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engines should stand； if they should have power to drive the ship
against wind and sea； if she should answer the helm； if the wheel；
rudder； and gear should hold out； and if they were favoured with a
clear blink of weather in which to see and avoid the outer reef …
there； and there only； were safety。 Upon this catalogue of 〃ifs〃
Kane staked his all。 He signalled to the engineer for every pound
of steam … and at that moment （I am told） much of the machinery was
already red…hot。 The ship was sheered well to starboard of the
VANDALIA； the last remaining cable slipped。 For a time … and there
was no onlooker so cold…blooded as to offer a guess at its duration
… the CALLIOPE lay stationary； then gradually drew ahead。 The
highest speed claimed for her that day is of one sea…mile an hour。
The question of times and seasons； throughout all this roaring
business； is obscured by a dozen contradictions； I have but chosen
what appeared to be the most consistent； but if I am to pay any
attention to the time named by Admiral Kimberley； the CALLIOPE； in
this first stage of her escape； must have taken more than two hours
to cover less than four cables。 As she thus crept seaward； she
buried bow and stem alternately under the billows。
In the fairway of the entrance the flagship TRENTON still held on。
Her rudder was broken； her wheel carried away； within she was
flooded with water from the peccant hawse…pipes； she had just made
the signal 〃fires extinguished；〃 and lay helpless； awaiting the
inevitable end。 Between this melancholy hulk and the external reef
Kane must find a path。 Steering within fifty yards of the reef
（for which she was actually headed） and her foreyard passing on the
other hand over the TRENTON'S quarter as she rolled； the CALLIOPE
sheered between the rival dangers； came to the wind triumphantly；
and was once more pointed for the sea and safety。 Not often in
naval history was there a moment of more sickening peril； and it
was dignified by one of those incidents that reconcile the
chronicler with his otherwise abhorrent task。 From the doomed
flagship the Americans hailed the success of the English with a
cheer。 It was led by the old admiral in person； rang out over the
storm with holiday vigour； and was answered by the Calliopes with
an emotion easily conceived。 This ship of their kinsfolk was
almost the last external object seen from the CALLIOPE for hours；
immediately after； the mists closed about her till the morrow。 She
was safe at sea again … UNA DE MULTIS … with a damaged foreyard；
and a loss of all the ornamental work about her bow and stern；
three anchors； one kedge…anchor； fourteen lengths of chain； four
boats； the jib…boom； bobstay； and bands and fastenings of the
bowsprit。
Shortly after Kane had slipped his cable； Captain Schoonmaker；
despairing of the VANDALIA； succeeded in passing astern of the
OLGA； in the hope to beach his ship beside the NIPSIC。 At a
quarter to eleven her stern took the reef； her hand swung to
starboard； and she began to fill and settle。 Many lives of brave
men were sacrificed in the attempt to get a line ashore； the
captain； exhausted by his exertions； was swept from deck by a sea；
and the rail being soon awash； the survivors took refuge in the
tops。
Out of thirteen that had lain there the day before； there were now
but two ships afloat in Apia harbour； and one of these was doomed
to be the bane of the other。 About 3 P。M。 the TRENTON parted one
cable； and shortly after a second。 It was sought to keep her head
to wind with storm…sails and by the ingenious expedient of filling
the rigging with seamen； but in the fury of the gale； and in that
sea； perturbed alike by the gigantic billows and the volleying
discharges of the rivers； the rudderless ship drove down stern
foremost into the inner basin； ranging； plunging； and striking like
a frightened horse； drifting on destruction for herself and
bringing it to others。 Twice the OLGA （still well under command）
avoided her impact by the skilful use of helm and engines。 But
about four the vigilance of the Germans was deceived； and the ships
collided； the OLGA cutting into the TRENTON'S quarters； first from
one side； then from the other； and losing at the same time two of
her own cables。 Captain von Ehrhardt instantly slipped the
remainder of his moorings； and setting fore and aft canvas； and
going full steam ahead； succeeded in beaching his ship in Matautu；
whither Knappe； recalled by this new disaster； had returned。 The
berth was perhaps the best in the harbour； and von Ehrhardt
signalled that ship and crew were in security。
The TRENTON； guided apparently by an under…tow or eddy from the
discharge of the Vaisingano； followed in the course of the NIPSIC
and VANDALIA； and skirted south…eastward along the front of the
shore reef； which her keel was at times almost touching。 Hitherto
she had brought disaster to her foes； now she was bringing it to
friends。 She had already proved the ruin of the OLGA； the one ship
that had rid out the hurricane in safety； now she beheld across her
course the submerged VANDALIA； the tops filled with exhausted
seamen。 Happily the approach of the TRENTON was gradual； and the
time employed to advantage。 Rockets and lines were thrown into the
tops of the friendly wreck； the approach of danger was transformed
into a means of safety； and before the ships struck； the men from
the VANDALIA'S main and mizzen masts； which went immediately by the
board in the collision； were already mustered on the TRENTON'S
decks。 Those from the foremast were next rescued； and the flagship
settled gradually into a position alongside her neighbour； against
which she beat all night with violence。 Out of the crew of the
VANDALIA forty…three had perished； of the four hundred and fifty on
board the TRENTON； only one。
The night of the 16th was still notable for a howling tempest and
extraordinary floods of rain。 It was feared the wreck could scarce
continue to endure the breaching of the seas； among the Germans；
the fate of those on board the ADLER awoke keen anxiety； and
Knappe； on the beach of Matautu； and the other officers of his
consulate on that of Matafele； watched all night。 The morning of
the 17th displayed a scene of devastation rarely equalled： the
ADLER high and dry； the OLGA and NIPSIC beached； the TRENTON partly
piled on the VANDALIA and herself sunk to the gun…deck； no sail
afloat； and the beach heaped high with the DEBRIS of ships and the
wreck of mountain forests。 Already； before the day； Seumanu； the
chief of Apia； had gallantly ventured forth by boat through the
subsiding fury of the seas； and had succeeded in communicating with
the admiral； already； or as soon after as the dawn permitted；
rescue lines were rigged； and the survivors were with difficulty
and danger begun to be b