The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-04-15
THE SAMOAN TROUBLES.
Further Damage Done by the
Great Samoan Hurricane.
NEW FLEETS FOR APIA-AS SIST-
ANCE AND SYMPATHY.
Rushing the CharIestOn-The Ohicial
Investigation.

(From our san Francisco Correspondent)
Later telegraphic news received
here from Auckland, New Zealand,
shows that the recent hurricane IN
the South Pacific swept over $4,000
geographical miles, embracing in It's
track the Hervey and Society Isl
ands. The American ship Red
Cross, bound from New South Wales
to San Francisco, was driven ashore
at Raratonga and wrecked. The
crew were saved. The American
ship Ada, Owen master, was wrecked
at Quara. The crew was saved.
The wreckage from the British ship
Suakim, from New South Wales for
San Francisco, was seen at Aituaki.
1t is supposed that the crew per
ished.
The hurricane of March 10Th
swept Tahiti Island with terribly dis
astrous effects. The capital city was
totally submerged. The loss of life
is enormous. Thousands of natives
were swept away and drowned.
Hundred of houses in Papeete were
carried away and public buildings
ruined. Devastation was spread
everywhere. Some people managed
TO reach the highlands, and thus
escaped the flood, but the number
who persisted is beyond present cal
culation. Crops are destroyed and
the people who escaped the flood are
confronted by the danger of fam
inc Papeete is on the northern coast
of Tahiti. 1t has a fine harbor,
palace for the Queen, cathedral,
court house, etc, with other public
buildings erected by the French.
1t is the great emporium of the
trade of Southern Polynesia.
Great havoc on Tonga Island is
reported. Thirty lives were lost.
The British man-of-war CalHOpe
arrived at Sydney on April 4th, and
the officers tell an interesting story
of their escape from the hurricane at
Apia March 18th.
sympathy and Assistance.
Queen Victoria cabled through
Lord Salisbury to the British Lega-
ton in Washington, directing that
her earnest sympathy be expressed
to the President of the United States
on account of the terrible naval mis-
fortune at Samoa and the deplOrable
loss of life. President Harrison ex-
pressed his warm appreciation and
that for the whole people of this
country of the Queens cOnsiderate
sympathy in the calamity that had
overwhelmed our naval corps at
Samoa.
Lord Charles Beresford, Admiral
in-Chief of the British Navy, also
sent a message of sympathy and re-
greet felt by himself and brother
officers. The Secretary promptly
acknowledged the message.
The government of New Zealand
has placed the steamship HinemOa,
Of 542 tons, at the disposal of Ad-
mirl Kimberly in consequence of
the loss of the American men-of-war
at Samoa. She has sailed for Samoa.
The British cruiser Rapid, of 1920
tons, mounting twelve guns, has
sailed for Samoa.
One hundred and twenty officers
and men belonging to the wrecked
German war ships, have arrived at
Auckland en- route for Germany.
All the American sailors are to be
returned to San Francisco. The
Mariposa will bring three hundred.
Opinions from Washington.
There is considerable talk in naval
circles about the disaster at Samoa
and the responsibility for the affair.
It has been considerably heightened
by the account of the English ship
Calliope's escape by putting to sea,
and the question Is asked on all
sides why our ships did not put to
sea also. Strict disciplinarians are
outspoken in their condemnation of
Admiral Kimberly, basing, of course,
their assertions, on the fact that
there was coal in the ships and not
used.
A court of inquiry will be con-
vened if considered necessary after
Secretary Tracy has received and
considered Admiral Kimberly's re-
port.
The Page Page Station.
1t is unlikely that the Navy De-
partment will proceed to establish a
naval station at the harbOr of Pago-
Page on the Samoan islands until
the Berlin Conference concludes its
work. The last Congress appropri- |
ated 100000 for this purpose and |
the money is now available, but it is !
thought that any radical step like |
this might tend to jeopardize the !
success of the conference. Besides |
the 600 tons of coal that were sent to
Samoa on board the MOnOngahela, |
and which should be there now, the |
ship Sachem, which sailed from New !
York a few weeks ago, carried 1000 !
tons and should make the passage |
in about ninety-fve days.
Admiral Porter's Opinion.
Concerning the disaster Admiral |
Porter said: Fewer lives were lost
by the engulfng of the United
States and German vessels at Samoa
than if battle had been fought for
the ownership Of the island. Be
sides regard it as practically settl-
ing the question which has caused
so much dispute regarding this coral
reef, and both Governments NAV
have been taught a salutary lesson.
The hurricane or whatever If was