New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-05

and other cities on the coast. and many Of the
smaller vessels had time IN which 70 prepare for tha
cyclone
A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY Mr.. OWEN.
TIE TERRoEs or HE WRECK AND THE STORM
THRuLINGLY DEsCREGFp.
IBY TELEGRAPH THg TEuusr.l
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Sept. All the recen
casualties pale before the loss of tie steamship Cii
of Vera Cruz. She was outwarl-bouud from
New-York, aud had experienced rough
weather during the whole voyage, but
about O'clock on Saturday the storm struck
her with all its force. 1t blowed perfect hurr.
cane anti: Sunday morning when noble vessel
yielded TO the violence of the stoI fOundcred about
twenty five miles from the main land and forty
north Of Cape Canaveral. Her boats were
all broken up by the storm and flying
timbers Every had take care OF
himself as best he could. Those who were saved
were fortunate enough to find some large floating
object on which they could climb and 1oat but
even then the running so hugh that il
seemed impossible that their fragile objects Of
refuge could withstand the terrible force OF the
waves.
Three passengers and eight seamen were all who
reached shore alive of these. one passenger aud
SIX seamen arrived in the city to-day. The pas.
senger is A. X. Owen, of Chester, Penn. The names
of the seamen are Charles smdt, second assistant
engineer; Thomas Drumgould, oicr; Charles
Brandenburg quartermaster; James Kelly, John
Greenfield aud Mason Tolbert.
They give the most graphic descrip.
tons of appalling and narrowing scenes which
took place previous to aud after the laundering Of
the steamship.
Mr.. OWENS EXPERIENCE.
Mr. Owen, who is an intelligent and educated
gentleman abont thirty years of age made the fol.
lowing statement from his notes written since land
ing: "On Saturday. about l p. m. Captain Van
Sce said to the first officer, Mr.. Harris. We
are going to have a heavy blow the barometer ID
falling rapidly; dread the hurricane. The deck
load consisting of ears for Mexico, casks of OIL,
acids and vegetables cast overheard. The
cyclone struck us on the port bow at l p. m,
Saturday, accompanied with terrific rain, almost
throwing the ship her beam ends. IL
was very difficult to move about with
out clinging to support Everything in the cabin
was thrown from port to starboard The wind was
northeast, and the vessel was steering south by
east. During the evening water poured through
the windows and the main saloons aud state-rooms
were filed with water. The passengers cheered
and encouraged each other, all manifested great
GOODNESS. The waters very attentive. Gen
eral A. 4. A. Torbert remarkably attentive and
did much by his words of encouragement to cheer
and support all the passengers.
On Sunday at l a. N. the engine room dry.
The drag, too small to render any assistance, was
nut out but became reversed and useless. Al q.
M heavy sea extinguished the fires aud stopped
the engine. The dummy engine was put to work.
and continued until the steamer went down.
ALL HOPE GIVEN UP.
The purser down and said the captain
wanted assistance All hands went up and passed
buckets of water for an hour lt of
use as the sea was constantly coming in All hopes
were now abandoned. and the Passengers began to
put on life preservcrs. The wind aud waves at this
time were fearful. Every wave threw the ship
hor beam ends.
At Az q. H., tremendous sea dashed on board
throwing the passengers and furniture INTO one
mass General Torbcrt came to M, with n little
boy Master Wailendgc. and said: We mus; take
care cf him." mo USE" SAID /. I'VE will all ba
dead ia few minutes. Better let him 20 down with
the ship than face such Storm The General
said We must not leave the dear little fellow
behind we must him" At this moment tho
port side carried away by another wave. Tho
passeneers thcn all gathered in the social hall and
exchaua ed last farewells and words of encourage
ment, and adjusted hfe-presevers All were won.
derinlly cool under the terrible circumstances.
advised them 20 stay till the ship sank.
Just before - a. m. the captain was | do
not know whether he was washed overheard or left
the shin The second mate. Harris. and ono or two
seamen were killed while attempting TO lower
boat First Engineer Miller and his assist
ants remained at their post TIL the ship
sank. Quarternaster O'Neil and sailor whose
name do hot know, remained at the wheel TIL the
last.
THE FINAL CRASH.
About srI o'clock q. m. the ship parted amid
ships. In an instant the filed with debris Of
all descriptions dashing together and mangling and
killing unfortunate victims. Men. women children
and horses were oil floating together amid waves
hfty feet hgh. The waves were peculiar, not COM
lrg ip ridges but in peaks breaking together like
surf When We rose on top Of 1t was not to roll
down deovty, but to be tossed from peak TO peak.
and to be dashed backward and forward like
oorks. After two or three hours the waves changed
and oa,ne In swelling ridges.
General Torbsrt was picked up by Charles Smith
a short time after tho ship sank. He was
then so weak that he had TO be assisted
upon the raft. moment after part Of the raft
turned over, and saw him no more alive The
force Of wind terrific that heavy planks
wero raised out of water and fell on drowning peo.
pie. killing and mangins them. In fifteen minutes
more than half the people were dead or dying
It was Q fearful aud appalling sight "a
witness. Women who had behaved SO bravely were
stru ggling helplessly In the seethng waters Ten
minutes after the vessel sank. was driven past
| Mr.. Walendgc aud his little boy: they were about