The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-30
GREAT DISASTER AT SAMOA
All the American and German Men-Of-
WarWrecked in a Furious Hurricane.
Four Officers and FOrty-S Six Men of the Amer
ican Crews DrOwned-The Germans Lose
Nine officers and Eighty-Seven Men.

LONDON, March 3o.-Advices have been
received from Samoa to the effect that, in
terrific hurricane there, three American
and four German men-of-war were wrecked
and that many persons were drowned.
AUCKLAND, March 29.-Dispatches from
Samoa state that the American men-of-
warTrenton, Vandalia and Nipsic, and the
German men-of-war Olga, Adler and Eber,
were driven on a reef during violent
storm aud totally wrecked. OF the Ameri-
can crews, four officers and forty-six men
were drowned, and of the German crews,
nine officers and eighty-seven men lost
their lives.
WASHINGTON, March 80. - The cable
grams in reference to the re-
ported wrecking of the three Amer
lean men-of-war at Samoa were sent to
Secretary Tracy at the Arno at an early
hour this morning, and he sent down word
that he had no information on the subject.
The Crews Of the American Ships.
NEW YORK, March 29.-Commander Dennis
w. Mullan, the commander of the Nipsic,
was ordered to that duty Oct. /,
1887. He entered the service Sept
90, 1860; was promoted to ensign
in October, 1868; to master in October,
1866; to lieutenant in February, 1867; lieuten-
antcommander in March, 1868, and to his
present grade in July, 1882. This was his first
command In the new grade, as, owing to some
trouble with the Navy Department officials, he
was kept off duty for over four years. Comman-
der fIullan, while not regarded as one OF the
brilliant men of the navy, was a good fighter.
He was q native of Massachusetts and was
of Irish parentage. The executive officer of the
Nipsic, in the absence of Lieutenant Hawley,
was Richard G. Davenport, or, as he is better
known in the service, "Dick' Davenport. His
reputation as a frst-class officer in every re-
spect was vouched for by all the navy
people here. He was a son of the late Captain
Davenport, of the navy, who was one of fthemost
distinguished naval officers of the late war and
who commanded the Congress during the battle
of Mobile Bay. The other officers attached to the
Nipsic were Lieut.. John R. Shearman, Of New
York; Ensigns VIM. p. White, John L. Purcell,
Harry A. Field and Harry p. Jones; Past Assist
ant Surgeon E. z. Durr, Past Assistant Paymas-
ter John Corwine, Chief Engineer Geo. W. Hall,
Past Assistant Engineer Horace E. Frick and
! First Lieutenant of Marines L. Glover Fillette.
The complement of the Nipsic was liza marines
and blue jackets, although some of her short
time men were sent home from Samoa when the
Adams left for San Francisco in January last.
The Nipsic was wooden vessel and was built
in 1873. After two cruises she was rebuilt at
| the navy yard at Washington, in 1879 She was
bark rigged, 1S5 feet long and 80 feet
beam. Her displacement was 1873 tons, and
indicated speed ten knots. Her battery consisted
of one eightinch muZzle-lOading rife, four nine
| inch smoOthbores, one sixty pound breech-loa
! ing rifle converted parrot, which was located on
| the fOrecastle; in the secondary battery one
| three-inch rifed howitzer, one twelve FOUNDER,
| and one short Gatling gun. In addition to these
| there were sixty HOtchkiss rifles Of the
latest improved pattern in her armory, besides
the usual number of pistols and side arms al
| lowed by regulation for vessels of the Nipsic
class.
The Trenton and yandalia were larger than
the Nipsic. The Trenton was ship-rigged wood
en- cruiser OF ten guns and of $500 tons dis
placement. The Vandalia was also bark rugged
wooden cruiser of 2,1OO tons, with battery
Of eight guns, mostly smOoth-bores.