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Photo # NH 63404:  USS Nipsic arrives at Honolulu, Hawaii, for repairs, circa August 1889

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

USS Nipsic (1879-1913)

USS Nipsic, a 1375-ton Adams class gunboat, was built at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., the last significant ship to be constructed at that facility. Officially, she was the Civil War gunboat Nipsic rebuilt, but she actually was a completely new ship, with a displacement more than half again that of the original. The new Nipsic was commissioned in October 1879 and served for several months in the West Indies. In March 1880, she crossed the Atlantic to join the European Squadron. Nipsic was transferred to the South Atlantic Squadron in Mid-1883 and remained on that station until March 1886.

Following overhaul, Nipsic went to the Pacific by way of Cape Horn in early 1888. Later in the year she became the station ship at Apia, Samoa, providing U.S. Naval presence there during a tense period with Germany over that nation's attempts to establish a Samoan government of its choice. On 15-16 March 1889, she was in Apia Harbor during a violent hurricane that wrecked two German and two U.S. Navy warships. Nipsic and the German corvette Olga survived the storm, but both were driven ashore and seriously damaged. During the next two months, Nipsic was repaired enough to allow her to depart for Honolulu, Hawaii, where she arrived in early August 1889.

During the rest of 1889, Nipsic underwent repairs at Honolulu. She operated in Hawaiian waters until September 1890 and was decommissioned at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in early October of that year. In 1892 she was taken to the Puget Sound Naval Station, at Bremerton, Washington, for use as a barracks and prison ship. With a large roof built over her hull amidships, she served in this stationary role for some two decades. USS Nipsic was sold in February 1913. Her new civilian owners subsequently converted her to a barge.

This page features and provides links to all the views we have related to USS Nipsic (1879-1913).

For additional views related to this ship, see:

  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- As a Barracks Ship, 1892-1913;
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889 (additional views);
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- Under Repair at Honolulu, 1889;
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- Views on Board; and
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- Relics and Miscellaneous Views.

    For pictorial coverage on Nipsic's Commanding Officer during the 1889 Apia Hurricane, see:

  • Commander Dennis W. Mullan, USN.


    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 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 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 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

     
    Photo #: NH 97925

    Samoan Hurricane of 15-16 March 1889


    Scene in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, circa late March or early April 1889, during salvage efforts. View looks westerly, with USS Nipsic undergoing repairs in the center. The upturned hull of German gunboat Adler is in shallow water beyond Nipsic.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Richard G. Davenport, USN, who was an officer of USS Nipsic during this time.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 505 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 63405

    USS Nipsic
    (1879-1913)

    Jury rudder being made for use in the ship's voyage to Hawaii to receive repairs for damage received during the 15-16 March 1889 hurricane.
    Probably taken at Apia, Upolu, Samoa, circa April-May 1889.
    The men present are (from left to right) the blacksmith's helper, blacksmith and carpenter's mate who built the rudder as designed and supervised by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63081

    USS Nipsic
    (1879-1913)

    View of the ship's starboard quarter, showing the jury rudder fitted after she had lost her rudder post and rudder in the 15-16 March 1889 hurricane at Apia, Samoa.
    This view shows the rudder topped after backing.
    Probably taken at Honolulu, Hawaii, after Nipsic had arrived from Samoa, circa August 1889.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44707

    USS Nipsic
    (1879-1913)

    View of the ship's starboard quarter, showing the jury rudder fitted after she had lost her rudder post and rudder in the 15-16 March 1889 hurricane at Apia, Samoa.
    This view shows the rudder lowered for use.
    Probably taken at Honolulu, Hawaii, after Nipsic had arrived from Samoa, circa August 1889.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63404

    USS Nipsic
    (1879-1913)

    Arriving at Honolulu, Hawaii, with a jury rudder, circa August 1889. She had come up from Samoa for repair of damage received during the 15-16 March 1889 Apia hurricane.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     

    For additional views related to this ship, see:

  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- As a Barracks Ship, 1892-1913;
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889 (additional views);
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- Under Repair at Honolulu, 1889;
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- Views on Board; and
  • USS Nipsic (1879-1913) -- Relics and Miscellaneous Views.


    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 24 March 2002
    New image added 20 July 2002