Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-09
Added S2,l99,523 Mere to the Ring
Plu0der
THE LOST VERA CRUZ.
A bonanza for the WrecllcrS

New YORK, September S.-Thc Herdd
publishes the following from st. Angus
tine, Florida: The main part OF the
wrecked steamer Vera Cruz was beached
on Ausatia Island, some twelve miles
from this city, near MatanZaS, and her
freight strewu on the beach the entire
length OF the island and ais" on the
north beach (main land) for several
miles. The freight was very valuable,
and it came ashore in great quantities.
The rilGts o. II. Augustine, ot which
there are five, were the first to discover
that the wreck had occurred and
what was OF more consequence To them,
the vast amount OF freight already
beached and more coming. They ut
once formed themselves into a JOlt
stock company for time, and went Tor
that freight with a vim. On Monday
and Tuesday, August 3O'h and 3lsi,
they kept the matter OF the wreck a pro-
found secret, and 1t was a secret well
kept, for it was not until the night ol
the 3lst OF August that the news reached
the city. In the meantime the pilots
had worked both day and night, and
having entire possession OF DOth
the beach and cargo, they man
ayel TO have many goodly pile
stored up at different points on the
beach, worth thousands oil dollars.
Several trunks belong to passengers
came ashore in good order, only to he
broken open and riiled; one evidently
belonging to lady OF wealth, for it was
filled with costly silk dresses and cloth
ing OF the finest order, laces worth many
Il dollar, gold watch and chain, and
two gold bracelets. In nanother trunk, a
large pocket book well filed with bills
was found by these fortunates. In Tact
they had a bonanza, and they worked 1t
ior all it was worth, having diamonds,
watches, well ii led wallets, elaborate
clothing and many tons OF valuable
freight as their reward. Indeed, the
latter was in such vast proportions that
t,ams were employed Tor several days
in hauling their find, and large lighters
were loaded with produce. When th"
matter leaked out, last Tuesday, the
whole city was alive with excitement
Everybody that had a boat or
cOIld borrow one, or press one
into service hied away TO the beach.
Nor was this wrccking fever confined to
the MinOrcan or negro, bnt business
men and clerks iur Il time turned wreck
ers and the beach was thronGei with
anxious hunters for cIstrp treasures o!
the sea, aud notwithstanding the pilots
had the cream OF the find AMI only the
glcanings remained, yet enough was
gathered to repay them al! richly and
enable the majority part Of the Popuia,
ton To dispense with hog mullet and
hominv and live on ham, preserves, can
ned goods, and wash it down
with either wine or aIcs. Many
camped on the beach all night. \ bag
of mail matter was found September J,
and heing duly cut open and examined,
and nothing found in it worth keeping,
II WAS handed over to the postmaster.
Several bodies were washed ashore, ana
after being inspected and plundered'
they were buried in the sand on the
beach. The corpse OF young lady
came ashore, on whose person was
dress of rich silk and on her finger was
a valuable solitaire diamond ring. She
was also buried on the beach after being
riled OF her valuables.