Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 2150:  USS Vandalia and other ships wrecked at Apia, Samoa, March 1889

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Vandalia (1876-1889) --
In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889


This page features and provides links to all the views we have related to USS Vandalia during and after the March 1889 hurricane at Apia, Samoa.

For additional pictures on this subject, see:

  • USS Vandalia -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889 (Part II); and
  • USS Vandalia -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889 (Part III).

    For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Vandalia (1876-1889).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

    Photo #: NH 42117

    Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889


    "Vandalia before the Hurricane"
    Artwork by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, contained in his personal journal of the Apia Hurricane. It shows USS Vandalia at anchor in Apia Harbor prior to the storm. She has not yet made preparations for heavy weather, as top and topgallant masts are still up.

    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 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 2150

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Wrecked ships in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, soon after the storm. The view looks about northward, with USS Trenton and the sunken USS Vandalia at left, the German corvette Olga beached in the center distance and USS Nipsic beached in the right center.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42289

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Wrecked ships in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, during salvage efforts soon after the storm. The view looks about northward, with USS Trenton and the sunken USS Vandalia to the left and the beached German corvette Olga at right.
    Wreckage just off Trenton's stern may be from the German gunboat Eber, which was destroyed when she struck the harbor reef during the hurricane.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 2148

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Wrecked ships in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa soon after the storm. The view looks northwestward, with the shattered bow of the German gunboat Eber on the beach in the foreground. The stern of USS Trenton is at right, with the sunken USS Vandalia alongside. The German gunboat Adler is on her side in the center distance.
    Trenton's starboard quarter gallery has been largely ripped away.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 585 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 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 2151

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Scene in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, soon after the storm. The view looks about southwestward, with USS Nipsic beached in the foreground. Beyond her stern is USS Trenton (in the right center) and the sunken USS Vandalia (in the center, alongside Trenton).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97993

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Scene in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, soon after the storm. USS Nipsic is beached in the center. Beyond her, to the right, are USS Vandalia (sunken) and USS Trenton.

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

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 148KB; 740 x 630 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42291

    German Corvette Olga


    Beached on the eastern side of Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, soon after the storm.
    View looks to the southwestward, with the wrecks of USS Trenton and USS Vandalia in the left background.
    Note Olga's damaged bow. Her funnels and fore and main topmasts are in lowered positions.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42292

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    View looking to the southward from the eastern side of Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, showing driftwood and debris that lined the beach immediately after the storm.
    The sunken wreck of USS Vandalia is visible at the far right edge of the photograph.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    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

     

    For additional pictures on this subject, see:

  • USS Vandalia -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889 (Part II); and
  • USS Vandalia -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889 (Part III).

    For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Vandalia (1876-1889).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 27 March 2002
    New image added 20 July 2002