Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-13
NEWS FROM SAMOA.
Dunnins's Interesting Budget
Arrives.
DR.. KNAPPE'S BIG HEAD.
Admiral Kimberly Acts in
Vain as Peacemaker.
DR., KNAPPE'S BIG HEAD.
THE STORM AS A DIPLOMAT.
1t Probably Did More to Settle the
Whole Trouble than the Berlin
Conference Can Do.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

| Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
| Copyright. 1889, by the Associated Press
Ap1A, Samoa, April 27.-The little
town of Apia has had the appearance OF
camping ground during the last few
weeks, since the hurricane occurred on
March 10th, in which the six men-of-
war were wrecked and driven ashore.
There have have been more people leav-
| ing here than were ever before known
in the history OF the place. Nearly all
the survivors of the three German war
ships have gone to Sydney, and the 600
American sailors, who composed the
crews of the Trenton and Vandalia, have
been waiting for the steamer 10 be sent
to take them to San Francisco.
| The great confusion after the storm
subsJed in few days, and the ship
wrecked sailors settled down to the
daily routine of saving everything that
could be taken off the wrecked vessels.
| The officers and men Of the Vandalia
are in more destitute condition than
tnose of any other vessel. They have
lost everything, and had to be provided
with clothing and other necessarie5 saved
from the Trenton and Nipsic.
Bv tho death of Captain Shoemaker
the command of the Vandalia's crew de-
volved upon Lieutenant j. w. Carlin.
Past Assistant Engineer Webster has
been appointed Acting Paymaster to fill
the vacancy caused by the death OF Pay
master 7. H. Arms.
The condition of the Trenton and Van
dalia have not changed much during the
last month. Both vessels are complete
wrecks. The hull CT the Trenton is sew
eral feet above water and her masts and
rigging are still standing. but she is hard
and fast on the bottom, with her stern
resting against the reef. The Vandalia
is entirely under water with the excep.
ton Of her forecestle and few feet Of
rail around the poop deck.
The German cruiser Adler is still upon
her beam ends on the reef with an inn
mense hole in her bottom. The Eber
lies at the bottom OF the bay, with few
loose spars floating On the surface.
A considerable quantity of clothing
and provisions was saved from the Tren-
ton, and all the machine guns on the
epar deck were also taken ashore.
: The divers were sent down 70 examine
the hull Of The flagship, but, owing to
the dangerous under-current, little could
be ascertained. One or two great holes
have been found below the water-line,
however, which render it impossible to
float the vessel. Admiral Kimberly
has decided to remove her heavy
battery, not only to save the
guns, but also in the hope of
Tightening the vessel and pumping her
| out. The Trenton carried fen eight-inch
converted rifles, and each gun weighs,
| 900 pounds. The guns and carriages
| were hoistsd over the side of the vessel
With great difficulty, owing to their great
weight, and taken ashore on lighters.
They then had to be rolled up steep
| embankment, distance of hundred
yards. The removal of the guns did not
seem to tighten the Trenton in the least,
| and no effort was made to pump her ont.
1t is the intention to remove the Van
dallas battery, but as the guns are sew
eral feet under water, much time will
probably be required in the task.
The safes of The Trenton and Vaudalia
were recovered. Half dozen divers
have worked faithfully, for the last six
weeks, and have saved large quantities
Of stores from the Vandalia. They ueed
no diving apparatus, and exposed them
selves to great danger, on account of the
floating wreckage.
After the Nipsc was hauled off, it was
found that she had been damaged on.
siderably by pounding on the beach.
Her engines and boilers had been sprung,
and she leaked little. The most
serious loss, however, was that of her
rudder and smoke-stack, and the scrapiDg
away of several inches of her keel, the
whole length of the vessel. Rear-Ad-
miral Kimberly ordered temporary re-
pairs made at once, the intention being
to send the vessel to Auckland.
The Vandalia's smokestack was placed
in position on the Nipsic, and rudder
was made. One or two OF the officers
declared openly that she was unsafe,
and objected to going to sea in her, but,
finally, the Admiral ordered Captain
Mullan to instruct his officers not to say |
anything more, as it had demoralizing |
effect.
About the time repairs were made on |
the Nipsic the steamer Nowhere, five
hundred ton vessel, belonging to the |
Union Steamship Company of New
Zealand, arrived at Apia, and the Ad-
miral contracted with the agent to con-
vey the Nipsic to Auckland for ESQ per
day. On the morning of the 18th
pre- parations were made to start for Auck-
land. About thirty of the Trenton men
were ordered to the Nipsic to complete
the crew reduced by sickness and the
loss OF seven men in the storm.
After making trial trip around the bay,
the officers were satisfied that she could
make the trip to Auckland safely, and,
accordingly, at s O'Clock she started; but
the Nipsic had not cleared the mouth of
the harbor when the starboard end of the
spar to which was attached the steering
tackle weakened, and would have broken
away entirely, had it not been
that the strain was relieved by /
shifting the rudder to the port side. A 6
sharp squall came up at the same time {
and rain fell fast. A long line of reefs a
lay off the starboard quarter, and it was e
necessary to haul away hard on port to t
Keep the vessels head out to sea. The '
heavy strain was too much and the port s
and of the spar broke away entirely, and l
he steering apparatus was rendered I
useless. The engines were stopped at r.
,Dce and the Nipsic was adrift without q a
udder. By the prompt use of her few p
ails the Nipeic was swung around with a
Ter head towards the sea, when she ii
teamed at full speed to position two il
niles off the reef. Signals were sent up
or assistance, but the weather was so d