Collapsing

Old Wreck Is

Memories of When U.S.A. and Germany Nearly Fought, 50 Years Ago

Ever since the night of March 15, 1889, when a disastrous hurricane swept across Apia Harbour, Western Samoa, there has lain on the reef, right in front of Apia town, the huge hull of a German warship—a most conspicuous object.

Many attempts have been made to re move this wreck; but it hais resisted gun powder, dynamite and the revages of time. Until January, 1939, almost ex actly 50 years after the hurricane, it seemed that the hull of the German war ship was indestructible.

But, in the storms which occurred in the first week of January, the ancient hull received a terrific battering and, al though it is still there, it is reported that it is much reduced in size and has taken on a different appearance. The sea has made several new holes in it, and it thought likely now that it may soon dis appear into the deep water beside the reef.

It is all that remains, now, to remind the present generation of that curious in cident of 1889 when Germany and the United States were on the point of going to war over their conflicting interests in Samoa and when there had assembled in Apia Bay no less than seven warships— one British, three American and three German.

The hurricane came up with frightful suddenness and the three American and three German warshins were thrown on to the reef, and a large number of their seamen were drowned. The British war ship, “Calliope” clawed her way out of Apia Bay, in the teeth of the hurricane, and was saved.

It was then that there occurred that famous incident of history, when the men of the American warship “Trenton”, fast drifting to their doom on the raging reef, lined the rail and cheered lustily as their comrades on the British ship fought their way, inch by inch, out to the open sea. It was a sportsmanlike gesture on the part of the American bluejackets which the British Navy has never forgotten.

The destruction of the six warships effectively ended the warlike snarling of the two nations concerned, and the dis pute was quickly settled.