The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-04
The Jamaica Hurricane and Earth
auake-Iwcnty. Vessels Dam
ared-Loss Of Life.

given OF twenty-five vessels WHICH Sus-
tanned more or less damage, some OF them
being driven ashore and broken up. Two
or three vessels are ashore on the Palisades.
Every wharf except one has been blown
away, including the harbor-head wharves.
| The sea beach Is strewn with flour. rice,
| fish, and other articles Of food. 1t
is believed several lives were lost, as
there are many persons from different
vessels missing. Those saved from the
| shipping could not secure anything in the
way OF clothing or effects. The heavy tiles
which pave Victoria Market wharves have
been all blown of, leaving the market a
mere skeleton. All the penitentiary vessels
have foundered, aud those at Port Royal
have sustained considerable damage. The
harbor presents a dreadful appearance, as
there is not sound vessel or wharf to be
seen. The damage on land is roughly esti-
mated at one hundred thousand pounds.
| 1.-The roof OF the custom-house is entirely
bare, all the tiles having been blown off.
The villages of Altman Town, Browns
Town, Pass More Town, Hannah's Town,
Smiths Village, and Fletcher's Land have
sustained considerable damage. The luna
tic asylum suffered severely, as also the
general penitentiary. All the churches and
cbapels have suffered more or less from the
destructive visitor. Three severe shocks
| OF earthquake are said to have been felt du-
ring the storm. The barracks at Up-Park
Camp being on an elevation have been de
molished. A large number OF cOcoaDuts
have been blown down and the banana crop
entirely destroyed. Communication with
country parts has been cut off. No tele-
gram. can be sent from Kingston station
the wires are all snapped"
steamer city or Vera Cruz Lost I'm tho
Hurricane.
NEW YORK, September "a special from
St. Augustine, Fla, gives the following
"There is very little doubt that the steamer
CITY OF Vera Cruz, OF the Mexican line,
which sailed from New York on the 18th OF
August for Havana and Vera Cruz, went
down in the recent hurricane, which
has already strewn our coast with
wrecks. Only the faintest hopes re-
main that any Of her passengers
have survived. This terrible discovery
was made here yesterday, when portions OF
the mail carried by the Inflated vessel were
washed ashore some miles south OF this city.
One mailbag contained letters for Cuba
and Mexico which had been posted in
Paris, France, on August 18th, aud another
lot was found with envelopes bearing the
postmark, New York, August 25.' This at
once indicated that the lost vessel was q
mail steamer bound for southern ports, and
the surmise was that it must have been the
CITY of Vera Cruz, as she left New York on
the day last named"
BODIES OF VICTIMS WASHED ASHORE.
New YORK, September ga special to an
evening paper from st. Augustine. Fla,
says OF the supposed wreck OF the Vera
Cruz: "Thus far six bodies have been
washed ashore, together with large guam
tity OF miscellaneous groceries. One OF the
bodies was that of middle-aged lady, but
there was uothing about her that would lead
to her Identification. Another body was that
of q child four years old, name not known,
hut probably Welsh, as they were the only
family on the Vera Cruz that had a child
with them. The others were sailors with
the exception Of one who was dressed like
a well.to.do business man. He looks like q
Spaniard. 1t is feared that the terrific gale
that ragged here for the past week made II
impossible for any OF those on board Of the
Inflated steamer to save themselves even
were they able TO do so. The shore fol
miles is strewn with pieces OF timber, boats
barrels and other Debris. WreckiDg parties
have been organized and everything OF
value is being stored in a storehouse Oh
Main street."
| THE NAIL MATTER FOUND.
A telegram received at the post-oftice to-
day saws the letters in the mail washed
ashore on the Florida coast are post.marked
"New York. August 25," and "Paris, Au'
gnst 49," This indicates that the mail ar
| riyed here by the Batavia from Liverpool
and was dispatched by the City OF Vera
| Cruz,
I the office OF the Alexandra Line al
noon to-day no further information as tC
the repofted loss OF the Vera Cruz has been
| received, though an answer to dispatch
! to St, Augustine, Fla, asking Tor details, Is
niornbntarily expected.
!, .spOuBTs OF THE STEAMERS LOSS.
Someldo not believe the steamer Is lost
tbutg think she encountered a heavy hurrl
4 cane, during which the mail and baggage
went overheard. She is pronounced 10 be
one of the strongest steamers in the world
T She was Oh the dry.dock previous to heI
last "trip. The vessel is worth S2OO,OOO
4 Insured in London and America.
| Many relatives and friends OF passengers
iare at TIE office awaiting information. Cap
litain J. Harris, who commanded the steamer
| on herprevfoils voyage. is, on board. The
chief engineer Is named Miller and the
| purser Burke. ~ ,n,i
ANOTHER STEAMER IN rHs sAME HURRICANE
! First-Oiflcer james Hipekley, OF the
steamers New Orleans, which encountered
the gale IN which the Vera Cruz is'supposed
! to have been lost, said to-day that his vessel
Iran into hurricane on the 2Sth OF August
at SIP. M, off the coast OF Florida, between
Capes Jupiter and CarparyeraL The storm