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Photo # NH 2149:  Salvage arrangements on the beach at Apia, Samoa, after the March 1889 hurricane

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1880s -- 1889

Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889 --
Ship Salvage and Repair

Immediately after the hurricane subsided, early on 17 March 1889, work began to survey the wrecked ships and salvage what could be saved. The first few days were spent recovering stores and food from USS Trenton, in order to support the hundreds of survivors encamped ashore. Survey work to determine whether the ships could be saved began soon after, with the assistance of divers from HMS Calliope. USS Vandalia, whose hull was broken and almost completely submerged, was clearly beyond hope. Though largely above water, Trenton was found to have broken her back in two places, with a hole in her hull and propeller and rudder broken away. She was beyond economical repair and was later broken up where she lay, though work to recover guns and equipment from her and from Vandalia went on well into April. Similar salvage efforts were made by the Germans on Adler, which lay on her port side in shallow water on the harbor's western side.

The beached German corvette Olga and USS Nipsic were both found to be repairable. The former was able to leave Samoa in early April, convoyed by the steamship Lübeck. Nipsic, with a badly bent propeller, collapsed smokestack, and shattered rudder, was refloated on 20 March. She was rerigged, given a new smokestack (taken from the ruined Vandalia), and a makeshift rudder. Leaving Apia on 17 April, she immediately encountered a squall, broke her jury rudder, and had to be towed back in. On 9 May a second attempt to depart was also aborted, but Nipsic finally got away from Apia on 15 May to begin a long voyage to Honolulu, where she was repaired during the last several months of 1889.

This page features and provides links to all the views we have related to ship salvage and repair efforts after the March 1889 Apia hurricane.

For additional photographs concerning ship salvage and repair after the Apia Hurricane, see:

  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889 -- Ship Salvage and Repair (Part II); and
  • Nipsic (1879-1913 -- Under Repair at Honolulu, 1889.

    For more images related to the March 1889 Apia hurricane, see:

  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 97994

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Scene in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, following the storm. USS Trenton is in the center, with salvage operations underway. Barely visible on her opposite side is the sunken USS Vandalia. Surf is breaking on the reef, closer to the camera.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Richard H. Jackson, 1965.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 2149

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Scene in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, during salvage efforts, circa late March or early April. The view looks about northwestward. In the foreground are improvised shear legs and purchase for handling guns, carriages and other heavy weights removed from the wrecks. This arrangement was used both in landing materials and later in embarking it on USS Monongahela for transit home.
    The bow of the German gunboat Eber is at left, by the shear legs. USS Trenton is in the center, with the sunken USS Vandalia alongside. Vandalia's smokestack has been removed to replace that of USS Nipsic, which is probably the ship in the right distance. In the left distance is the German gunboat Adler, on her side in shallow water.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 635 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42124

    Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889


    "Western part of the Harbor. Mulinuu point in the distance"
    Artwork by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, contained in his personal journal of the Apia Hurricane. It shows the southern end of Apia Harbor after the storm, with sheers for salvaging guns from USS Trenton and USS Vandalia in the foreground and the German gunboat Adler on her side in the right center background.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Miss Elsie S. Kimberly, January 1958.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42137

    Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889


    "Sheers for hoisting the guns of the Trenton. The bow of the Eber & wreck of the Adler"
    Artwork by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, contained in his personal journal of the Apia Hurricane. It shows one of USS Trenton's heavy guns after it was hauled ashore using the sheer arrangement in the foreground. The shattered bow of the German gunboat Eber is on the beach by the sheer leg, and the German gunboat Adler is on her side in the right distance.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Miss Elsie S. Kimberly, January 1958.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97995

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    View on board the wrecked USS Trenton, in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, while the ship's armament and equipment were being salvaged after the storm. This photograph looks aft on the ship's spar deck, with her bridge in the foreground.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Richard H. Jackson, 1965.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97996

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    View from the wrecked USS Trenton, with USS Vandalia sunk alongside. Taken in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, during the salvage of the ships' armament and equipment. Lines between Vandalia's foremast and Trenton's deck were used to save men clinging to Vandalia's rigging during the storm.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Richard H. Jackson, 1965.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97997

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Guns and carriages from USS Trenton and USS Vandalia, at Apia, Upolu, Samoa, after they were salvaged from the sunken ships.
    These appear to be Dahlgren type guns, with iron carriages. They were later transported to the Mare Island Navy Yard by USS Monongahela.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Richard H. Jackson, 1965.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 156KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1909

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Guns, carriages and rigging from USS Trenton and USS Vandalia hauled up on the beach at Apia, Upolu, Samoa during salvage efforts after the storm. Four Samoan men are standing in front.
    These appear to be Dahlgren type guns, with iron carriages.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 161KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     

    For additional photographs concerning ship salvage and repair after the Apia Hurricane, see:

  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889 -- Ship Salvage and Repair (Part II); and
  • Nipsic (1879-1913 -- Under Repair at Honolulu, 1889.

    For more images related to the March 1889 Apia hurricane, see:

  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 24 March 2002
    New images added and page divided 20 July 2002