The Irish standard., 1898-02-26
HEROES AND VICTIMS
Continued From Page ~

Is known as a balsa, attached rope
and made their way out upon spar
and thence dropped into the icy water.
A great wave threw them back against
the spar and young was badly bruised
by the contact, but he stuck to his task
and succeeded with Williams, in escap-
ing death among the wave-beaten rocks
and In reaching the shore beyond. To
these two American seamen many Of
those who escaped from the wrecked
Huron owe their lives.
On the sands and reefs Of Samoa ten
years ago were wrecked the United
States vessels Trenton, Vandalia, and
Nipsic Forty-seven American officers
and men there lost their lives. The story
OF the loss of these vessels and lives has
in 1t the recital Of a showing of I'M
daunted American heroism, coupled
With romance which it is hard to equal
IN the truthful annals Of the sea. At
the time Of the wrecking of the Yankee
vessels three German warships We're de-
stroyed, the loss Of life upon them be-
ing much heavier than upon ours. The
German vessels were the Olga, Adler
and Eber. There was in the Samoan
harbor at the same time her Majesty's
ship Calllope. This vessel was the only
one which went through that awful hur-
rlcane unscathed. 1t owed it's safety
not to superior seamanship but to the
fact that its powerful engines enabled
1t to put to sea and there with PROV to
the blast outride the storm.
On Friday, March Is, 1889, at o'clock
In the afternoon, indications of bad
weather were apparent on the horizon
The coming disturbance was first no
ticed by the American commanders. who
at once made preparations to meet it.
Inc lower yards were sent down, the
topmasts housed, fires lighted and steam
was raised. The Trenton flagship held
the cutberth, while the Nipsic held the
inner. At O'Clock it was blowing a
gale. An hour later the port bow cable
or the Trenton parted. The Vandalia
tried Its best to steam out in the face of
the gale, but there was not power
enough IN its engines to keep the ves-
sells head in the teeth of the blast and
the ship went crashing on to reef.
When the Trentons officers saw the
perilous position of the Vandalia's crew
they resolved to save their brothers.
Rockets with lines attached were sent
over the Vandalia's rigging, and then
the Irenton's men began the dangerous
work of saving. Captain Farquhar
ordered the nagship's band into the rig
ging, where the musicians were dashed.
They had their instruments with them.
PLAY the Star Spangled Banner"
ordered Capt. Farquhar.
The music came with a will and the
notes OF the national anthem rose over
the roar Of the waters and the howl OF
the hurricane.
10 the strains of the anthem the crew
or the Trenton dared everything. Thew
cfept out On the storm-swept spars and
gave helping hands to the members of
the Vandalla's crew. Every man sue
ceeded in gaining the flagships deck.
AS the last sailor reached the firm
planking the music Of THE Star spang-
gled Banner" ceased and at the same in
stant the masts of the Vandalia went by
the board.
The storm abated. The Nipsic was
well bieached, but badly broken up
me seven men lost by that vessel we're
drowned While attempting to launch a
boat. The reports of the officers of the
three American ships told Of the hero
ISM OF the common sailors, but said
nothing Of their own. The story in full
ClluG from adm irinor nlin.ar