Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-14
SAMOAN RUnORsy
Nothfn< Known ut Warrington and Dis-
credited ut the Navy Department-Tho
Weasel, il Sunk, Stated to He
the Nfpsic. -.s~-s-.-.--eF--

SAN FRANCISCO, March 9.-Great promo
nence 10 given by. the papers here 70 the
rumor that an American man.of-War was
sunk in Samoan waters in fight with the
German corvette Olga and the publication
was considered q sensation, following the
report from Kiel q few days ago of . re-
ported engagement Tho fact that the
name of the vessel alleged TO have. boon
sunk was omitted added to the disbelief
in the report. but is was assumed that 1t
was the Nipsic, Captain Mullan COM
manding. Captain Schenck. Quarter
master United States marine corps, veri,
fes the statement that the Olga was sup
piled with torpedoes, which is not the
case with the three American war vessels
dispatched to Samoa.
The steamer Alameda Of the Oceanic
line, which left for Australia February Q.
touched at Tutuila, the southern island OF
the Samoan group. February % and ar.
rived at Auckland March 8 Had any en-
gagement occurred at Apia she would
probably have learned OF the fact at
Tutuila and carried the news to Auckland,
whence the fact would have been cabled.
It is conceded that the information might
not have reach ID Tutuila. as Apia is sew
enty-five miles distant, in time for the
Alameda to carry the news to Auckland.
The steamship Zealandia is due at this
port March 16 with, news from Samoa
down to March 2. -.-s.s 81
NOTHING KNOWN IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-The story OF the
engagement between the Gel man man-of-
war Olga and an American man-of-war
in the harbor of Apia, resulting in the
sinking of the American vessel, is gener.
ally discredited at the Navy Department..
No information upon the subject has been
received at the Department Of State
There. as in the Navy Department. it 10
said that news OF an event OF such impor.
lance would surely reach the UnitedStates
as SOON as German seacoast city.
Thu Nipsic, which is supposed to be the
American vessel referred to in the German
publication, is rated as q wooden vessel Of
the third class with six guns. The Van
dalia and Trenton, VIII ch have doubtless
reached Samoa by this time, are also
wooden vessels carrying eight and ten
guns respectively in their main batteries.
Most OF these guns are smooth bore, but
naval officers say that at short range and
against unarmored vesse.s, such as the
German gunboats now in Samoan waters,
these guns are just as effective as rifle ord
nance. Unless the German gunb pats have
also been reinforced the American feet
now at Apia is regarded as superior in Of
fensive power, as its vessels are fresh
from the repairers' bands, and the crews
are strong in number.
HERALD SPECIALS.
= NEW YORK. March 9-The Herald's San
Francisco special states that the city was
in q hutter over the receipt of the news
that the o ga had sunk the Nipsic in Sa.
moan waters. @@
E. b. Pond, mayor Of the city, said:
1.-The questions are, What can we dof
What forces have we at our command?
There is no doubt but that we should blow
the. Germans out of the water-if we can"
Major Goldsborough. general paymaster
United States navy. said: 1--WE should
mans. Blow them up if possible" ,;
James G. Fair said: America will
have to be a little careful until she gets a
few more ironclads-forty or fifty more.
don't believe the report can be true. So
far the German Government has acted
very fairly, and if there is any one to
blame it is her officials who have exceeded
their authority" s .,.
Captain w. s. Schenck, Quartermaster
United States marine corps, said: "Our
vessels at Samoa do not carry torpedoes,
which gives the Olga an immense advan-
tage over them. This coast is not in very
excellent trim for a war. The Charleston
is not ready. The Monadnock lies unfin.
ished at Mare Island. The Comanche,
also there, is a single turreted monitor
and could not take a long sea voyage.
hardly think the report is true. In any
event we wait for orders"
Touching the authenticity Of the news of
the encounter. the Herald refers to the
fact that a German ship with the news
might have reached Auckland within four
or Ave days of the occurrence and cabled
the facts to G -rmany before the arrival
there of q mail line boat upon which the
American dispatch agent stationed there
by Secretary Whitney two months ago
would be obliged to depend for the same
information.
- An Aged Wife Murderer. 4
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March perry