On 15 March 1889 the drums of war descended on the islands of Samoa with the breaking out of a civil war on the island of Upolu which saw America, Germany and Britain send warships.

The United Kingdom’s The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday that a tense standoff ensued at that time between the three superpowers with the three American, three German and one British warships all anchored in close proximity to each other in Apia’s harbour.

Unbeknown to the seven warships and their crew, a hurricane was beginning to gather overhead with the waters becoming choppy and Samoans seeking refuge.

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command website, a “violent storm” struck the Samoa Islands from 15-16 March 1889, resulting in the deaths of over 200 sailors.

“On 15-16 March 1889, a violent storm struck the islands, destroying or disabling six of the seven warships in Apia Harbour,” the historical naval excerpt reads. 

“Screw steamer USS Trenton, screw sloop USS Vandalia, and gunboat USS Nipsic were all wrecked, resulting in the deaths of 51 sailors. 

“All three German warships also sank, killing 150. 

“The disaster did ease tensions, paving the way for a previously scheduled conference at Berlin and eventually the islands were brought under a German-American protectorate in 1899.”

But there were some sailors who were saved, not by their peers but a local Samoan man who braved the stormy waters with his yacht. 

Manuel Silva, the son of Portuguese settler Augustine Silveira and Mele Fiame of Lotofaga Falealili, saved the lives of 10 sailors during the hurricane. He was an employee of the German firm DH & PG in charge of the company cutter, a single masted yacht, which was the only boat that survived the hurricane. 

In the heat of the hurricane, the heroic Silva rode out by cutting down his yacht's mast and managed to save the sailors. His act of bravery was acknowledged by both the German and American admirals at that time.

A great granddaughter of Mr Silva, 71-year-old Taulapapa Elaine Silva, told the Samoa Observer on Tuesday that she wanted to share her story of her great grandfather’s act of valour to encourage Samoans to reach for higher values.

"I want to remind Samoans of acts of bravery and how they are from those higher values," she said. "During these hard times, it is so necessary to speak to the honours of our heroes and what they did to show real compassion and love for humanity.”

Taulapapa Elaine then made reference to a Facebook post by former Museum of Samoa photo archivist and historical researcher Tony Brunt, who said the Apia businesswoman's great grandfather was one of the heroes of 1889. 

According to Mr Brunt, Mr Silva had gone to sea as a youngster on Godeffroy’s sailing ships in the 1870s, roaming not only every corner of the South Seas, but all over the world. 

He reportedly saw Europe, San Francisco and Valparaiso and was also an expert diver and performed many diving feats for warships and merchant ships in need of his services in Apia harbour, according to Mr Brunt.

Mr Silva later acted as a plantation and yard overseer and retired from the Reparation Estates organisation in 1926. He married Caroline Scanlan and they had many children and he reportedly died in 1938.

Referring to the historical events of 15 March 1889, Taulapapa Elaine said one of the rescuers of the sailors in the Apia harbour was the paramount chief Seumanutafa.

An article published in the Los Angeles Herald recorded the heroic acts of Seumanutafa.

"One of the notable events of his life was his conduct toward the American naval forces here during the disastrous hurricane of 1889, when a number of warships were wrecked,” reads the article. “In recognition of his assistance in saving lives, he was thanked by the President of the United States and presented with a $250 gold coin, a gold watch and chain, a telescope and a thermometer. 

“His funeral was attended by the governor and foreign consuls.”

Looking at the challenges that her great grandfather endured 133 years ago, Taulapapa Elaine said it is stories like these that need to be told these days, when people are filled with uncertainties and calamity.

"People need to be immersed with stories of courage and positivity during hard days like these," she said. "And the story of my great grandfather as well as other brave men during this hurricane in 1889 should give us a sense of hope and remind us of our people's resilience and compassion.”