The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-09-17
The steamer Vera Cruz Destroyed By
Cyclone.


NEW yoRk. September q
A telegram TO the New York Times
from ST. Augustine. Fla, to-day says
that seven survivors Of the steamship
CITY II Vera Cruz reached that place
last night from Halifax River. where
they were all washed ashore. They
were Owens. passenger, one cngl-
neer. one oiler and four seamen. Tai
bot. one Of the seamen. says:
ON saturday night. about thirty miles or
shore. We began 10 ship heavy seas, aud water
was found In our hold. As last n We could
clear her she was nIlci again BY another Sea-
low. and we could not make steam enough 10
make head on the wind. We then put ont q
heavy drag. forward, aud managed for while
% keep her IN the wind. Everything was IN .
panic. The lfeboats were cut loose rcady for
action and AL hands were supplied with lifs-
prcseryers- AZ daylight Monday the boats
we're put over and manned They no sooner
ruf their cargo and we're put over than they
were smashed 10 atoms against the steamer,
AL hands being swept away. or their lives
dashei out against the vessels sides hunt
after b ai was dashed % pieces ~ TINS manner,
until a few passengers concluded not - leave
the steamer. The Captain and officers lost
their lives in one ~ the bsats.
At5..0 q heavy sea struck the steamer for
warsi and crushed hcr fore and aft. All the
fires and lights were put out. aud everything
wa< In the widest confusion. Men and woi1rn
were screaming for help on all sides. Inc
snrxc- she fOundered and wcnt down. carry
ing All ON board. l went down with thu snip
When arose 10 the surface could see now
and then pieces u drift stur. and sonletim -
one or ~ omen. The women made no Efforts
a. save themselves mother and daughter
were clasp<~i in each others arms. aud came
ashore that way. drowned FrOm time 90 time
until four o clock p. m. I could occasionally
see one or two men rs they rode upon the
crest ~ wave II was useless 20 try % hold
on 10 anything. a. the sea would tear IL from
the grasp and drive one TWO or three fafhons
under the surface Was compelled 70 dive or
dddxr frum pieces 81 drift. which would hnt o
killed me had been struck by them. After
this time say NJ one. and came ashore On ne
Florida coast about - a. m. Monday. hat inx
been about rwcnfy->ix hours IN the water. 1
som found my Otncr companions, n We came
ashore Al about the same time. although some
distance apart General A. L. A. 1arbcrt was
aboard. The last I saw ~ him alive ne
was aft with Mr. Owens who was saved
saw the General again deal az Port Orange.
wherr he came ashure- lie Was discovered by
a boy. who dragged him up on the beach as far
as he could. and then ran for assistance He
was not then dead. When he returned with a
help IL was dead. The bruises On his head
Indicate that ne was struck by drift -tuf and
stunned His body was buried ar Daytona.
One ~ cur number swan from the vessel with
out the aid Of a life-prcseryer. He was entire
IL nude and came ashore FIRST We are all
more ar less bruised from the striking and
the turetKnx OF the seas and the drl4L In ne
b-pty ~ young man came ashore az Natanxls.
He had on only drawers and shirt. A few
miles further sslfh the hnly ~ an old gen
teman. WIN appears a. b. about fty-ei gnf
years old. was washed ashore Together with
an elderly lady and young girl and a child.
Kings and other tewelry have been taken
from the fudics ~ he kept f1r Identification
Many ~ the trunks have come ashore and
have been opened. hut Il = thought that most
~ the personal property can a. produced.
There arr no means here ~ preventing nirAri-
cal ceprfdafi0ns eases ~ this kind. No p1r-
tun ~ the wreck has vet reached fhe shore
excepting sofa covered with red plush
LATER.
We have heari OF three more men
being saved further south. We expect
fc hear from them or see them to-day.
There are seven or eight wrecks within
coast line of fifty miles There i a
wreck lAing or Mantanzas. about one
and half miles at sen. bottom up. and
anchored. The brig Caroline Eddy is
ashore At Mantanzas- All hands were
saved
II viii CRAFTY friends Of the drowned
passengers and crew 10 know that let
tiers have been found and will BE- re-
tanned until further inquiry is made re-
speeding them.