The Delta independent., 1890-03-11
STORM AT SAMOA.
FEARFUL STRUGGLE WITH THE
ELEMENTS.
The Fortunes Of the Vandalia Trenton
and Calliope

The vandalia and Calliope also were
in dangerous positions, bearing back
toward the reef near the point where
lay the wreck Of the Adler. G. eat
waves were tossing the two vessels
about, and they were coming closer
together every minute. The Vandalia
attempted to seam away, but in doing
so collision occurred. The iron
Prov "f the Englishman was lifted
high in tho air and came down with
full force upon the port quarter of the
Vandalia. The jib-boom of tho
Calliope was carried away, and the
heavy timbers of the Vandalia were
shivercd. Every man who stood up
on the deck of the Vandalia 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, Capt. Kane, Of the Calliope,
determined to make an effort to steam
out of the harbor, as he saw that to re-
main 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 ell
gines were worked to their almost
power. The steamer seemed to stand
still for n moment, and then the rapid
ly revolving propeller had its 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 pour
ed from her funnel as more coal was
thrown into the furnaces. Every ten
sion was strained in her heroic struggle
against the storm. She seemed to
make her headway at first inch by inch,
but her speed gradually increased until
it became evident that she could clear
the harbor.
This manGuyre. of the gallant Brit
ish ship is Gesarded as one of the most
daring in naval annals. 1t was the
one desperate chance offered her COM
mander to save his vessel and the three
hundred lives aboard. An accident to
the machinery at this critical moment
would have meant certain death to all.
Every pound of steam which the Cal
liope could possibly carry was crowd
ed on, and down in the fire-rooms the
men worked as they never worked be-
fore. To clear the harbor, the Call
liope had to pass between the Trenton
and the reef, and it required the most
skillful seamanship tc avoid q collision
with the Trenton, on the one hand, or
total destruction upon the reef, on the
other. "
The Trenton's fire had gone out by
that time, and she lay helpless almo
in the path of the Calliope. The doom
of the American flagship seemed but a
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
struggle of the British ship, and as the
latter 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, "The cheer of the
Trenton's men was the. expression of
an immortal courage. 1t was dis
tressed manhood greeting triumph
ant manhood, the doomed saluting the
saved" The English sailors returned
the Trcnton's cheer, and the Calliope
passed safely out to sea, returning
when the storm had abated.
Capt. Kane, her commander, 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 feliow-feeling
which, 1 felt, came from the bottom of
the hearts of the gallant Admiral and
his men. Every man on. board :. the
Calliope felt as did it made us work
to win. ] can only say, God bless
America and her. noble sailors ""-
John P. Dunring, in St. Nicholas for
Eobruorv