The daily gazette., 1880-09-06
Tie Loss of the VerG Cruz.
A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY MIR
OWEN.
THE TERkoRs OF TaE WRECK AND THE
STORM THRILLINGLY DESCRIBED.

THE TERRoRs OF TaE WRECK AND THE
STORM THRILLINGLY DESCRIBED.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Sept. A. All the
recent casualties pale before the loss Of
the steamship City Of Vera Cruz. She
was outward bound from New Y ork, and
had exp ,rienced rough weather during
the whole voyage, but about 2 O'Clock on
Saturday the storm struck her with all
its force. IL blowed a perfect hurricane
until Sunday morning, when the noble
vessel yielded to the violenca of the storm
foundered about twenty-five miles from
the main land and forty north Of Cape
Canaveral. Her boats we're all broken up
by the storm and flying timbers. Every
one had take care OF himself as best he
could. Those who were saved were
fortunate enough to find some large float
ing object on which they could climb and
feat, but even then the sea was running
so high that it seemed impossible that
their fragile objects Of refuge could with
stand the terrible force Of The waves.
Three passengers and eight seamen
were all who reached shore alive; of these
one passenger and sixseamen arrived in
the city to-day. The passenger is A. X.
Owen, Of Chester, Penn. The names Of
the seamen are: Charles Smidt, second
assistant engineer; Thomas Drumgould,
oiler; Charles Brandenburg, quarter
master; James Kelly; John Greenfield
and Mason Tolber.
They give the most graphic descrip-
tions Of appalling and narrowing scenes
which took place previous and after the
| foundering of the steamship.
MR.. OWENS EXPERIENCE.
Mr.. Owen. who is an intelligent and
educated gentleman, about thirty years
of age, made the following statement
| from his notes written since landing:
"On Saturday, about p. m, Captain
Van Slice said to the first officer, Mr..
| Harris, ave are going to have heavy
blow; the barometer is falling rapidly;
| [ dread the hurricane. The deck load,
consisting of cars for Mexico, casks Of
oil, acids, aud vegetables, was cast over
board The cyclone struck us On the port
bow al p. m, ON Saturday, accompanied
with terrific rain, almost throwing the
ship on her beam ends. 1t was very
difficulty to move about without cling
ing to support. Everything in the cabin
was thrown from port to sta;board. The
wind was northeast, and the vessel was
south by east. During the evening water
poured through the windows, and the
main salons and state rooms were filled
with water. The passengers cheered AM
encouraged each other, and all manifest
ed great GOODNESS. The walters were
very attentive. General A. L. A. Torber
was remarkably attentive, and did mucf
by his words of encouragement 10 cheer
and support all the passengers.
On Sunday at a. IN. the engine-roon
was dry. The drag, too small to render
any assistance, was put out, but became
reversed and useless. Al 2. m. heavy
sea extinguished the fires and stopped
the engine. The dummy engine wa
nut to work and continued until the
steamer went down.
ALL HOPE GIVEN UP.
The purser came down and said the
captain wanted assistance. All hand:
went up and passed buckets OF water fol
an hour or more. 1t was of no use, as
the sea was constantly coming in. AL
hopes were now abandoned, and the
passengers began to put on life preser-
vers. The wind and waves at this time
we're fearful. Every wave threw the
ship on her beam ends.
At 4:12 a. M, atremendous sea dashed
on board throwing the passengers and
furniture into one mass. General Tor
bert came to me with little boy, Mas
ter Wallendge, and said: awe must
take care of him." "No use," said l.
ave will all be dead in few minutes
Better let him 90 down with the shiI
than face such a storm" The Genera
said: awe must not leave the dear little
fellow behind; we must save him." Al
this moment the port side was carried
away by another wave. The passengers
then ali gathered in the social hall and
exchanged last farewells and words OF
announcement, and adjusted life-pre-
sewers, All were wonderfully cool un-
der the terrible circumstances.
l advised them to stay till the ship
sank.
Just before II a. m. the captain wa;
seen. | do not know whether he wa:
washed overheard or left the ship. The
second mate, Harris, and one Or two
seamen were killed while attempting tC
lower boat. First Engineer Miller anC
his assistants remained at their post till
the ship sank. Quartermaster O'Nei
and sailor whose name do hot know
remalr.e ed at the wheel TIL the last.
THE FINAL CRASH.
About six O'Clock q. IN. the ship parted
amidshps. In an instant the S a was
filled with debris of all descriptions,
dashing together and mangling and
killing unfortunate victims. Men,
women, children and horses were all
floating together amid waves fifty feet
! high. The waves were peculiar, moi
coming in ridges, but in peaks, breaking
together like surf. When we rose Oh
top of one it was not to roll down a
declivty, but to be tossed from peak to
peak, and to be dashed backward and
forward like corks. After two or three
hours the waves changed and came in
swelling ridges.
GENERAL ToRBERT's BODY FOUND.
General Torbert's body was washed
ashore at New Britain Monday morning,
about six miles above Mr.. Botefuhr's
farm. He was found by Mr.. Pitts float
ing on the surf. His body was warm,
his heart was beating and the blood was
flowing from wound over the right
eve. He had evidently reached the
breakers sound and we'll, and there had
been struck by the fragment he was on
and stunned so that he drowned before