Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-01
THE TERRIFIC STORM.
FJRrHBR DETAILS OF THE NAVAL DISAS-
TBRS AT SAMOA.
German Eosr FRS. Slak-Adlsr Next 10 Saocamb-
NiPsc ,a a Sand Bank-yaniala Engultsd
by Heavy Sea-Ths Captain and
Sailors Swept Overheard.

LONDON, March 81 Further par,icu-
lars Of the disastrous storm At Apia Rave
just been received. The hurricane burst
upon the barbor suddenly. The German
man-ofFar Eber vas the first vessel TO
drag her anchor She became unmauags-
able and was driven helplessly on the reef
which runs around the harior. She struck
broadsite on at 6 o'clock in the morning
The shock caused her to lurch and 10 stag
ger back, aud she sank in a moment in
deep water. Most Of her men wsre under
hatches, and scarcely a soul of them es-
capped.
The German war ship Adler was the next
g, succumb. She was lifted bodily by q
gigantic wave and cast on her beam ends
on the reef A terrible struggle for life en-
sued among the officers and sailors MANY
plunged into the raging surf and struck
ont. ONE reaching the shore in safety.
Others clung 70 the rigging until the masts
fell Ot those in the rigging only two
gained Che shore The Captain OF the Al
ler and several other officers were saved.
Meantime the United States Steamer
Nipsic had been dragging Eer anctOrs and
drifting toward The shore. The captain,
however. managed TO keep control, and
ran her o. q sand bank. Boats were i'm
mediatelv lowered, and the whole compa-
ny we've saved with the exception Of six
men These were drowned by the capsiz-
ing of of "a boat.
The Vandaha was carried before tbs gale
riRot upou the reef She struck with
terrible shock, hurling the captain against
gatling gun, and he fell stunned. Before
be- could recover p great wave swept the
deck and washed him and Others away into
tie sea. The vessel sank fifty yards from
TIE Nipsic aud several OF the officers and
men went down with her. OihsIs per
ished while making desperate Efforts 20
swim 90 the shore.
Some Of the ships company tried to save
themselves by cli0giDg to the rigging, bu.
the heavy and swift running waves dashed
over them snd one by one they we're swept
sway. BY this time night had set 10.
Many natves and Europeans had gathered
cn the shore. an anxious to render assist
ance TO the unfortunate crews, but owing
10 NAN Ma.aANaa a4NH rlAN WHNAAJ Ntt--'--~
% be OF service
soon after the Vandalia bad sunk The
American war ship Trenton broke from her
snchoraco and was driAen upon the wreck
OF che Vaudsia, whence she dritJed TO the
shore. The bottom of the Trenton wa
completely stove In, and her hold was hell
full Ct water
Asmonipg h-ose the German man-ot-
war O'el. which bad hitherto withstoo1
the gale. although much battered by the
heavy seas chat constantly broke upon her
became unman8geabls ald was driven
upo1 The beach, where she lay in a tolera-
bic favorable position.
The following Is record OF the otncers
and men lcsa
EBER-The Captain AMI all other officers
except one, and savsnty-siX men.
VANDAIA-The Captain, four officers
ana forty men.
NrpsIc- Seven men.
AnrEE-AltogetbeT fifteen persons.
Nataafa sent a number OF bis men TO the
assistance of the wrecked ships. They
rendered splendid sid in trying TO iloat the
O.ga