The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-16
THE VERA CRUZ DISASTER.
A Thrilling Narrative by One OF the Su
yiyOrG.

n ~ OnC VA bAC SaE
viyOrs.
Mr.. A. K. Owen, passenger, tells the follow
ing story from notes made since landing: On
Saturday about P. NJ, Captain Van Slice said
to the first officer, Harris, We are going to
have o hurricane. The barometer is falling
rapidly. I dread the hurricane. The deck
load, consisting of cars for Mexico, casks OF
oils, acids and vegetables, were cast overheard.
The cyclone struck us on the port bow, at
P. M, on Saturday, the 2sth, accompanied with
terrific rain, almost throwing the ship on her
beam-ends. 1t was very difficult to move about
without clinging to a support. Everything in
the cabin was thown from port to starboard.
The wind was northeast, and the vessel was
steering south by east. During the evening the
water poured through the windows and main
saloon, and the staterooms were filled with
water. The passengers cheered and encouraged
each other, and all manifested great GOODNESS.
A drag too small to render any assistance
was put out, but became reversed and useless.
At 2 A.. II. q heavy sea extinguished the fires,
and stopped the engine. h dummy engine
was put to work, and continued until the
steamer went down.
The Purser came down and said the Captain
wanted assistance. All hands went up, and
passed buckets of water for an hour or more.
1t was of no use, as the sea was constantly COM
ing in.
All hopes we're now abandoned, and passen-
gers began to put on ife-preservers. The wind
and waves at this time were fearful; every wave
threw the ship on her beam ends. At 4:12 A. NJ.
a tremendous sea dashed on board, throwing
the passengers and furniture into one mass.
General Turbert came to me with the little
boy, Master Wallendge, and said, "We must
take care of him." "No use," said /, awe will
all be dead in a few minutes; better let him go
down with the ship than face such a storm"
The General said we must not leave the dear
little fellow behind; we must save him. Atthis
moment the port side was carried away by an
other wave. The passengers then all gathered
in the social hall and exchanged last farewells
and words of encouragement, and adjusted the
life-preservers. All were wonderfully cool un-
der the circumstances. 1 advised them then to
stay till the ship sank.
The second mate, Harris, and one or two sea-
men, were killed while attempting to lower q
boat. First engineer Miller and his assistants
remained. at their posts till the ship sank.
Quartermaster O'Neil and a sailor, whose name
1 do not know, remained at the wheel till the
last. About 6 A. M. the ship parted amidships.
In an instant the sea was filled with debris of all
descriptions dashing together, and mangling
and killing the unfortunate victims. Men,
women, children and horses we're all floating to-
gether, amid waves fifty feet high. The waves
were peculiar, not coming in ridges but peaks,
breaking together like the surf; when we rose
on top of one, it was not to roll down a de-
cliyity, 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. Gen. Torbert was
picked up by Charley Smith a short time after
the ship sank. He was then SO weak that he
had to be assisted upon the raft. A moment
after a part of the raft turned over and 1 saw
no more Of him alive.
TIL force Of the wind was 30 terrific that
heavy planks were raised out Of the water and
fell on drowning people, killing and mangling
them. In fifteen minutes more than half the
people were dead or dying. 1t was a fearful
and appalling sight to witness women, who had
behaved 30 bravely, struggling hopelessly in
the seething water. Ten minutes after the YES
sci sank I was driven past Mr.. Wallendge and
his little boy; they were about ten yards apart
on different pieces Of the wreck. Drumgood
and I got on a large piece Of the dining saloon.
We were in the water twenty-five hours before
we reached shore, both being blinded at night
from the salt water in our eyes.
Another passenger says: The women made
no effort to save themselves, and were drowned
in my sight. A mother and her daughter were
clasped to each other during the gale, and they
came ashore that way drowned.
From that time until -four in the afternoon !
could occasionally see one or two men as they
rode upon the crest of a wave 1t was useless
to try to hold on to anything, as the sea would
tear you from your grasp and drive you two OF
three fathoms unde the surface, and when re.
gaining it you would have to grasp something
else. I was compelled to dive or dodge away
from pieces of drift stuff which would have
killed me if I was hit by them.
After four o'clock I saw no one. I came
ashore on the Florida coast, about half-past
seven on Monday morning, having been about
twenty hours in the water. I soon found nv
other COMPANIONS, as we all came ashore about
! the same time, although some distance apart