第 34 节
作者:
闪啊闪 更新:2024-08-29 08:48 字数:9322
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
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 Samo