DISASTROUS GALE AT SAMOA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 1

DISASTROUS GALE AT SAMOA.

. ... i .i ....<> <m FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE. SIX GERMAN AND AMERICAN WAR VESSELS WRECKED. ELEVEN COASTERS DRIVEN ASHORE. H.M.S CALLIOPE SPLENDIDLX HANDLED. EXCELLENT BEHAVIOUR OF SAMOANB, FEARS OF A FAMINE Auckland, March 30. News by the Mariposa dated Apia, March 16, says :— la the midst of a terrible hurricane which occurred to-day six out of the seven warships in port were lost. The American ships Nipsic, Vandalia, and Trenton (Admiral Kimberley's flagship), and the three German ships H.I.G.M.S. Olga, Eber, and Adlor. The Americans lost 4 officers and 46 men, and the Germans 9 officers and 87 men. Two iron barques, one being the Peter Godeff roi, and 11 coasting vessels were driven ashore, four men being drowned, bringing the total loss of human life up to 150 in all. ' The vessels during tho hurricane endeavoured. to steam out to the open tea, but the storm was too strong for aoy of them to get out ol harbour save xtie British cruiser Calliope (Captain Kane), which succeeded in effecting a passage to the ocean right; in the teeth of & fearful gale. The other ll*fated vessels, though with all anchors down, were blown sßhore, numbers being washed over* *ioard. The majority of those who were saved got ashore after being 24 hours in the spars and ! gg> n g- As the Calliope passed the Trenton oq ai way out, the Americans gave the former tree cheers, thoagh thej did not have suffl. hint power to make headway themselves. The h.. A-nspeople of Apia were on the beach during •tr. most of the night lending what assistance *i..*y could, but the sea was too rough to launch tjimts. Not another vessel- that was in Apia Urn bour At the time of the hurricane escaped but the Calliope, and nearly all are total wrecks, the {•hores being strewn with wreckage for miles. The Calliope returned after beiDg two days out, but has since proceeded to Sydney. ■ Hundreds of natives were sent down :'by Mataafa. and Malietoa, under command of one til their chiefs, and did splendid work in saving lives aiul assisting ! in every way they possibly could. They made, no distinction; between Germans and Americans/ but worked always in a brave and uuseliish manner in their, humane eflorte to do what they could. •- r „ v The town presents a very dismal appearance— nut that any buildings of value have been destroyed, but aheds have been levelled, wharves, jetties, nnd fences destroyed, and the streets and beach are stre.wn with debris and wreckage of every, description. Enormous damage mast bave been done to the orange and cocoanul groves. - ■ '. . ■ . There was one accident on beard the Calliope. A heavy sea came aboard, and lifting one of the crew off his feet, dashed him with such violence to the deck that he was killed. The American officers and ; Captain Kane's own officers are unanimous and emphatic in their expressions of admiration . at the magnificent way. in which he handled his ship. The Calliope had to pass between the Trenton and the reef with only a few yards to spare, bburt r the thing- was accomplished in the most skilful manner. The Tceu ton's officers took off their hats to Captain Kane as tho Calliope went by, and the American sailors cheered him heartily. Captain Kane cays this spontaneous encouragement; waß the handsomest compliment he has ' ever received. Captain Kane declare? that he has had enough of Samoa He leaves shortly for Sydney. The Germans have some hopes of getting the Olga off, aud are proceeding to lighten her. Good order prevails amongst the shipwrecked: crews. Discharging and dismantling the stranded vessels is steadily going on, the Samoan natives listing. Bodies are now and then washed up " on the beach, some in a horribly mutilated condition. One recovered on the 19th had lost one arm, which had been torn from the socket, and the head was completely smashed. The Vahdalia's safe, containing 43,000d0l in gold, has been recovered from the wreck. H.M.S. Calliope will most probably proceed to Sydney to-morrow. ■■ •'" A DETAILED ACCOUNT. Apia was visited by one of the severest gales experienced for years on Saturday the 9th, On Friday the barometer fell to 2910, and on Saturday morning about 2 o'clock a gale set in from the north-east "and blew with great force. About 5 o'clock nearly all the vessels in harbour were dragging their anchors, and at half-pa9t 5 H.I Q.M.B. Bber drifted ashore on to the inside r £ v er Bide wae " immediately stove in and «he heeled over into deep water. One of hec officers and a number of tho men jumped on. the r«ef and made for the Bhorei and with great struggling in the sntf we believe 10 Or 12 saved, their lives, while all wh'b 'remained by the ship Went down with the vessgl. About 75 men, in-

eluding the captain and officers, were lost. About 6.30 o'clock H.I.G.M.S. Adler also went ashore a few hundred yards farther to the westward. She was lifted completely on to the reef by the surf, and fortunately heeled over towards the shore. Many of her men reached land during the day, and all, with the exception of about 15, were saved. Many were lost in their attempts to reach the shore, as the current was too strong. A boat capsised, and four or five lives were lost, but others were saved by the Samoans, who came in great numbers to render assistance. About 10 o'clock the -s.s. Vandalia dragged her anchor, and gradually dropped down to nearly the same position as that occupied by the Nipsic. By skilful management she also cleared the reef, bub before she could reach the sandy shore she suffered some injnry to her bottom, for she sunk within 100 ft from where the Nipsic was grounded. In a short time her hull was completely submerged, and her officers and crew had to take refuge in the rigging. Some of the crew risked their lives by attempting to swim ashore, but the current took many of the poor fellows away. Here the natives rendered great service. They rushed into the foaming Eurf aud saved several of the swimmers who were nearly exhausted. In one instance the natives themselves risked too much. They ventured into the current too far, and two of them lost their lives. It was. really heartrending to look on the Vandalia, seeing all net people shivering in the rigging, almost within a stone's throw of the shore, during the whole day, and no assistance being available. Some 20 men were saved by swimming te the Nipsic, and then '■ by dropping by a line attached to the shore, and held by natives and some of She men of war sailors. Fully 42 lives have been lost from this ship— -including Captain Schumacher and some four officers — and many were accidentally' injured on board. H.M.S. Calliope, the U;S.S. Trenton, and the Olga were then seen dragging to* wards the beach, but the Calliope took everybody by surprise by steaming well out in the face of the gale, and went safely out of the harbour - Ihe Trenton and Olga were now the only men-of-war left that had not yet come ashore. Ihe Trenton unfortunately shipped * sea which got down to the furnaces, and she was then unable to keep up sufficient steam to make headway against the wind indsea. She drifted down and came stern en to the Olga, receiving considerable damage, her rudder beieg carried away and prcpeller rendered QseJess. Sue b eld on fairly well to bar anchor till 8 p.m., when she dropped alongside of the Vahaalia, her dtern bumping on the ground within 50ft of the reef. Another of. the Vandalia's meti>;who wert ot the rigging of that vessel, managed be .get on board the Trenton. The Olga was splendidly managed, and by really good seamanship was beached in one of the best positions, and is now lying near Vaisagivo river. Her officers and crew were saved. All the men-of-war, with the exception bt H.M S. Calliope, which went out to sea, are either wrecked or onshore.