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rescue lines were rigged； and the survivors were with difficulty
and danger begun to be brought to shore。 And soon the cheerful
spirit of the admiral added a new feature to the scene。 Surrounded
as he was by the crews of two wrecked ships； he paraded the band of
the TRENTON； and the bay was suddenly enlivened with the strains of
〃Hail Columbia。〃
During a great part of the day the work of rescue was continued；
with many instances of courage and devotion； and for a long time
succeeding； the almost inexhaustible harvest of the beach was to be
reaped。 In the first employment； the Samoans earned the gratitude
of friend and foe； in the second； they surprised all by an
unexpected virtue； that of honesty。 The greatness of the disaster；
and the magnitude of the treasure now rolling at their feet； may
perhaps have roused in their bosoms an emotion too serious for the
rule of greed； or perhaps that greed was for the moment satiated。
Sails that twelve strong Samoans could scarce drag from the water；
great guns （one of which was rolled by the sea on the body of a
man； the only native slain in all the hurricane）； an infinite
wealth of rope and wood； of tools and weapons； tossed upon the
beach。 Yet I have never heard that much was stolen； and beyond
question； much was very honestly returned。 On both accounts； for
the saving of life and the restoration of property； the government
of the United States showed themselves generous in reward。 A fine
boat was fitly presented to Seumanu； and rings； watches； and money
were lavished on all who had assisted。 The Germans also gave money
at the rate （as I receive the tale） of three dollars a head for
every German saved。 The obligation was in this instance
incommensurably deep； those with whom they were at war had saved
the German blue…jackets at the venture of their lives； Knappe was；
besides； far from ungenerous； and I can only explain the niggard
figure by supposing it was paid from his own pocket。 In one case；
at least； it was refused。 〃I have saved three Germans；〃 said the
rescuer； 〃I will make you a present of the three。〃
The crews of the American and German squadrons were now cast； still
in a bellicose temper； together on the beach。 The discipline of
the Americans was notoriously loose； the crew of the NIPSIC had
earned a character for lawlessness in other ports； and recourse was
had to stringent and indeed extraordinary measures。 The town was
divided in two camps； to which the different nationalities were
confined。 Kimberley had his quarter sentinelled and patrolled。
Any seaman disregarding a challenge was to be shot dead； any
tavern…keeper who sold spirits to an American sailor was to have
his tavern broken and his stock destroyed。 Many of the publicans
were German； and Knappe； having narrated these rigorous but
necessary dispositions； wonders （grinning to himself over his
despatch） how far these Americans will go in their assumption of
jurisdiction over Germans。 Such as they were； the measures were
successful。 The incongruous mass of castaways was kept in peace；
and at last shipped in peace out of the islands。
Kane returned to Apia on the 19th； to find the CALLIOPE the sole
survivor of thirteen sail。 He thanked his men； and in particular
the engineers； in a speech of unusual feeling and beauty； of which
one who was present remarked to another； as they left the ship；
〃This has been a means of grace。〃 Nor did he forget to thank and
compliment the admiral； and I cannot deny myself the pleasure of
transcribing from Kimberley's reply some generous and engaging
words。 〃My dear captain；〃 he wrote； 〃your kind note received。 You
went out splendidly； and we all felt from our hearts for you； and
our cheers came with sincerity and admiration for the able manner
in which you handled your ship。 We could not have been gladder if
it had been one of our ships； for in a time like that I can truly
say with old Admiral Josiah Latnall； 'that blood is thicker than
water。'〃 One more trait will serve to build up the image of this
typical sea…officer。 A tiny schooner； the EQUATOR； Captain Edwin
Reid； dear to myself from the memories of a six months' cruise；
lived out upon the high seas the fury of that tempest which had
piled with wrecks the harbour of Apia； found a refuge in Pango…
Pango； and arrived at last in the desolated port with a welcome and
lucrative cargo of pigs。 The admiral was glad to have the pigs；
but what most delighted the man's noble and childish soul； was to
see once more afloat the colours of his country。
Thus； in what seemed the very article of war； and within the
duration of a single day； the sword…arm of each of the two angry
Powers was broken； their formidable ships reduced to junk； their
disciplined hundreds to a horde of castaways； fed with difficulty；
and the fear of whose misconduct marred the sleep of their
commanders。 Both paused aghast； both had time to recognise that
not the whole Samoan Archipelago was worth the loss in men and
costly ships already suffered。 The so…called hurricane of March
16th made thus a marking epoch in world…history； directly； and at
once； it brought about the congress and treaty of Berlin；
indirectly； and by a process still continuing； it founded the
modern navy of the States。 Coming years and other historians will
declare the influence of that。
CHAPTER XI … LAUPEPA AND MATAAFA
1889…1892
WITH the hurricane； the broken war…ships； and the stranded sailors；
I am at an end of violence； and my tale flows henceforth among
carpet incidents。 The blue…jackets on Apia beach were still
jealously held apart by sentries； when the powers at home were
already seeking a peaceable solution。 It was agreed； so far as
might be； to obliterate two years of blundering； and to resume in
1889； and at Berlin； those negotiations which had been so unhappily
broken off at Washington in 1887。 The example thus offered by
Germany is rare in history； in the career of Prince Bismarck； so
far as I am instructed； it should stand unique。 On a review of
these two years of blundering； bullying； and failure in a little
isle of the Pacific； he seems magnanimously to have owned his
policy was in the wrong。 He left Fangalii unexpiated； suffered
that house of cards； the Tamasese government； to fall by its own
frailty and without remark or lamentation； left the Samoan question
openly and fairly to the conference： and in the meanwhile； to
allay the local heats engendered by Becker and Knappe； he sent to
Apia that invaluable public servant； Dr。 Stuebel。 I should be a
dishonest man if I did not bear testimony to the loyalty since
shown by Germans in Samoa。 Their position was painful； they had
talked big in the old days； now they had to sing small。 Even
Stuebel returned to the islands under the prejudice of an
unfortunate