In Apia Harbour, Upolu, Samoa, March 1889, were congregated the warships of 3 great nations: the United States, Germany and Great Britain. As they prepared for human conflict, they were assaulted by nature, when a terrible hurricane battered the little port with the fiercest storm ever known in the islands - either before or since.

The American vessels Trenton and Vandalia, and the German vessels Adler and Eber, were destroyed, whilst the U.S.S. Nipsic and SMS Olga were forced to beach severely damaged. The many merchant ships in the harbour were lost.

Only the British man-of-war H.M.S. Calliope, commanded by Captain Henry Kane, Royal Navy, managed to escape the death trap that Apia had become. Click on the image of the ship to find out more.

This web-site is dedicated to the memory of my most precious and beautiful lady.