Smyrna times., 1880-09-08
Thrilling story Of the Wreck of
the Vera Cruz.

viz iOiAO"lhS 81 dPIliC nun OhSh-
sonville, Fla, about the wrecking of the
Vera Cruz All the recent casu.
alities pale before the loss Of the steamship
city Of Vera Cruz. She was outward bound
from New York. and had experienced
rough weather during the whole voyage,
but about o'clock on Saturday the storm
struck her with all its force. 1t blowed a
perfect hurricane until Sunday morning,
when the noble vessel yielded to the vio-
lence Of the storm foundered about twenty
five miles from the main land and forty
north Of Cape Canavcral. Her boats were
all broken up by the storm and flying tim
bers. Every one had to take care Of him
self as best he could. Those who were
saved were fortunate enough to find some
large floating object on which they could
climb and float, but even then the sea was
running so high that it seemed impossible
that their fragile objects of refuge could
withstand the terrible force Of the waves.
Three passengers and eight seamen were
all who reached shore alive; OF these one
passenger and six seamen arrived in the
city to day. The passenger Is a. x. Owen,
OF Chester, Pa. The names Of the seamen
are: Charles Smidt, second assistant eng-
nccr; Thomas Drumgold, oiler; Charles
Brandenburg, quartermaster; James Kelly,
John Greenfield and Mason lolbert.
They give the most graphic descriptions
Of appalling and narrowing scenes which
took place previous to and after the foun.
dering Of the steamship.
DR.. Owen, who is an intelligent and edu
Gated gentleman, about 80 years of age,
made the following statement from his
notes written since landing: "On Satur.
day, about ?. NJ, Captain Van Sice said
to the first officer, Mr. Harris, ave are
going to have heavy blow; the barometer
is falling rapidly; | dread the hurricane" !"
the deck load, consisting of cars for Mexico,
casks Of oil, acids and vegetables, were cast
overheard. The cyclone struck US on the
port bow at p. NJ, on Saturday, accom-
panied with terrific rain, almost throwing
the ship on her beam ends. 1t was very
difficult to move about without clingng to
support. Everything in the cabin was
thrown from port TO starboard. The wind
was northeast, and the vessel was steering
south by east. During the evening water
poured through the windows, and the main
saloons and staterooms were filed with
water. The passengers cheered and en-
couraged each other, and all manifested
great GOODNESS. The walters were very
attentive General \. r. A. Torbert, wa:
I
words of encouragement to cheer and sup
! port all the passengers.
lie had been thrown against table il
! the afternoon and had cut his right cheek
which troubled him considerably, as it bleC
! freely, but he was in his best and kindes
humor, speaking q cheering word here
assisting a man there and attending to tht
women and children everywhere. He la,
on the saloon floor for part of the night
but was flooded out, and then came ant
laid with me, bringing his waterproof
which he threw over us to protect us from
the water dripping in from the top an
sides.
con Sunday, at A. NJ, the engine room
was dry. The drag, two small to rende
any assistance, was put out, but became re
versed and useless. At A. NJ. heavy Sc
extinguished the fires and stopped the er
CINE. The dummy engine was put to wor
and continued until the steamer wen
down.
"The purser came down and said tn
captain wanted assistance. All hands wer
up and passed buckets of water for an hot
or more. 1t was Of no use, as the sea wa
constantly coming in. All hopes were no
abandoned, and the passengers began I
; put on life preservers.
"There was no such thing rs excitemer
on board-even the children were quit
and reasonable. Each assisted the otht
in arranging life preservers, and Gener'
Torbert was like sunbeam, laughing an
joking with all while he assisted them.
"The wind and waves at this time wei
fearful. Every wave threw the ship on hC
beam ends.
At 4.l2 A. NJ, tremendous sea dashe
l on board, throwing the passengers and fu
: niture into one mass. General Torbe
came to me with little boy, Master Wa
lendge, and said We must take care
him. NO use,' said l. I'VE will all
dead in a few minutes. Better let him
down with the ship than face such storm
The General said 'We must not leave IL
dear little fellow behind we must saw
him. At this moment the port side w
carried away by another wave. The passe
! gers then all gathered in the social hall ar
. exchanged last farewells and words of e
couragement, and adjusted life preserveI
All were wonderfully cool under the teri
!, BILE circumstances. | advised them to st;
/ till the ship sank.
"Just before - A. NJ, the captain W
seen. l do not know whether he W
=. washed overheard or left the ship. II
e second mate, Harris, and one or two sc
r men were killed while attempting to low
a boat. First Engineer Miller and
assistants remained at their post till Il
: ship sank. Quartermaster ONeil and
: sailor whose name do not know, remain
u at the wheel till the last.
About 6 o'clock A. NJ. the ship part
}. amidships. In an instant the sea was fill
!. with debris Of all descriptions, dashi
II together and mangling and killing unf,
:. t4nate victims. Men, women, children al
horses were all floating together amid wav
n fifty feet high. The waves were peculii
!, not coming in ridges, but in peaks, brea
n ing together like surf. When we rose
" top of one it was not to roll down a {
clivity, but to be tossed from peak to pea
and to be dashed backward and forwa
u like corks. After two or three hours t
ss waves changed and came in swelling ridg
n "General Torbert was picked up
IS Charles Smith a short time after the sh
sank. lie was then. so weak that he h
%. 10 be assisted upon o raft. moment aft
= part Of the raft turned over, and ! 81
~ him no more alive, The force of wind "
a .. so terrific that heavy planks were rails
out of water and fell on drowning peop
killing and mangling them. In fifte
in minutes, more than half Of the people VIC
III dead or dying.
ly alt was fearful and appalling sight
le witness. Women who had behaved
Il. bravely were struggling helplessly in t
seething waters. Ten minutes after I
IN vessel sank. was driven past Mr.. w
lr lendge and his little boy they were abe
G. ten yards apart on different pieces OF I
re wreck. Drumgold and | got pm lal
at piece of the dining saloon. We were
le water twenty-five hours before we reach
a shore, both being blinded at night from I
salt water in the eyes.
, "At 4 A. NJ. on Monday the raft reach
u :. the breakers and went to pieces. We lal
~ ~ ed twelve miles north of Mosquito Lago,
NJ having drifted probably fifty miles Talb