Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-09-06

that several persisted after the laundering Of
the steamer, through exhaustion. 1t has been
impossible TO obtain the names of but two Of
the survivors. One of the passengers saved
was young man who does not wish his name
sent ior publication, but was q companion to
Gen. Torberf
The bodies of the victims came on shore
30 miles south of this place, among them
Gen. Torbert. His body was placed in a
casket and buried Wednesday. in the grounds
of J. H. Botefushr, near Dayton, a settlement
opposite Mosquito Inlet. The bodies of two
steerage passengers have also been found.
The bodies of three females were recovered
from the waves along the shores. and four
others, probably sailors. These, like others,
were duly buried One of the bodies was
that of gray haired man. and near the body
of one of the women was found that of
young girl. 1t was impossible to identify
any of these, except Gen. Torbert. The
masts and portions of the steamer lie scat
tered along the beach where the bodies were
discovered.
The cargo of the Vera Cruz was valued at
$50. 600; insured The steamer was valued
at 500, 600: insured principally in English
companies.
Last night seven survivors of the Vera
Cruz arrived from Halifax river The party
consists of one passenger, engineer, oiler,
and four seamen.
CHEsrEE, Pa, September I. A. X. Owen
of this city, passenger on the Vera Cruz, is
safe.
Nsw YORK, September :, +. NJ, \. K.
Owen. a saved passenger. saws: The cold
wave Wednesday, with rain. continued with
brisk wind from north east, during Thursday
and Friday lnt raln,ad DOWN at n,ilni.rhf
Ship listed all the way and at meals i: was
dii.cult to keep dishes On the table. Fartic
alafly was this tie ease ON Friday, which
proved the storm was increasing. Weather
vas cloudy, with frequent rain. Passengers
however at meals were in good cheer. and
though rain drove them from the deck. they
seemed Ia ENJOY the passage Saturday AT
daylight the fore and aft sails were set. as the
wind was blowing from the southeast At
z. NJ. on Saturday, the captain was heard to
remark to Harris, first officer, Il have just
noticed the barometer is falling rapidly. We
are are going to have a hurricane. Orders
were then given TO cut up and throw car
for a Mexican railroad overheard. and also
barrels o.. oil. cases of acids and eases of veg
etables, which were on deck. The real blast
of the cyclone struck us on port bow about
l.35 p. NJ. on Saturday. and listed the ship
almost on her beam ends. From this time it
became next TO impossible to walk about
without clinging to chair tables, and other
stationary furniture of the cabin, and as all
the movable objects in the saloon were quick
ly thrown from port TO starbord walking was
exceeding dangerous. Wind was northeast
and the vessel steering south by east. Dur
ing the evening three skylights in the main
saloon were carried away and the waves
poured considerable water into the saloon
and staterooms, setting all a6riit. BY mid
night passengers generally were sitting up or
lying on the floor of the saloon, conversing
with and assisting each other. Yet good
cheer was the rule and many were the ex-
changes of wit and humor. The servants as
they passed around them added to the good
feeling. General Torbert mad been washed
out of his stateroom, No. ), which was the
first on the port bow, early Saturday morn
ing. He then came to me in saloon room
No. -. He had been thrown against n table
in the afternoon and had cut his right check,
which troubled him considerably, as il blcd
freely, but he WAS in the best and kindcst of
humor. speaking a cheerful word here, assist
ing man there, and attending to women
and children everywhere lie lay on the
saloon floor part OF the night, but was flooded
out and then came and stayed with me- bring
ing his water proof, which we threw over us
10 pThttct us lToHi thc water lTppplHE III
from the top and sides. At | p. NJ. the en-
gine room was dry. The drag was put on,
but it reversed and was useless. 1t was not
gotten ready till this time and was too small
for service. even if in proper order. At ,
p. NJ. the ship took a heavy sea and water
put the fires out, Immediately stopping the
engine. Donkey engine was then started
and was going when the ship sank The
purscr hurried below calling for General
Torbert, and said the captain had sent him
to tell the passengers to come and assist the
crew or the vessel would 90 down. We i'm
mediately got up. Invent to the deck and to
the floor of the engine room, where
| assisted to pass buckets for an
hour. Capt. Van Sisc was in the line
near the top. passing water, while
| was there. 1t was of no use. The sea was
continually breaking over the vessel, and
coming down in large quantities between
decks The donkey engine was working,
but not to any purpose. After this went to
the saloon and told Gen. Torbert we were
going to pieces and fast filling, and nothing
but for us to get life preservers
upon the women. Gen. Turbcrt face hurt
him so that he did not 90 to pass the buckets.
There was no such thing as excitement on
board Even children were quiet and
reasonable. Each assisted the other in
arranging life preservers, and T0rbert was
like Il sunbeam. laughing and joking with all
" bile he assisted them. The storm at this
time was most terrifying. Such wind aud
rain can never be described. The ship was
lifted to her beam ends by every wave, and
it was just possible to crawl from one place
to another. Storm was so thick we could
not see hundred yards ahead. and the roar
of the wind and beating of rain was like the
rattle of musketry. Torbert and mysclfwere
lying in my berth, talking quietly and await
ing the worst, when at ~ A. NJ. Il sea broke
into the engine room and through the saloon,
making a crash like battery of artillery,
and striking terror for an instant into every
one, dashing the saloon passengers, tables,
doors and loose furniture together and into
water knee deep. The Gen. came to me i'm
after this with Master Wallendye,
about wears old, and said, Romeo, you
and must take this little boy and care for
him between us" I allowed he had but
fifteen minutes to live, and argued that it
would be a mercy to let the little fellow go
down with the ship. but the General kindly
insisted and said, Il cannot leave this little
fellow behind. You and | must save him.
Take him till | come back The next
sea came into the saloon more
terribly than ever, filling it waist deep with
water and smashing most of the port side.
The little fellow and myself were rolled over