Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-03-20
The Crest Samoan Disaster.

poem was one OF the survivors of the
great hurricane and was stationed on
board the U, s. Flag Ship Trenton, which
was totally destroyed.
THE HURRICANE OF '99.
Down at Apia, Samoa, far from the
American shore
was shipwrecked nineteen years ago
today;
And the U: s. Flag Ship Trenton will fly
the flag no more,
For she sank and went to pieces in the
bay.
You no doubt have heard about tit was
back in eighty-nine,
Uncle Sam had ordered the old ship to
go
Down to Apia, Samoa, there was trouble
for time,
So we started for the Island, you all
know.
The trip was quite exciting and to us
was really fine,
For we drilled and studied tactics every
day;
We had music, chess and checkers, and
sports of every kind
While the ship was proudly sailing on
her way.
We prepared the ship for action just be-
fore we reached the port
Thinking that perhaps we'd better be
in trim;
But if we'd known what was coming,
w uld have given up our sport
And taken daily lessons on learning
how to swim.
We soon had found good anchorage and
let the anchor go
About two miles or so from off the
shore,
And there doomed up before us three
Germans in a row
That had shelled the town of Apia
about three weeks before.
The "Olga," ADLER and "Eber," these
comprised the German fleet;
And the English new steel cruiser
"Calliope,"
With our own "Vandellia, "Nipsic" and
the Trenton" all complete
Filled the breast of every native and
our consul with new hope.
Now the good King Malletoa had prom
Used Uncle Sam
We could have coaling station, if we'd
like;
But that we must then protect him from
any foreign land,
And if ever they should land we would
have to make them hike.
Now the Germans they got reckless, for
they landed one fine day
While the natives layed in ambush
Just for fun;
When they fired they killed most sixty
nearly sixty did they slay,
Then they made raid and captured
every gun.
This all happened as I've stated. just
about three weeks before
That the Trenton" dropped her anchor
in the bay;
And we did not know at that time if the
fighting was all DER
But we knew of one thing sure, we'd
have fair play.
For the Englishman was neutral-was
supposed to be. you know
But she soon found out that we were
in the right;
And she promised should the Germans at
the natives strike blow
She would join with us Americans and
helps us win the fight.
We all expected trouble, and at last it
really came.
We battened down the matches good
and tight,
For the wind commenced blowing; at
nrSt twas rather tame,
But regular gale was blowing long
fore night.
This was afternoon March 18th, eighteen
eighty-nine
The hurricane increased, it did not lag
} Eighty miles an hour the wind was blow
ing at one time,
Our anchors didn't hold and we com.
menced to drag.
All night long she rolled and tumbled
. slowly drifting in to shore.
While the morning of the 10th, came
at last;
The "Vandallia," she was sinking anC
her fighting days were DER,
, She was on reef and going TO pieces
| fast.
, Her rigging was struggling mass Of
officers and men,
, Long hours before they'd left her slip
! perry deck,
And the Trenton" creeping closer, hat
rescued now and then
, The remainder Of the crew, before sh'
was total wreck.
, The "Eber" was the next in turn to strik
hidden rock
, She seemed to lurch, then took sud
den dive
To the bottom of the sea she was carried
by the shock;
And very few, if any, ever reached thu
shore alive.
A huge sea picked the ADLER" up ant
carried her in shore
And then receding left her on her side
Now the natives do not fear that German
/, warship any more,
? They can all walk out and board her a
low tide.
1 The "Olga" and the "Nipsic" both wer,
: stuck fast on the sand,
And both of them had lost a score o
men;
But at last they were successful in get
A ting off to land,
On ROM, fhaf 1iA frnAA caruicn nOu