Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-18

tion Unchanged as Far as the Natives
Are Concerned.
SAN Francisco, April 15-The steamer
Alameda, which arrived from Samoa April
Is, brings a full description of the great
naval catastrophe in the harbor of Apia,
and news to March 80, when the following
was the 81: Uat.,n:
The Trenton.
The United States frigate Trenton, flag
ship of the Pacific squadron, lies within
stones throw Of the American consulate a
total wreck The United States steamer
Vandalia is buried out of sight between the
Trenton and the shore. Her shattered fore
mast and smokstack rise from the water to
mark the spot where the gallant vessel
struck and lay for twelve hours before the
awful torrent Of water, which swept four
officers and thirty men from her decks and
rigging
The Nipsic.
The United States steamer Nipsic Law for
several days alongside the Vandalia, with
her bow high on the beach and within five
feet of the waters edge The vessel, though
badly damaged, was hauled off few days
after the storm, and is the only warship
afoat in the harbor.
The Greatest Loss of Life.
1t was on the LITTLE German gunboat Eber
that the greatest loss of life occurred. The
Eber had a complement of six officers and
seventy-six men. Five men were ashore
during the storm. When the vessel struck
the reef she sank completely out of sight,
and minute later there was not a vestige of
her to be seen, and all on board were lost
except one officer, Lieut.. Gaedeke and four
sailors.
Isut Little Remains.
A small portion of the Eber's prov and a
few pieces of broken wreekage near the
point where she struck are the only portions
of her that have even been seen since the
moment she went down.
The Adler.
Just on the edge of the reef, about 500
yards west of the Trenton, is all that re-
mains of the Adler, the flagship of the Ger
man squadron in Samoan waters The Adler
was washed on top of the reef, and turned
completely over on her side She has re-
mained in that position since, and is almost
entirely out of water Nearly every man
aboard was thrown into the water when the
Adler struck, but only twenty sailors were
49, "AAu oA LIZA OluSClS heI0 SdNOI.
The Olga.
The German corvette Olga is fast upon a.
wind fiat, about quarter of mile east of
the American vessels. While the storm was
raging and the vessels fighting for their
lives, the Olga came into collision with
nearly every other man-of-war in the har-
bor, and was badly damaged above her
water line. It is thought that she can be
towed off. No lives were lost on the Olga.
l. Two Out of Seventeen.
Out of seventeen vessels which were
moored in the harbor, only two small
schooners remained afoat, and these were
badly damaged The survivor of the disas-
ter seemed dazed. They had seen friends
and comrades swept away from their grasp
and go down to death, and had expected to
follow them as every wave broke over their
nl-fate1 vessels. Long exposure had rem
dered them weak and exhausted Very few
had tasted food for thirty-six hours MANY
had chung to the rigging without a particle
of clothing, and all bore marks of terrible
suffering
Under Marine Guard.
The town is under marine guard in charge
of Capt. Huntington, and Mataafa's police
have also assisted in maintaining order.
The men from the Trenton and Vandalia
have separate barracks, and have erected
temporary tents for shelter The Nipsic
men are still living aboard their vessel, and
the German survivors are quartered in a
warehouse belonging to a German firm.
Working on the Wrecks.
Working parties are kept busy all the time
on the wrecks of the Trenton and Vandalia
and articles of every description have been
brought ashore from the vessels and piled to-
gerher in large yard The divers have
been making an examination of the Nipsic
and have discovered that her keel has been
carried away, 1t has not yet been ascer-
tanned whether the Nipsic will be
able to leave the harbor or not.
The Political Situation.
The storm does not seem to hava changed
the political situation of Samoa, so far as the
natives are concerned. Both the parties are |
still encamped in the same positions they
have occupied for several months past.
Mataafa's men have not given the slightest
intlnation that they intended to taxa ad.
vantage of the unprepared condition of the
Germans, and it is. not thought they will |
make any attack upon Tamasese' force.
pending the Berlin conference.
Memorial Services.
On Friday, March 90, the Germans held
memorial service at the French Catholic
church. Admiral Kimberly, Capt Farqu-
har, Consul Blackjack and many other
Americans attended, and guard of honor
from the United States war ships was also
present. The American memorial services
were held on Sunday morning, March "a, in
large yard in which the Trenton men have
their quarters The services were very brief
and were conducted by Chaplain Nc AIlister,
Of the Trenton. Over 700 men from the
three American men-of-war were present,
but none of the German. officers attended
The Olga Arrives at Sydney.
SYDNEY, N. S. W., April 15.-The Ger
man warship Olga, which was stranded
during the recent hurricane at Samoa, has
arrived here for the purpose Of repairing her
damages, which are slight. She brought
from Apia the commander, two officers and
thirty of the crew of the German warship
Adler. which was wrecked in the same hur-
ricane.
The Olga's hull is perfectly sound. A
small hole was made in her stern, and she
will require to have two OK her plates riv-
ted She made no water. during her voyage
lrom Apia here.
The screw steamer Rociton, Of Lfa8 tons,
will proceed from here to Samoa, where she
will take on board the crews of the wrecked