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Photo # NH 42289:  Wrecked ships in Apia Harbor, Samoa, following the hurricane of 15-16 March 1889

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

Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889

On the 15th and 16th of March 1889, a tropical hurricane (as most of its contemporaries called it ... modern people might prefer the term "typhoon") struck the South Pacific island kingdom of Samoa. In the port of Apia, on the northern coast of the Samoan island of Upolu, seven foreign warships were anchored in the town's small and very exposed harbor, protecting their national interests during a time of domestic Samoan political unrest. Active German military involvement in the local crisis was perceived as a threat to U.S. commerical interests in the islands, and the U.S. Navy's Pacific Station flagship, USS Trenton, and the smaller U.S. warships Vandalia and Nipsic were present as a "show of force" in opposition to the German corvette Olga and gunboats Adler and Eber. This tense situation carried a serious risk of war between those two countries. Also anchored in Apia harbor was the British Royal Navy corvette Calliope and several civilian vessels.

Though the weather was visibly threatening in the hours before the storm, the senior officer present, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, had decided to remain at Apia, basing his decision on local opinion that the hurricane season was already past. However, the force of wind and waves proved much greater than anticipated. With the exception of the relatively modern Calliope, which was able with great difficulty to steam out of the harbor in the teeth of the storm, the ships' anchors and engines proved unable to resist the blow. Eber, the smallest of the warships present, was blown into the reef and completely destroyed, with the loss of nearly all of her crew. Adler and Vandalia also suffered heavy personnel casualties and were wrecked beyond any possibility of recovery. Trenton, whose steam powerplant was extinguished by water entering through her low hause pipes, dragged her anchors and was also wrecked, though losses among her men were light. Olga and Nipsic were run ashore, but both were later hauled off and repaired.

The shocking violence of the storm, which took the lives of more than fifty U.S. Sailors and Marines, and about ninety Germans, overwhelmed the international naval confrontation. A diplomatic settlement of the Samoan question followed, though the islands' internal problems were not over and foreign intervention again took place during the next decade. Within the United States' Navy, the Samoan Hurricane was seen as something of a "last gasp" of the age of wooden cruisers, muzzle-loading guns, full sail rig and moderate steam power. Already in 1889 the "New Navy"'s steel ships, with powerful engines and modern ordnance, were beginning to enter service and, in the next half-decade, would almost completely displace what contemporary opinion regarded as the seagoing "relics" of the post-Civil War era.

This page features, or provides links to, all the views we have related to the Apia, Samoa, hurricane of 15-16 March 1889.

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

  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Charts and Views before the Storm;
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--More Damage Views;
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Personnel Casualties and Survivors;
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Ship Salvage and Repair; and
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Memorials, Relics and Miscellaneous Views.

    For textual information relating to this storm, see the "Frequently Asked Questions" entry:

  • Typhoons and Hurricanes: The Storm 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 42120

    Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889


    "Trenton dragging along the reefs"
    Artwork by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, contained in his personal journal of the Apia Hurricane. It shows USS Trenton during the height of the storm, with her anchors dragging as she is pushed deeper into Apia Harbor. Note that she is shown with steam up. Water entering through her low hause pipes (visible at her bow) ultimately put out her fires, greatly reducing her ability to survive the wind and waves.

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

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42121

    Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889


    "Trenton dragging along the reefs with 90 feet on her riding cable. Three others carried away."
    Artwork by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, contained in his personal journal of the Apia Hurricane. It shows USS Trenton being driven toward the southern end of Apia Harbor by the force of wind and waves.

    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 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 55227

    British Cruiser Calliope


    Steaming out of Apia, Samoa, during the great hurricane of 16 March 1889.
    Halftone reproduction of an artwork, published in the late 19th or early 20th Century.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 510 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42285

    German Corvette Olga


    Beached on the eastern side of Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, soon after the storm.
    View looks to the northward.
    Note her damaged bow, crew's laundry drying in the rigging, and lowered fore and main topmasts.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 585 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 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 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 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 97924

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Scene in the southeastern corner of Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, looking easterly, during cleanup and salvage efforts shortly after the hurricane. Ship wreckage, debris, a beached sailing craft and ships' boats are visible. At the extreme left is the jibboom of the beached USS Nipsic. The United States Consulate is one of the buildings in the right part of the image.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Hilary P. Jones, who, as an Ensign, was one of Nipsic's officers during this storm.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     

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

  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Charts and Views before the Storm;
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--More Damage Views;
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Personnel Casualties and Survivors;
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Ship Salvage and Repair; and
  • Hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 15-16 March 1889--Memorials, Relics and Miscellaneous Views.

    Note: In addition to the views referenced above, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, holds several artworks that depict scenes before and during the Apia hurricane of 15-16 March 1889. Among these are:

    National Maritime Museum photo # 7746 -- Oil painting by a German artist depicting the warships at anchor in Apia harbor shortly before the storm.

    National Maritime Museum photo # 7747 -- Oil painting by a German artist depicting the warships in distress amid towering waves at the height of the storm.

    National Maritime Museum photo # 58/6603 -- Engraving from a contemporary publication, depicting the ships at the height of the storm, with some of them being driven onto the reefs. This view has a heavy vertical line in its center.

    National Maritime Museum photo # 2959 -- Etching by W.L. Wyllie, depicting HMS Calliope steaming out of Apia Harbor into the teeth of the hurricane. The view shows Calliope from off her stern (somewhat to the port side), with another ship (probably USS Trenton) beyond.

    National Maritime Museum photo # 58/6590 -- Engraving from the "Illustrated London News", depicting the crew of USS Trenton cheering HMS Calliope as she steamed seaward at the peak of the hurricane. The artist's vantage point is from on board Trenton, with Calliope passing nearby (seen from off her port quarter).

    National Maritime Museum photo # A.8339 -- Painting showing HMS Calliope escaping from Apia Harbor during the storm. The view shows Calliope from off her starboard side, with a huge wave breaking amidships.


    For additional information on these items, the availability of reproductions and usage rights, contact the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Its WEB site can be readily found through standard Internet search engines.

    For textual information relating to this storm, see the "Frequently Asked Questions" entry:

  • Typhoons and Hurricanes: The Storm 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 Image added 20 July 2002