Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1880-09-25
THE VERA CRUZ.


The Tribune has from Seaman Talbot the
following story of the wreck of the steam
er City of Vera Cruz "About thirty miles
off shore" he says, 'we began to ship
heavy seas, and water was found In the
hold. Fast as we could clear her she filed
again, by another sea. Everything was
In panicky state. The life-boats were
cut loose, ready for action, and all hands
were supplied with life preservers. At
daylight Sunday the boats were lowered
and manned. They no sooner got their
cargo than they were overturned and
smashed to atoms against the steamer, all
hands being swept away or their lives
dashed out against the vessels side.
Boat after boat was dashed to pieces in
the same manner until only few of the
passengers would venture to leave the
steamer. The captain and officers lost
their lives in one of the boats. Every
thing was IN perfect bedlam. People were
screaming and shreking for help on all
sides. The steamer was broken in two
and after few surges she foundered and
went down, carrying with her all who were
on board. When | arose to the surface
could see now and then pieces Of drift
stuff and sometimes one or two men and
woman, who made no effort to save them
selves, and were drowned. In my sight a
mother and her daughter were clasped
in each others arms during the gale, and
they came ashore that way, drowned.
From that time until four in the after
noon, could see occasionally one or two
men as they rose up on the crest Of wave.
1t was useless to try to hold on to any
thing as the sea would tear it from your
grasp and drive you two or three fathoms
below the surface, and when regaining
you would have to grasp something else.
was compelled to dive or dodge away
from pieces Of drift stuff which would have
killed me it l were hit by them. After
4 saw no one. The last time saw Gen.
Torbert alive, he was aft with Mr. Owen,
who was saved with us. saw Gen Tor
bert again, dead, at Port Orange, where
he came ashore insensible. boy found
him and dragged him up as far as he could
and ran for assistance. When they got
back he was dead. The bruises on his
head indicate he was struck 10y drift stuff
and stunned. One of our number swan
from the wreck without the aid OF life
preserver. He was entirely nude and
came ashore first. We are all more or
less bruised from the buffeting and strik
ing of the seas and driftwood-"
The body of a young man has come
ashore at Mantazas. 1t had only shirt
and drawers on. A few miles further
south, the body OF an old gentleman, who
appears to have been about fifty-eight or
sixty years old, was washed ashore togeth-
er with those Of an elderly lady, and a
young girl and child. 1t will crafty the
friends of the drowned passengers and
crew to know that letters have been
found, and will be retained until further
inquiry is made respecting them. Many
trunks have come ashore and been rihed,
but it is believed that all the personal
property taken, or the greater part Of it,
can be recovered 1t is deemed unfortu-
nate that there is no life-saving station on
this coast to protect wrecked property,
and prevent it from being lost or stolen.
No portion of the wreck has come ashore
except a sofa covered with red plush and
some pieces of furniture saved.
The passengers as far as | can learn,
are A. X. Owen, of Chester, Pa, Chief
Engineer, employed by the authorities CT
Mexico; j. A. Garcea, Cuban of Havana,
27 years of age, and two passengers whose
names could not be learned. who were to
arrive at st. Augustine to-day, have been
found.
Besides these passengers there were a
young lady, an old lady and three men
whose names could not be learned. The
officers and crew saved so far as known
are Charles Brandenbury, quartermaster,