About 3 P.M.
At a 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 _ -LRB- still well under command -RRB- 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 .