The New York herald., 1879-10-24


l6, for Nuevitas with general cargo, includ-
ing large lot of grain, provisions and ammu-
milton for the Spanish army. Everything was
all right until about four o'clock on Saturday
morning, October Is. when the vessel was IN
Bahama Straits, between Paredon and Lobas
lights.
THE SHIP ON FIRE
An alarm was sounded, when the captain,
passengers and crew, who were asleep at
the time, rushed from their beds to ascertain
its cause. 1t was found that the vessel had
taken fire amidships and was then in sheet OF
flames.
AN AWFUL SCENE.
General confusion ensued, some of the pas
sengers and crew running to the stern of the
vessel and jumping overheard in their night
clothes, with whatever small objects they could
lay their hands on to serve as life buoys, while
others were trying to lower boats. The vessel
burned to the waters edge and sank in less than
four hours time
1nE CAEW AMI IAscLNGEho
There were torty-two men in the crew and
some seventeen or twenty passengers, includ-
ing about six officers and soldiers OF the
Spanish army. The Louisa ii. picked up
seventeen of the unfortunates, including the
captain, two mates and one soldier. OF this
number the captain and five or six Of
the crew were badly burned and other
wise injured. When picked up they
had been floating for eighteen hours on pieces
of plank and were almost naked. Five of the
crew took to a small boat and are supposed to
have been picked up. One boat was lowered
and some twenty persons-passengers and
crew-took to it, but it is thought that they
are lost.
sUFFERINGs IN THE WATER.
Those who were picked up were in fearful
state from: their long exposure to sun and
water. Their flesh is torn and chafed from
contact with the rough boards to which they
clung, and against which the swell of the sea
caused their unprotected limbs to grind and
rub until great patches of skin were worn
away while salt water and fierce sunshine COM
bined to make their condition worse. They are
stiff and sore in every limb, and in their desti-
tute condition present, On the whole, most
pitiable sight.
FATE OF THE STEwARDESs
There was one woman, the stewardess, OIL the
Pajaro del Oceano. One of the survivors relates
his efforts to save her. He had her ut his side
for some hours until he could no longer hold
her up and she sank exhausted Doubtless
many of the passengers and crew were eaten by
who were floating a plank, saw shark ap-
preaching and managed by climbing on the top
to avoid it.
GRATITUDE OF THE RESCUED.
| The captain and men Of the Pajaro speak in
the highest terms of the officers and crew Of the
steamer Louise ii. for the manner in which
they were treated. The Englishmen furnished
clothing for the naked and attended to thos,
who were hurt.
HISTORY OF THE PAJARO.
The Paiaro del Oceano was owned by r. Her
rera, of Havana. She was formerly an Ameri
can vessel, known as the Niagara, and ran be
tween New York and Havana.
Nuevitas, or Nuevitas del Principe, the des
tination of the Paiaro del Oceano on her last
fatal voyage, is the port of Puerto Principe
and is situated on the Northeastern coast OF
Cuba, forty-four miles from that city, with
which it is connected by railroad.
The point near which the Louise H. picked
up the survivors is called Pucnto de Caiberan,
and is situated on the nothern coast of Cuba,
about one hundred and seventeen miles east OF
Cardenas well known seaport.
MEAGRE TIDINGs IN HAvANA-FoRTY PERSONS
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