Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-10
The Fate Of the Steamer Vera Cruz
Statement OF q Survivor.
NEw YnRK. Septemhcr

NEW DIRK, september I.
A telegram to the New York Times
from st. Augustine, Fla, to-day says
that seven survivors of the steamship
City of Vera Cruz reached that place
last night from Halifax River, where
they were all washed ashore. They
were: Owens, a passenger, one engi-
neer, one oiler and four seamen. Tai
bot, one of the seamen, says:
On Saturday night, about thirty miles of
shore, we began to ship heavy seas, and water
was found in our hold As fast rs we could
clear her she was filed again by another sea.
This state of things soon made the nres burn
low, and we could not make steam enough to
make head on the wind. We then put out
heavy drag, forward, and managed for a while
to keep her in the wind. Everything was IN
panic. The life-boats were cut loose ready Tor
action, and all hands were supplied with life
preservers. At daylight Monday the boats
were put over and manned. They no sooner
got their cargo and were put over tnah they
were smashed TO atoms against the steamer,
all hands being swept away, or their lives
dashed out against the vessels sides. Boat
after boat was dashed 10 pieces in TINS manner
until n few passengers concluded not TO leave
the steamer. The Captain and onhcerS lost
their lives in one of the boats.
At 1850 Il heavy sea struck the steamer for
ward and crushed her fore and aft. All the
fires and lights were put out, aud everything
was In the widest confusion. Men and women
were screaming for help on all sides. The
surges she foundered ana went down, carry
ing all on board. / went down with the ship.
When arose to the surface could see now
and then pieces of drift stuff, and sometim es
one or tw omen. The women made no efforts
to save themselves. a mother and daughter
were clasped in each others arms, and came
ashore that way, drowned. From time to time
until four o clock p. IN. could OccaS iOnally
see one or two men as they rode upon the
crest OF wave II was useless TO try to hold
on to anything, as the sea would tear il from
the grasp and drive one two or three fathoms
under the surface. ! was compelled TO dive or
dodge from pieces OF drift, which would have
killed me had been struck by them. After
this time saw no one, and came ashore on the
Florida coast about Z 80 a. III. Monday, having
been about twenty-siN hours in the water.
soon found my other companions, as we came
ashore at about the same time, although some
distance apart. General A. Il. A. TarDcrt was
aboard. The last L saw of him alive he
was aft with Mr.. Owens, who was saved.
saw the General again dead At Port Orange,
where he came ashore. He was discovered by
a boy, who dragged him up ON the beach as Far
as he could, and then ran for assistance. He
was not then dead. When he returned with d
help he was dead. The bruises ON his head
indicate that he was struck by drift stuff and
stunned. His body was buried at Daytona
One of our number swan from the vessel with
out the aid of a life-prescrver. He was entire
ly nude and came ashore first. We are all
more or less bruised from the striking and
the buffeting of the seas and the drift. The
body of young man came ashore at Matanzas
He had on only drawers and shirt. A few
tleman, who appears to be about titty-eight
years old, was washed ashore, together with
an elderly lady and young girl and child
Rings and other iewery have been takeI
from the bodies to be kept for Identification
Many of the trunks have come ashore ant
have been opened, but it is thought that mos
of the personal property can be produced
! There are no means here of preventing pratt
| cal depredations in cases of this kind. No por
tion of the wreck has yet reached the shore
| eXceptinga sofa covered with red plush.
LATER.
We have heard of three more men
being saved further south. We expect
to hear from them or see them to-day.
| There are seven or eight wrecks within
coast line of fifty miles. There is 9
wreck lying off Mantanzas, about one
and half miles-at sea, bottom up, and
anchored. The brig Caroline Eddy is
ashore at Mantanzas. All hands were
! saved.
1t will crafty friends of the drowned
passengers and crew 70 know that let
ters have been found and will be re
tanned until further inquiry is made re
specting them.