The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-20
THE RRICANE.
How the Winds and Waves Raised
Havoc With the Fleets.

How the Winds and Waves Raised
Havoc With the Fleets.
1T cometh-it cometh--the storm from
afar,
Like a reed bows the bark to the hur-
ricanes breath.
While tremOles each timber and Quivers
each spar,
AS DER her frown darby the cold rocks
of death
The first hurricane OF the season oc-
CURED at Apia early in February 1889.
There were in that port al the time the
United States ship Nipsic, British cruiser
Cauiope, German corvettes Olga and Ad-
Ter, American barkentine Constitution,
German brigantine Matautu and few
small coasting vessels.
The Matautu 10 which | belonged, was
owned at Apia, but sailed under the Ger
man flag We had come 10 Samoa from
Honolulu via Rowland island and were
chartered 10 load cargo Of cocoanuts at
Fialill. small place near Apia, for san
Francisco.
On the afternoon of February >, whilst
heaving up our anchors. preparatory 10
proceeding TO the above mentioned place.
the storm suddenly burst upon MS out Of
clear sky without the least warning.
and before we could pay out sufficient
chain to our anchors we were driven
alongside the Calliope, fouling that YES
sells headgear.
AS the night advanced the blasts of the
gale grew fercer and at , o'clock in the
morning We began dragging both an
chors and drifted directly under the bow
of the Calliope, doing slight damage TO
her boom netting and tearing away her
martingales. Capt. Kane, her commander.
rendered US promptly assistance by send
ing Il boats crew with an anchor and
Il Ia,
British tars We were able TO warp our
vessel clear. whilst the Calliope paid out
more chain 10 her anchors.
For while we were able to hold our
own against the tempest. as We were
now lying to three anchors. AT about
10 o'clock In the forenoon. however. the
sudden violent blasts OF the storm drove
Us again toward the Calliope. Capt.
Kane, unable to pay out any more chain
10 his anchors, his vessel being In close
proximity 10 a reef, once more sent r
crew of men. In charge Of an officer, 10
our assistance. and while we were en-
gagged in heaNing up the anchor for the
purpose Of bring it further out. our YES
sci was suddenly driven toward reef
and struck stern on with a shock that
threw every one to the deck The vessel
shiVcged from stem 10 stem as tho heavy
seas began breaking over her. and we soon
discovered that u hole had been knocked
in her bottom. and that she was filing
rapidly. our boats We're stove. and the
large man-of-war cutter. containing some
of the IaIlfOpc'S crew. barely escaped be-
ing dashed 10 pieces against the reef
The officer and about A dozen men from
the warshlp were on our forward deck
when Ne struck on the reef and IN
able to reach their boat. mad to seek
safety in the rigging along with the rest
Of IL. No boats could make their way
a. 4
enough 10 the wreck 10 take VA off To
remain in the rigging Was extremely haz-
ardous. the masts Were liable 30 fall at
any moment. as tho vessel began break
Ing up. and the only chance for our sal
walton WAS % jump overheard out OF the
rieging ana Try reachng the lower *
iremlty Of the reef. which extended shore
ward.
All jump Overheard
One after another We plunged overheard
out Of the rigging and after desperate
battle With The hu2e breakers that came
rolling u over the renf az regular iutrr-
vais. We finally succeeded in gaining q
footb0la ON ,he CORAL ledge and cautiously
scrambled over it unt1 We reached the
emil close 70 the beach. whore The water
was smoother and boats from she shor,
could come 20 our rescue. Luckiy 10
lives were lost, hat many OF our party r.
ceivei severe injuries from being knocked
about against the sharp coral nv the
furious breakers when We cook our fatal
dive into the soothing surge
The American bsrkentne Constitution.
which ha3 como to Ana from san Fran
ctsro w.t1 rer.ral cargo. vas v-re.ke.f
during another severe storm about "a week
later. She yves dashed 20 pieces on the
iarS" circular reef at the entrance az TIE
harhor. Through the gallant efforts Of the
Nir~ic'S boats the crew were saved from