Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-08
DAVY JONES.
The Survivors of the Fatal Samoan
Naval Disaster.
THE WRECK OF THE vANDALrA
A Thrilling Narrative by One Of the Surviving
Naval Onicers-On Board the Trenton--How
the Night Was Passed-Joy Mt Dawn When
the Gale sabsidsd-Hospltallty Ashore.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
IN RECOUNTING NY EXPERIENCES
L during the day and part of the night of
March l6, 1889, the date of the wreck Of the
Vandalia. the events following that affair have
received SO Tar no attention. and 1t 10 proposed
in the present paper to recite the occurrences
Immediately succeeding the wreck, including
also the life Of the survivors ashore during the
forty-four days of waiting for the welcome
arrival of the chartered steamer from the
colonies, which finally took large part Of the
survivors Of the Trenton and all from the Van
dalia to the Mare Island navy yard.
The condition of things on board the Tren-
ton while the half dead survivors Of the VAN
dallas officers and men were being slowly
rescued was far from cheering The gale con-
tinued with steadily increasing velocity, the
sea, as consequence, growing higher and
higher with each hour Of wind, until it seemed
at times as though wc had but delayed the in
evitabie end, and that our last hours were
steadily growing nearer as the old ship
groahed and staggered with each onset OF wind
and sea.
No lives had been lost on the Trenton, but
we learned for the first time, after getting on
board, that the fires had been put out before
noon, and that in spite Of the steady drain of
the pumps the water in the ship could not be
reduced below the dangerous depth Of some
six or eight feet.
ON BOARD THE TRENTON.
Every part Of the ship was dripping with sea
water and the appearance Of the men and Of
Of work and danger passed through. Every
soul on board must have been soaking wet for
hours the fresh water tanks were rendered
brackish and unfit to drink through the terri
Bile seas which had boarded the ship at inter-
walls all day, and as no fire had been possible
for the same reason nothing beyond few
sodden bareback had been eaten by any one
since the night previous The ship was hard
and fast aground short distance to seward of
the poor Vandalia, and every once in awhile a
sheet OF foam and water would come pouring
over the port hammock rail from stem to stern,
Of those obliged to face the gale, the spray 60
ing as high as the cross trees, and, as l renaem-
Der, at times extending as far as what was left
Of the vandalia
THE CRIPPLED vANDALIA.
As was feared by those clinging to the rig
ging Of the last named ship the collision of the
Trenton had resulted in so demolishing the
port chains and stays OF the main and mizzen
masts OF the Vandalia that in less than forty
five minutes after the shock these two masts
went by the board, breaking off a short dis
lance above the deck and falling over the star
board side.
Fortunately no lives were lost by this occur
renee. although several very narrow escapes
and cnnseonsrt weasnes, U rnra .o nsr,nfv Az
"nu Sonse 4Ioht we"AnesS, "erS lluAS us
selves On arst .tsnp;na ova- tha ins, r enI 10
sSa so-.oo..,a 10 . s.VRp,s oEer VIC low IAN W
ientiy to the deck by the uneven motions Of the
ship. and from sheer lack of strength lay there
for some time before making any effort to 60
e. - H.
rhars go h,,x va,r ~ sar,rra
,.-,.n =, ~ AZ" me- nv ~ 20 Ae
tha rrrdms s.s,r ;nr w., tn a ',t i,ta V t
nnmn the ocean drS isrce hole in the stern m
Pma,.P ~ ; sn so no ~ VIC s.Iu
tho,, 20 -, o,,,,s -. - ,, 's' A~''eA
av,o. bap. unp 49,, sUu a.,%"a su,,..,, s
a. Co =. 80 sa....;om.ii,r 49, ~
d.ot ros,.soS 90 .oa. -: po" aft =. .ho aHe
hatch down which I mada INV wav IN ssornh
~ 800 .nd go ny wy AA
sevorai ., ,ha .h;r,. oea..-, r.a - ~
,ho ,,s, h,,.I 81. o N; p''seu me vi
s.;;S -, @ Nv sui piise ~ ~. uS zen
aio.e ;,.r.,.;o ~, ~. VIC ;r..ai' Pfo'AlnB
o'''' -A'p'0"on was .nAp ao"'aoio
HosP1rABLE CHINAMAN.
rosslng the gun deck passed the admirals
Psn"y ana experienced pleasant surprise by
being addressed by the steward . Chinaman
named An RAJ; VINO exclaimed: Hello, Miss
IN rscs;yina an ss.nron.a P,t.t Ot ninnsy'
hungry. but diving with thirst, this Chinese
Samaritan open can Of mutton, poured out a
glass Of water from the small store remaining
in the admirars water cooler and, with the
addition OF crisp bareback, I felt compare
lively comfortable. Nor did the good Offices of
All Fat cease here, for, noting the scant con-
dition OF my wardrobe, he promptly got pair
palamas and Chinese blouse and under
shirt, SO that In brief space Of time hunger
and thirst were somewhat appeased and dry
clothes had taken the place of the sodden gar
ments in which this eventful day had been
passed. This kindness and attention arose from
the fact that we had been shipmates on the
1roquois three years before, where he was the
ward-room cook.
A few minutes after this feast in the admi-
rails pantry l entered his cabin, where were
already Lieuts. Cnrlin and Wilson and Ensign
Gibbons, all from the Vandalia. Carlin was
pretty badly bruised, having been knocked
about good deal during the day. and Wilson,
after nearly losing his life in the atten,pt TO
escape from the vandalia to the Trenton, was
stretched out on q lounge at the after end Of
the cabin in complete state of misery. retch-
ing violently and so weak as to be hardly able
to stir.
THE rRESroN's DANGEROUS POSITION.
The sterp NJ the Trentor ,vo. ~, .ho .dao 80
.N.,, was Va VIC eose VI
'ne 'e.riDie reei "nlcn sne nao sklrted Tor 30
many hours while drifting down toward the
shore, and as o frequent sea would cause her
to surge and settle again IN tho bottor, +h.
49,. 800, -, VIZ Do" VIC
Tror, avar, t;n,t". AZ nSses seeL l: W Gone
AAS'hA S<S.y ~.AaoS, Va WIG oooHieu sup. 1Hese