The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
THE SAMOAN DISASTER.
How the British Ship Calliope Escaped
Destruction.

SNiUSNtN StO00 49,
How the British Ship Calliope Escaped
Destruction.
The Vandalia and Calliope were also
in dangerous positions, bearing back
towards the reef near the point where
lay the wreck of the Adler. Great
waves were tossing the two vessels
about, and they were coming closer to-
gether every minute. The Vandalia at
tempted to steam away, but in doing so
a collision occurred. The iron prov of
the Englishman was lifted high in the
air and came down with full force upon
che port quarter of the Vandalia. The
fb-boom of the Calliope was carried
away, and the heavy timbers of the
Vandalia were shivered. Every man
Who stood upon the deck of the Wanda
liza near the point of collision was
thrown from his feet by the shock.
A hole was torn below the rail and
water rushed into the cabin. 1t was
impossible to ascertain the extent of
the damage at the moment, but it
seemed as if the Vandalia had received
her death-blow Men rushed up the
matches in the belief that the steamer
was sinking, but they afterward re-
turned to their posts. Just after
this collision, Captain Kane of the
Calliope determined to make an effort to
steam out of the harbor, as he saw that
20 remain in his present position would
lead to another collision with the Van
dalia or throw his vessel upon the reef.
He accordingly gave orders to let go all
anchors. The Calliope's head swung
around to the wind and her engines were
worked to their utmost power. The
steamer seemed to stand still for mo-
ment, and then the rapidly revolving
propeller had it's effect, for the vessel
moved up slowly against the great waves
which broke over her bows and flooded
her decks from stem to stern. Clouds
of black smoke poured from her funnel
as more coal was thrown into the fur
naces. Every tension was strained in
her heroic struggle against the storm.
She seemed to make her Roadway at
first inch by inch, but her speed grad
ually increased until it became evident
that she could clear the harbor
This maneuver of the gallant British
ship is regarded as one of the most dar-
ing in naval annals. 1t was the one
desperate chance offered her command
er to save his vessel and the three
hundred lives aboard. An accident tn
the machinery at this critical moment
would have meant certain death to all.
Every pound of steam which the CAL
Hope could possibly carry was crowded
on, and down in the ire-rooms the men
worked as they never worked before.
10 clear the harbor, the Calliope had to
pass between the Trenton and the reef,
and it required the most skillful sea-
manship to avoid collision with the
Trenton, on the one hand, or total de-
struction upon the reef, on the other.
The TrentOn's fires had gone out by
that time, and she lay helpless almost
in the path of the Calliope. The doom
of the American flagship seemed but
question of few hours. Nearly every
man aboard felt that his vessel must
soon be dashed to pieces, and that he
would find grave under the coral reef.
The decks of the flagship were swarm
ing with men, but, facing death as they
were, they recognized the heroic strug-
gle of the British ship, and as the lat
ter passed within few yards of them
great shout went up from over four
hundred men aboard the Trenton.
"Three cheers for the Calliope!" was the
sound that reached the ears of the
British tars as they passed out of the
harbor in the teeth of the storm; and
the heart of every Englishman went out
to the brave American sailors who gave
that parting tribute to the Queens ship.
A well-known London journal after
ward remarked: 1.-THE cheer of the Tren-
toms men was the expression of an i'm
mortal courage. 1t was distressed
manhood greeting triumphant manhood,
the doomed saluting the saved" The
English sailors returned the Trentons
cheer. and the Calliope passed safely
out to sea, returning when the storm
had abated. Captain Kane, her COM
mander, in speaking of the incident
afterward, said: Those ringing cheers
of the American flagship pierced deep
into my heart, and will ever remember
that mighty outburst of fellow-feeling
which, felt, came from the bottom of
the hearts of the gallant Admiral and
his men. Every man on board the Cal
Hope felt as 1 did; it made us work to
win. can only say: God bless America
and her noble sailorsr John p. Dun
ming, in ST. Nicholas.