The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-25
THIRTY THREE PERSONS MISSING.
Captain Diaz Recites the Tragic
Scenes on Board.
CONFUSION AND DISOBEDIENcE.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.l

Espaiiol, and suffering from the severe in
juries he endured during the terrible dis
nster which overlook his i'll fated ves'
sell Tho captain is q man about thirty
eight years old, of large, strong frame,
apparently able to endure any amount Of bodily
fatigue under almost any ordeal. He now lies
as helpless as child, and is dependent OH his
nurses for the slightest assistance. He seemed
to suffer greatly from prostration during his re-
eital of his late unfortunate experience. His
narrative was several times interrupted, and he
had to wait some time to gain strength in order
to continue it.
srATEMENT OF CAPTAIN DIAz.
He says the Nuevo P,jaro del Oceano on the
10th of October last left Havana for St. Jago de
Cuba, touching ut Nuevitas and Giabara, to
which last place most Of the cargo was con-
signed The cargo consisted mostly Of provis-
ions for the army, including wines, brandy, rum
and petroleum, with large quantity of arms
and ammunition There were OH board, in ad-
all of whom are supposed to be lost, and thir-
teen soldiers, only one of whom was saved. OF
the officers of the vessel Captain Diaz and the
first and second mates were rescued, and
only thirteen Of crew Of forty-two
were saved. The total of those who were
aboard the Inflated steamer was itty-nine
souls. At the time Of the disaster-four o'clock
on the morning Of the 18th Of October-lhe
watch was just being changed, and the captain,
with some Of his officers, were taking their
coffee on the quarter deck, the horizon being
clear all around.
GIVING THE ALARM.
There was some light talk and testing going
OH at the moment, when suddenly a cry of
'Firew came from one Of the officers Of the
steamer then in charge An examination was
Immediately made Of the lower deck. In
an instant flame of fire shot up
high into the air, just between the
manned ut once, and every exertion that men
could make was made to subduc the flames
Every moment, however, they seemed to get
more intensely hot The heat of the fire was
extreme. In order to avoid, if possible, the
smoke which seemed to envelope and stiile the
men working at the pumps, the command was
passed to "veer ship"
ENGINEERS sTIFLED TO DEATH AT THEIR posTs
This gave relief however, for the engi-
neers were stiAed to death Mt the engines, and
the steamer still moved on. This famed tho
fire, which now seemed to take almost entire
possession of the doomed vessel, into the widest
fury. As the fire reached the petroleum and
other intlammabe material, of which the
cargo consisted, tremor seemed to 20
through the entire length Of the main deck, as
If the vessel was bursting asunder from some
terrible pressure. The fire had now Increased
to such an extent that the men were dread
fully burned Us they stood ut the pumps, and now
oil abandoned them in the widest terror. In
the confusion that ensued the voices of the
utmost disorder and INSTRUMENTATION followed.
An attempt was now made to prevent the low.
ering of the boats in the mad manner in which
it was being endeavored, as it was understood
that the moment they would touch the water
they must fill and all hope of safety in that
direction would be lost forever. AS the officers
endeavored to effect this they were hurled for
ward by the crew, now crazed with terror, and
mly intent on saving themselves
BOATS LOWERED AND UPSET.
The boat ON the starboard side forward was
owercd and Immediately swamped, passing di-
cctly under the wheel of the steamer, which
was still moving on. The captain, while ell
deavoring to prevent like disaster to the boat
OH the larboard side, was hurled head foremost
into the water. This boat also was dashed
to pieces Ii any one was saved by the boats
the captain thinks 1t must have been those
astern, as they were the best on the steamer.
into the water, preparing to meet death thus
rather than endure the pitiless embraces of tho
raging flames. For a while the sea was black
with human beings, clinging desperately to
little pieces of wood-anything, in fact, that
they could catch--hoping it might save them.
The steamer soon burned to the waters edge
and disappeared.
STRUGGLING IN THE WAVES
The situation of those who had Jumped over
board was distressing in the extreme Tho
slightest motion of the waves as they chung
desperately to the little pieces of planks threat
encd to cngulf them Some were bold enough TO
attempt to better their situation, but met n
watcry grave. Captain Diaz at one time was