Terrible Affair at Samoa.

Woodville Examiner, Volume V, Issue 458, 1 April 1889, Page 2

Terrible Affair at Samoa.

, SIX WAR SHIPS LOST. CALLIOPE ALONE SAVED. 146 LIVES LOST. (Per staamer at Auckland). Samoa, March 16. Six men-of-war were lost here to-day-three Gentian (the Olga, Eber, and Ad’er), and three American (the Nipsic, Trenton, flagship, and Vandalia). The Ame iian loss is offi er 46 men and the German! 9 officers and 87 men. Two iron barques—one the Peter Godfrey—and eleven coasters were wrecked, and four men were drowned. H.M.S. Caliio-M steamed out during the worst of the hurricane. There was not a ship in the harbor but the Calliope but what went ashore. Most of them are total wrecks. The Calliope is now on her way to Sydney. Apia was visited by one of the severest gales experienced for years on Saturday, 9th Mtrch. On Friday the barometer fell ’o 29 15. On Situ "day morning about 2 o’clock a gale set in from the north east, and blew with great force. About 5 o’clock neirly all the vessels in the hirhour were dragging, and at halfpast five H.I.G.M.S. Euer drifted ashore on to an inside reef. Her side was immediately stove in, and she heeled over into deep water. One of her officers and a number of men jumped on the reef and made for the shore with great strugding in the surf. It is believed ten or twelve saved them*elves. All who re- . mined by the snip went down with the v ssel. About 75 men, including the captain and officers were lost. About half-past 6 o’cloca H.I.G.M.S. Adler also went ashore a few hundred yards further to the westward. She was lifted completely on to the reef by the surf, an 1 ortunately heelel over towards the shore. Many of her men managed to reach land during the day, and all with the exception ot about 15 were saved. Many were lost in the attempt to reach the shore. Soon after the Nipsie grounded a boat was lowered for the purpose of 'along a line to the shore, but tne current was too strong. Tne boat capsized, and four or five lives were lost. Others were saved by the Sam tans, who came in great numb- rs t > r aider assist iocs. 10 o’clock the U-S S. Vandalia dragged and gradually dropped down to nearly the s line position occupied bp the Nipsic. By ekilf ill management she also cleared the reef, bat before she could reach tne sindy shoie suffered some injury to her bottom, for she sank when about one hundred feet from where the Nipsic was grounded, [a a short tima her hull was completely submerged, aud her officers and crew had to take refuge in the rigging. Some of the crews risked themselves by attempting to swim ashore, but the current took many of ih? poor fellows away. Here the natives rendered great sen ice. They rushed into the fliaming surf and saved several of the swimmers who were nearly exhausted. In one instance the naives themselves risked too much. They ventured into the current too far, and two of them lost their lives. It was nearly heartrending to look on the Vandalea seeing all her people shivering on the rigging almost within a stone’s throw of tue su<y;e during the whole day, and no assistance being available. Some 20 men were saved by swimming to the Nipsic, and then dropping by a line attached to the shore held by the natives and some of the men-of-war sailors. Fully 25. lives have been lost from the ships, including Captain Shoemaker and some four officers, and many were accidentally injured on board H.M.S. Calliope. The U.S.S. Trenton and Olga were then seen drawing towards tne beach. The Calliope took everybody by surprise by steaming well out io the face of the gale. She went safely out of the harbour. The Trenton a id the Olga were the only men-of-war left tiiat had not yet come ashore. The Trenton unfortunately shipped a sea, wiiicu got down to the furnaces. She was then unable to keep up sufficient steam to make headway against the wind and sea. She drifted down and came stern on to the Olga, receiving considerable damage. Her raider was carried away, and the propeller was rendered useless. She held on fairly well to her anenor till 8 p.m., when she dropped alongside of the Vandelea, he stem bumping on the ground wiffiin fifty feet of the reef. A number of the Vanda.u’s men who were on the rigging of managed to get on board tue TrontonThe Olga was splendidly managed. By really good seamansuip she was beached in one of the best positions near Visigane river. Her officers aud crew were saved. All the men-of-war, with the exception of H M. S. Colliope, which went out to sea, are either wrecked or on shore. The following is about the number of lives lost from the vessels name I: —Vandalia, 38 men and 4 officers, Eber, 75 men. captain and all officers except one; Nipsio, 6 mm* Alder, 14 including officers and men.) In all abort 150 perished. All the merchant vessels in the harbor were also wrecked or driven ashore, but only one life was lost) The Ormsby—who was a visitor on board the schooner Lilv. The follawing isaiist of casualties : Total wrecks Peter Godeffroi, 462 tons; Lily, schooner, 44 tons; Agur, barqnentine, 297 tons; Fituau etter, 19 tons. Ashore—Upoln, schooner, 69 tons; Utumapu, schooner, 12 tons; Vastele.evttor, 13 ions; Nnkuneno, ketch 29 tons. The only uessell in the harbor which escaped was a little schooner of 5 tons, owned by Mr Meredith. About 309 or 400 Samoans were sent by Mataata and Seurnanatafa to render assistance, and did immense service. No destruction was made. The Samoans gave willing help to Germans and Americans a'ike.