Daily Republican., 1880-09-06
THE vERA CRUz WRECK.


graphic Account OF the Wreck by
Mr.. Owens Of Chester - Gallant
Cond uct Of GenerAl Norbert.
Special dispatches to The Tribune
from st. Augustine give accounts OF the
wreck of the City Of Vera Cruz. One
of the crew describes how the steamer
was dashed about by the waves and
how the boats were capsized as soon as
they we're lowered. An interesting
account is given by Mr.. Owen. The
news received at the company's Office
In New York was meagre and unsatis-
factory. There were twenty-eight pas
sengers on board, and the crew and Of
ficers numbering torty-nine. The
names OF only seven persons known to
be saved have been received BY the
owners Of the vessel, but the dispatch
es indicate that more may have escaped.
Mr.. Owen, who is an intelligent and
educated gentleman, about thirty years
OF age, made the following statement
from his notes written since landing !:
On Saturday, about p. M. Captain
Van Sizes said to the first officer, Mr..
Harris, I'VE are going to have heavy
blow; the barometer is falling rapidly;
I dread the hurricane. The deck load,
consisting Of cars for Mexico, casks OF
oil, acids, and vegetables, was cast
over rboard. The cyclone struck us on
the port bow at ! p. m, on Saturday,
accompanied with terrific rain, almost
throwing the ship on her beam ends.
It was very difficulty to move about
without clinging to support. Every
thing in the cabin was thrown from
port 10 starboard. The wind was north
east, and the vessel was steering south
by east. During the evening the water
poured through the windows, and the
main saloons and stste-rooms were fill'
ed with water. The passengers cheer.
ed and encouraged each other, and all
man ifested great coolness. The walters
were very attentive. General A. I. A.
Torbert was remarkably attentive, and
did much by his words Of encourage
ment to cheer and support all the pas.
sengers.
On Sunday at a. m. the engine
room was dry. The drag, too small to
render any assistance, was put out, but
became reversed and useless. At 2 a.
m. a heavy sea extinguished the fires
and stopped the engine. The dummy
engine was put to work. end 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 coming IN,
All hopes were now abandoned, and
the passengers began to put on life pre-
servers. The wind and waves were at
this time fearful. Every wave threw
the ship on her beam ends.
At 4l2 Q. m. tremendous sea dashed
on board throwing the passengers and
furniture into one mass. General Tor.
bert came to me with little boy, Mas
ter Wallendge, and said: "We must
take care Of him." "No use," said l..
1--WE will all be dead in few minutes.
Better let him go down with the ship
than face such a storm" The General
said: "We must not leave the dear lit
tie fellow behind; we must save him."
At this moment the port side was car
ried away by another wave. The pas
seugers then all gathered in the social
hall and exchanged last farewells and
words of encouragement, and adjusted
life pressrvsrs. All were wonderfully
cool under the terrible circumstances.
advised them all to stay till the
ship sank.
Just before II Q. m, the captain was
seen. do not know whether he was
washed overheard or left the ship. The
second nate, Harris, and one or two
seamen we're killed while attempting to
lower a boat. First Engineer Miller and
his assistants remained at their post
till the ship sank. Quartermaster
O'Neill and sailor whose name do
not know remained at the wheel till
the last.
About six o'clock 3. m, the ship
parted amidships. In an instant the
sea was filled with debris ofall descrip-
tions, dashing together and mangling
and killing unfortunate victims. Men
women, children and horses were all
floating together amid waves fifty feet
high. The waves were peculiar, not
coming 10 ridges, but in peskes, break
ing together like surf. When we rose
on top Of one it was not to roll down a
declivity, 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.
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 q part Of the raft turned
over, and saw him NJ 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 minutes
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, was driven past
Mr.. Wallendge and his little boy they
we're about ten yards apart on different
pieces OF the wreck. Drumgood and
got on large piece of the dining saloon
We we're in water twenty-five hours
before We reached shore, both being
blinded at night from the salt water in
the eyes.
General Torbsrt driftsd ashore six
miles above me at place called New
Britain. Mr.. Pitts drew him out Of
the surf and discovered some slight
vistige of lite the body was warm, the