贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > a footnote to history >

第38章

a footnote to history-第38章

小说: a footnote to history 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




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 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 

successf

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的