New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-13
HOW ENGINEER DRUMGOOLD ESCAPED.
CIINGING To BARRELS AND B0DHs-wHAT He SAW

OF THE OTHERS WHO WERE LOST.
Thomas Drumgoold the fourth assistant engineer
of the wrecked steamer Cry OF Vera Cruz, reached
New-York yesterday afternoon on tbe steamship
Moro Castle from Charleston, ;. e., whittier lie had
been sent from Jacksonville, Fla After some
search he was iound by TfiBuNE reporter WITH
hia family consisting Of WIFI, little girl about
five years old and an infant III arms, at has home, at
VaRdam AID GTernwici-sts. His return was not
generally known, but q few friends ana nelghDols
had come IN to welcome him back
Il have only been home an hour" said Drum
goold.
And he hasn't had his supper yet" added his
wife who seemed overioycd at his presence. This
little gil was out OF her head, and wouldn't eat I'LL
she heard her papa was sale.
DrumgoOld i n slight, why man. with clean-cut
features daTA, bright eyes, and cool and seli-pos-
sessed manners. He was at first reluctant to talk,
but gradually grew interested ana Ieliicd tne s'oly
OF his escape lii a clear. straightforward way After
the ship began 10 sink, he came out OF the engine
room and got off on black walnut plank.
"But il couldn't keep me up" he continued,
land got on a statereom door. and was turned
over and over several tines. Then l got hold OF 4
beet barrel, but il wasn't very manageable, and |
rolled over with ii a good deal Next saw side OF
the captains house coming toward me, ana
slowed the barrel around toward 1t. The waves
carried the barrel along, and hung on to IT until
reached the piece of wreck. Pvc done with YOU
SAID TO myself, and let the barrel One OF the
crew, a German, got on, but be couldn't Keep on,
and lost him. Mr.. Owen L saw after the German
left me- ana pulled hun on the piece OF wreck.
People were floating all around us We passed the
chief engineer and the first assistant They Heated
close by.
Tongue cannot tell how that sea ran People
accused Mr.. Owen of exaggcratlng, but do not be-
eve he could exaggcrate when lie SAID the waves
were fifty feet high. When you'd see man rlslDE
on n wave you'd look up where lie GO
ing and then the waves would split and he would
drop down, not go over as is generally the case;
We could moi thing after twelve o'clock, noon.
Odd the ship break III two, or hi and SINK "
Il saw no breaking. The water seemed to come
all upon us, and she sank, gong stern first: |
stayed at my post III the enginc-l9on, where | had
all | could attend TO with the donkey engine"
" low did the officers behave7"
a. ddnot them again after they left the en-
Did you hear that they left the ship frst9"
Likely enough they did"
"Was Mr. Harris, the first mate, man likely to
"No; Mr.. Harris was brave man: As to Captain
they did. Ny duty to obey their orders and not
to watch their actions.
I'VE didn't know whether we were ashore
not - he continued, "when we landed; though |
knew we could not be far from il. 1t was all break
ers, day and night. We were twenty-five hours i'll
the water. ,,.,o,
1--WE were we'll used; the people received US
kindly. MIR Owen was Tree with his money, but
there was nothing 90 be had for money what the
people had they gave us hall of. DaytOna Is a new
settlement on the Halifax River"
Did you hearauythlng Of the fourteen men re-
ported to have come ashore on a raft further down
the coast =
did not. and it does not seem true"
Do You know whether General Iorberts body
has been sent North I"
NO; when started away, it was lying where
we buried it. Mr. Owen wanted TO bring il with
him. but was told that the laws of the state would
not allow body to be taken up and carried through
the cities during summer."
In response TO remark about the alleged pill
laying of the wreck by pilots OF It. Augustine Drum
good said ''It was a, godsend to those fellows.
They don't get such chance iii a lifetime"
well, suppose you're ready to try the
agalns" ventured the reporter, as he rose to 20.
"Yes, If | GET"
"No he WON'T" interpoeed the wife. oven
keep him on shore after thIsW
Al No. 1Jl Huds0u-St lives Mrs. Annie Nagle, the
married SISTER OF one of the latest reported Survivors
of the City of Vera Cruz-J1hn Council. II told
them" sine SAID, that unless lie was struck John
ME- would he saved for he could stand IT for hours
in the water / didn't dare 90 TO the Office to ask
about hun, but now shall go tomorrow. This was
only his second trip Oh the steamer"
Council is twenty-three years old, and las not
been in America long.