whole OF
tDai awful day OF rendering some assistance
10 their comrades now seemed inspired to
greater efforts. They ran about eager TO do
something even at the risk Of life itself.
40 SMALL BOAT COULD'VE.
They looked dcspsrinely at the roaring
torrent ~ water that broke upon the shore
and knew that no boat could live In such
sra Brayciy as the Samoens hal acted,
there was not one Of them who would again
venture into suca q surf where certain desth
would pciall them. Three officers who had
heen untiripg in their efforts during the
day, Lieutenant sherman and Enslgns Pur-
cell and Jones, procured boat ana got u
ready 10 launch the moment the sea should
subside.
BRAVE VOLUNTEERS.
Several Of the natives and one or twO Of
the Nipsic's sailors volunteered TO 90 in the
boat. aud with the three officers sufficient
number of men were procured 20 man the
oars, but the storm did not sbate in the
least, and there was no opportunity during
ihe whole night 10 take the boat out TO the
vessels. The collision Of the Trenton and
Nandalis, which every one thought would
crush the latter vessel TO pieces. proved TO
bee the salvation Of the men in the rigging
Notwithstanding the tremendous force OF
The waves the Trenton dragged back slowly,
and when her stem finally struck the side OF
the Nandalia there was no shock, and she
gradually swung around brOadside 70 the
suukeu snip.
IN TIE NICK OF TINE.
As soon as the vessels touched the men in
the miZzcn rigging crawied out on the yard
aud Jumped to the deck OF the Trenton.
TIE men escaped just in time. for as the last
one leil the yards the miZzenmsst OF the
NanIalia fell With crash on the side next
10 the shore. The men on The malnmast
next ESCAPED in the same way. The men in
the foremost escaped by means Of line
thrown from the deck OF the Trenton. The
mainmast Of the Nandaia fell soon after the
and 1t was believed that several
men were killed IN the rigging.
HAD BEEN CIINGING FOR TWELVE HOURS.
The men who escaped to the deck OF the
Trentou had chung TO the NandalIa's rig
ldng nearly twelve hours. All were weak
and exhausted, and many had received Sc
we're INJURIES The Trenton was rapidly
filing with water and but little could be
done for the rescued men. However, they
" ere made a. comfortable as possible until
DAYLIGHT. The storm WAS raging furiouSly
AZ midnight. aud the stern OF the Trenton
was forced back against the reef. The waves
continued TO beat over her, but her draught
was so great that after she had settled en-
tirely on the bottom she was still about her
usual height out Of the water, and there
seemed 10 be no great danger OF her going
10 pieces before the men on board OF her
could be taken of.
HEEAKlNG OF THIS SECOND DAY.
Little could be done on shore but wait for
morning. Long before a ray OF dawn qp-
peared crowds began 90 gather on the shore
gain. Ey5 o'clock the wind had abated,
hough the sea was still very rough. How
,yer. natives volunteered 10 man boat TO 90
,ut 10 the Trenton. Semanu, chief OF the
A pia district, took charge OF the crew. 1t
Mas still very dark aud the trip was most
)eriiOus one but the natives put The boat
through the current In safety and reached
he bow Of the Trenton. They were given
lgwser, which they took back TO shore and
made last. But little was done, however,
inul daylight.
ORDERED TO REMAIN ON THE SHIP.
All hands were ordered 20 remain on the
hin. ~ the storm having subsidized there
vas no immediate danger As soon as II
,ecane light four more hawsers were
irctched from the Trenton TO the shore TO
.uard against danger In the event OF the
torn coming up again. Two boats, manned
" natives in charge OF Chiefs Semanu and
.stuanse. commenced the work OF removing
ne Nandalia's men from the Trenton.
SAVING THE INJURED FIRsT.
Those who were badly injured were tDe
rSt 10 come ashore. few had arms aud
20, broken, aud nearly all were badly cut
nd bruised. There were very few, espe-
islv among the officer, who could walk
Without assistance. King Mstsafs came down
rom his camp early in the morning for the
rst time in several months. lie went down !
n the shore and directed the natives IN |
heir work. He then went TO the American |
Consulate and offered the services OF all his
Deu 10 Vlce.COnsul Blackjack. He expressed |
he greatest sorrow on account oil the dis |
ster, snd feared that the American people |
you'd blame him for being the cause OF the |
,at.ships coming down TO Samoa to be lost
q the storm.
CONFUSION on SHORE.
II was not long before the greatest contu-
lon and disorder prevailed on shore. The
'renton's men commenced to leave The YES
81, and when they reached shore there was
0 place for them 10 go. By noon there
rere nearly 500 American sailors on the
reefs at Apia, besides several hundred more
ON the German ship'. The Germans re-
,alned at Mataiele, 1T the lower end OF Apls,
here the German residents live. but the