Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-13
WAITING In SAMOA.
SHIPWRECKBD AMERICAN SAILORS BX-
PBCTING RELIEF DAILY.
A Graphic Description Of Life in Apia-Ths Van
dallas Men In Want-Immsnss Expense
Of Maintaining. the Sailors.
Efforts al Relief

APIA, SAMOA, April 27.-(Copyrighted
by Associated Press The little town of
Apia has bad the appearance Of camping
ground during the last few weeks. Since
the hurricane occurred on March 16, in
which six men-of-wsr and ten other vessels
were wrecked, there has been more people
living here than was ever before known.
Nearly all OF the survivors of the three
German war ships have gone TO Sydney
and the 600 American sailors who COM
posed the crews of the Trenton and Van
dslia have been waiting for steamer
to be sent to Apia 10 take them TO San
Francisco. The great confusion, which
was so apparent Immediately after the
storm, subsided in few days. The tents
which had been constructed out of sails
and light spars were made rs comfortable
as possible and the officers ana men set
tied down to the daily routine work Of
saving everything that could be taken of
the vessels.
The officers and men of the Vandalia are
in more destitute condition than those Of
any other vessel. They lost everything
when the ship went down and we're pro-
vided with clothing and other necessaries
from the stores saved from the Tren-
ton and Nipsic. BY the death Of
Captain Schoonmaker the command
of the Vandalia crew has devOlved
upon Lieut.. ]. G. Carlin, who has three
watch officers to assist him. The condi-
ton Of the Trenton and Vandalia has not
changed much during the last month; both
vessels are complete wrecks. The German
cruiser Adler is still upon her beam end
on the reef with an immense hole torn in
her bottom. The Eber lies at the bot
tom of the bay. 1t is the intention to save
the heavy guns of the Trenton and Van
dalis if possible. Admiral Kimberly or
dered temporary repairs made at once on
Nipeic, with the intention Of sending her
to Auckland, but one or two officers OBJ
iected TO going to sea in ber, declaring
openly that she was unsafe.
The first news from Lieutenant Will
son, who WAS sent to Auckland to pro-
cure a steamer to take the American
sailors home, was received here by the Brit
ish man. of-war Rapid, which arrived from
New Zealand, April 10. Lieut.. Will
son notified Admiral Kimberly he
had not been able TO procure a
steamer in Auckland, and was going to
Sydney for that purpose. He also stated
be had heard that the Oceanic Steamship
Company, whose main office is in San
Francisco, had at the request Of the Navy
Department ordered the Steamer Maripoea
to stop at Apis, April lS, and take three
hundred men to San Francisco.
Lieut.. Wilson had called upon
the agents Of the Oceanic
company in Auckland, but they knew
nothing Of this report, and he did not be-
lieve the Mariposa could take away any
sailors, as all her accommodations had
been engaged by passengers going to San
Francisco from Sydney and Auckland.
Admiral Kimberly stated TO the Associated
Press correspondent two weeks ago, he knew
nothing whatever about the plans Of
the Navy Department for taking men
home. lie said, am exceedingly
anxious TO get the Trenton, and Van
dalia men to San francisco, as soon "a
possible. They are being kept here nov
at very heavy expense. l am paying
S130 a week for the rent of barracks and
81. 10 per day for lbe board Of each man.
This is but small part Of the expense.
The most important political event which
has occurred here for some time was the
issuance of a proclamation by Admiral
Kimberly on April 18th, advising the
natives to put an end to the war which
they had been carrying on among them
selves for months.