The New York herald., 1877-08-28
THE WRECK OF THE CITY OF
HAVANA

HOW SHE WENT AsHoRE-oApTAIN PHILLIPS
REPORT OF THE TROUBLE.
\! The Havana steamship Clyde, which arrived in this
port yesterday from that city, brought among her
passengers Dr. Hughes, the purser of the wrecked
steamship ity OF Havana, of the New York, Havana
and Mexican Mail Steamship Line. The Doctor
brought with him the following interesting document
which is the report OF the captain Of the III faled
craft concerning her stranding:-
STEAMSHIP CRY OF HAVANA,
on TUxpAN REEF, August Is, 1871
Nessra F. ALEXANDRA & Sons, New York.
GENrLENEN-I am sorry have 10 report 10 you n
serious disaster to this good ship. We lett Tampco
Wednesday morning, 18th INST. at nine o'clock re-
cargo, only tive boxes specie, and at eight
O'Clock that evening struck this rect 1t was brl2ht
moonlight night, aud was expecting to anchor At or
near Tuxpan about nine O'Clock. The sea was smooth
and the weather was Gnc when we struck expected
tnc ship 10 be at least eight miles southeast of the
reel, as we had passed LoDos Island at four p. NJ
making gooa departure and short run. We wero
making eight knots per hour, and the distance Is
twuntv-nve miles between Tho island and reef rhe
Is about eight miles from the mainland, with deep
water all round We got an anchor out WIN backing
hawser and hove taut, and threw overheard what
cargo had and about fifty tons OF coal, in the
peclation floating al high water, AS the ship
lying easy ana not strainng AT six p. ". Oh Thur
DAY we had steam up and good strain on our hawser
ship hfllng. Sudaonly she commenced making
wafer fast and with all our pumps run
nlug tue water gained so fast that. that the
Gibbs flows with the wator outside. sent Tor
sister snip the City OF Merida, to assist
ance before we sprang aleak She Is now here, but
do US no good, save 10 take passengers and mails
10 Vera Cruz. am gong 10 send most OF the crew on
the Merida only keeping those on board that think
necessary 10 take vi the vessel and assist wreck
ers. II they reach US IN time. shall send TINS by
French steamship to Havana also telegram. sent
you one yos crday through Mexico. We arc eighteen
miles from Tuxpan and cign, miles from land on q
sunken rect In case OF "horther II Is not the best
place to be IN, but we shall do the best we can We
shall put bosrd the Merida ships linen. sverware
and mattresses. am sir, &c. s. r. PHILLIPS.
CARGO
The purscr, who remained three days on the wreck,
says that the cargo OF the City OF Havana consisted Of
$50 bales of cotton sh pped New Orleans for Vera
Cruz and about Diy tons oil sundrics There were ten
passengers Thirty out OF the torty-fve men compos
ing the crew Of the vessel taken board the
CITY OF Merida and will probably arrive here on sun
day morning The specie shipped at ramplco for Vera
Cruz taxed OF by the City Of Merida and IS been
delivered at that port The distance from ruXpan to
Vera Cruz Is only ninety miles. Tho purser speaks
IN the highest terms Of tho efforts made by
Captain Phillips 10 save his SNIP and OF the ex-
ceent discipline which prevailed on bard.
In cunv ershon with Mcssrs Alexandra, the owners
OF the City OF Havana tncy stated tnat tncy believe
the vessel was stranded through tue meat variation Of
the Cult currents Her commander s one or their
most experienced and careful captains. II ordinary
weather suc as prevails at this season oi the year,
lasts the vessel may be saved gales como her chance
are bad The coast wrecking steamship Relief, with
Captain Merritt on board Will reach the wreck about
Friday, having on board large crew OF experienced
wreckers. Inc CITY oil Havana was tho third vessel
built of their fleet She Is wooden, brig rigged, about
worth about $l75 900. aud insured tor noarly that
amount In this country ana England.