The daily gazette., 1880-09-06

Greene, and Messrs. Y. M, Crane, G. +.
Hambln and T. Van Dorm very kindly
threw open their houses and gave lodg-
iDgs and meals to us, and through these
gentlemen, and Captain House, United
States Collector of Customs, we were
transported by the steamer Water Lily,
Captain j. Hall, who kindly transported
Us to the City of Jacksonville, Fla,
where we arrived at quarter past four
O'Clock on Saturday evening. Here the
agents OF Alexandra q Sons met us and
provided for our comfort and transpor-
tation to New York.
General Torbert was picked up by
Charles Smith short time after the
ship sank. He was then so weak that
he had to be assisted upon the raft. A
moment after part of the raft turned
over, and | saw him no more alive.
The force of wind was so terrific that
heavy planks were raised out OF water
and fell on drowning people, killing
and mangling them. In fifteen min
utes more than half the people were
dead or dying.
1t was fearful and appalling sight
to witness. Women who had behaved
so bravely were struggling helplessly
in the seething waters. Ten minutes
after the vessel sank, l was driven
past Mr.. Wallendge and his little boy;
they were about ten yards apart on diff
ferent pieces of the wreck. Drum
good and got ON a large piece of the
dining saloon. We were in water
twenty-five hours before we reached
shore, both being blinded at night from
the salt water in the eyes.
LAND AT LAST.
AT a. m. the raft reached the break
ers and went to pieces. We landed
twelve miles north OF Mosquito Lagoon
having drifted probably fifty miles
Talbot, Kelly aud Smith got ashore with
In three miles of us. Brandenburg anC
Greenfield came in eight miles further
south. Two of the crew and two pas
sengers reached shore south of the inlet,
but did not learn their names. Eight
seamen and three passengers were al
the survivors l have heard of for fifty
miles on each side of where landed.
General Torbert drifted ashore si1
miles above me. at a place called New
! Britain. Mr.. Pitts drew him out of the
surf, and discovered some slight vestig
of life the body was warm, the hear
feebIy beating, and blood flowing from
| ~ WOuHu III buo LIZ III bCuDiCs ali CnOtl
, to resuscitate him were fruitless. He /
supposed to have received his deatf
blow while in the breakers. l brough
mis- body down the Halifax river ant
buried 1t under some palmetto trees ol
The Botefuhres farm.
1t is said by friends of Gen. Torber
that he was on mission to Havana t.
enlist wealthy Cubans and Spaniard
in mining stocks, and that he repre-.
sented mining capitalists in this coun
try. 1t was thought that his charac-
t ter, wealth, business ability, and socia
standing, together with his acquaint.
ance with the Spanish language, ,woul'
give him especial facilities for negotia
! | tions.
r No additional particulars in regar'
g to the lost steamship City of Yer
Y Cruz reached the company's officers il
New York yesterday. The office at 3
5 Broadway was closed. James Kell,
of West street near Morris street, ant
Bernard Cochran of Washington street
near Morris, were employed on tn
, Vera Cruz.
, "Two finer young men never breath
ed," said an old man living in tina
, neighborhood, yesterday. Kelly is re
ported saved, but it is feared tina
Cochran is lost. Cochran's mother i
70 years old, and the tidings of he
, sons probable death nearly overcam
her. Her husband, just twenty-thre'
years ago, lost his life on the steam
ship Central America, bound from
| New York to Aspinwall.