The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-24
REPORTS FROM SAMOA
REcsWeoATTHe NAVY DEPARTMENT
Letters From Admiral Kimberly Concern
ing the Recent Disaster-Secy Rusk Re-
ducing the Number of Employees
in Hls Department.

WASHINGTON, April 20. - This mornings
mail delivered at the navy department brought
two letters from Admiral Kimberly referring TO
the wrecking of the American feet at Apia.
They were accompanied by long detailed re-
port of the disaster The first letter is dated
Apia, March 49, and reads:
Secretary OF the Navy:
SRI have to commend 10 the government Of the
United States the very great assistance We have re-
ceived in saving the public property from our
wrecked vessels this place from Maiaaa Malietoa,
who without any request on my part called on me
personally and sent hundreds OF his men to as
sist people in saving and materials from
the wrecked vessels. Also when the Nipsic and
Nandalia went shore the natives risked their lives
10 those OF who endeayOred 10 reach the
shore by swimming, and OF them lost their lives
IN these attempts. Ii some recognition OF these
vices could be made think IL would be appreciated
very highly by the Samoans, particularly as they
have generally given their services and in two cases
their lives, TO befriend US
Under date of Apis, March p, Admiral
Kimberly writes
The Npsie was got of last night and is now ahOat
without ruddeT or rudder post and her crew is en-
gagged in trying 20 get up her chains. The Trenton
Is sunk the water coming over the port side of her
gun deck At high water. think her back is broken
She might possibly De freed from water ii we had
the proper appliances, powerful steam pumps ETC.
She has no rudder rudder post or propeller and
lies alongside the wreck of the Vandalia, which is
shOreWard Of her. The latter vessel is total wreck
and broken in two, and at high tide the water rises
over her top gallant forecase Only her foremost is
standing. We are engaged in securing moOrings
for the Nipsic and in wrecking the
Trenton and Nandalia. A good deal OF what we
save might be sold at public auction 70 save expense
OF storing and pOrtatOn. Our sick and in iured
are doing we'll 10 would perhaps, be better TO send
wreckingyeSse here later in the season TO save the
Trent heavy guns ammunition, etc. have re-
eelyed trom Capt Henry {. Kane royal navy. a
diving suit and apparatus, and will use II tor all IL is
worth, but we ought 10 have another In case oil an
accident 10 this. / hope that the department Will
not forget Capt. kanes kindness 20 us in our dis
tress. He commands the H. N. ;. CalliOpe, which
vessel had but one boat. gave 70 her one OF our
ten-oared cutters but he did consider IL safe TO
lie there at this OF the year. She has sailed
ths morning tor sydney, where she viii be repaired
She considerably damaged by the Olga colliding
with her. Almost every vessel was at one tino or
another in collision with some other vessel and
great deal OF the damage that occurred owing TO
this cause II ! can save the Nipsic, which can be
done 1t weather permits, / viii send her under
cover To Auckland to be doeked and repaired.
conveying her, Is the risk OF an mprovised rudder
is too great to send her there alone. have still to
learn of the condition of her machinery and propel-
Ter, but shall he informed in the Of few days
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
J.. A. KIMBERLY
Rear admiral L. s. y, commanding L. ; naval
force on Pacific station.
A letter from Commander ID. W. Mullan of
the Nipsic dated Apia, March %, addressed to
the secretary of the navy, reads:
In compliance with paragraph %. p. 80 of the L.
:. navy regulations, have to honor report that
all boiler power used on the 10th Of March dur
ing the violent hurricane which occurred iu this
harbOr. ID. w. MULLAN, Commander,
" nj