The national leader., 1889-04-06
WRECKED At SAMOA.
THE TRENTON. VANDALIA AND NIPSIC
/. LOST.

LONDON, March 30.-Advices have
been received from Samoa to the effect
that in a terrific hurricane there three
American and four German men.Ot-
war were wrecked and that many per-
sons we're drowned.
AUCKLAND. March 29.-Despatches
from Samoa state that the American
men-of-war Trenton, Vandalia and
Nipsic, and the Germen men of-war
Adler. Olga and Eber were driven on a
reef during violent storm and totally
wrecked.
Of the American crews, four officers
and 46 men were drowned. and of the
German crews, nine officers and 81 men
lost their lives.
WASHINGTON, March 30.-The
cablegrams IN reference to the reported
wrecking of the three American men,
Of war at Samoa were sent to Secre-
tary Tracy. at the Arno, at an early
hour this morning, and he sent down
word that he had no information on
the subject.
THE LOST VESSELS.
The Army and NaUy Journal. of
March 23d, gives the following brief
description of the lost American ves-
sells:
N1psic, Sd rate, guns, Commander,
d. W. Mullan. at Apla, Samoan
Group.
Trenton. I'd rate, 10 guns f. s. p. s.),
Captain N. II. Farquhar. Sailed from
Panama January Ii for Samoa.
Vandalia, I'd rate, guns, Captain
G. M. Schoonmaker. Arrived at Apia,
Samoa, February 20. All well.
ALI the above are screw vessels. The
Nipslc was of 615 tons and was built in
1868. The Trenton was 23O0 tons and
built in 1876. The Vandalia 9S1 tons,
and was rebuilt in 1874.
The other officers attached to the
Nipsic we're Lieutenant John r.
Shearman, of New Y ork; Ensigns VIM.
P. White, John L. Purcell, Harry A.
Field and Harry P. Jones, Passed As
sistant Surgeon E. z. Derr, Passed
Assistant Paymaster John Corwine,
Chief Engineer George w. Hall, Passed
Assistant Engineer Horace f.. Frick
and First Lieutenant of Marines T..
Glover Fillette.
The complement of the Nlpsic was
174 marines and blue Jackets, although
some of her short time men were sent
home from the Samoa when the Adams
left for San Francisco ia January last.
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.
LONDON, March 31.-Further par
ticulars of the disastrous storm at Apia
have just been received. The hurricane
burst upon the harbor suddenly. The
German man-of-war Eber was the first
vessel to drag her anchor. She became
unmanageable and was driven helplessly
on the reef which runs around the
harbor. She struck, broadside on, at
six o'clock in the morning. The shock
caused her to lurch and to stagger
back, and she sank in moment in
deep water. Most of her men were
under matches and scarcely a soul Of
them escaped.
The German war ship Adler was the
next to succumb. She was lifted bod
lily by gigantic wave and cast on her
beam ends on the reef. A terrible
struggle for life ensued among the
officers and sailors aboard. Many
plunged into the raging surf and struck
out, some reaching the shore in safety.
Others clung to the rigging until the
masts fell. Of those in the rigging
only two gained the shore. The cap
tain of the Adler and several other Of
ficers were saved.
Meantime the United States steamer
Nipsic had been dragging her anchors
and drifting toward the shore. The
captain, however, managed to keep
control and ran her on sand bank.
Boats were Immediately lowered and
the whole company were saved with the
exception OF six men. These were
drowned by the capsizing of boat.
The United States steamer Vandalla
was carried before the storm right
upon the reef. She struck with ter
rible shock, burling Captain Schoon-
maker against GatlIng gun and he
fell stunned. Before be could recover
a great wave swept the deck and he
was washed away with the others into
the sea. The vessel sank 90 yards
from the Nipslc. Several of the officers
and men were washed overheard and
drowned. Others perished while max
ing desperate efforts to swim to tho
shore. Some remained for hours in the
rigging, but heavy and swift succeed.
ing waves dsshing over them carried
them off one by one.
By this time night had set in. Many
natives and Europeans had gathered
on the shore, all anxious to render
assistance to the unfortunate crews,
but, owing to the darkness, they were
wholly unable to be of service.
Soon after the Vandalia had sunk
the American warship Trenton broke
from her anchorage and was driven
upon the wreck of the Vandalia,
whence she drifted to the shore. The
bottom of the Trenton was completely
stove and her hold was half-full of