The Portland daily press., 1880-09-09

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Sept. 3.-(New York
Herald special. 1.-The unfortunate steamer
City Of Vera Cruz persisted Sunday, Aug. Goth,
during the fearful cyclone then raging. She
probably vent to pieces in the Gulf Stream,
thirty or forty miles to the east of St. Angus
tine, Fla, as great quantity Of the wreck of
the steamer was blown by the heavy northeast
er on the heath Of Anastasia, an island about
eighteen miles in length and directly opposite
the city of st. Augustine. The main part of
the Inflated steamer was beached on an island
zas, and her freight strewed the beach the en-
tire length OF the island and also on the north
beach of the main land for several miles. The
freight was very valuable, consisting in the
main of provisions, dry goods, furniture, etc.,
and came ashore in great quantities.
The pilots of St. Augustine, of whom there
are five, we're the first to discover that wreck
had occurred and the vast amount of freight
already beached and more coming. They
formed themselves into joint stock company
for the time and went for that freight with a
vim. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 10th and
found secret, and it was not until the night
of Aug. 31st that the news reached the city;
Meantime our industrious pilots had worked
both day and night like beavers, having entire
possession of both beach and cargo. Ihey
managed to have many goodly piles stored up
n
sands of dollars. Several trunks belonging to
Inflated passengers came ashore in good order,
only to be broken open and sifted. One evil
IDENTIFY belonged to lady of wealth, for it was
filled with costly silks dresses and clothing OF
the finest order and laces worth many dollar.
gold watch and chain and two valuable
bracelets were found in this trunk. In anoth-
er trunk large pocketbook, we'll filled with
bills, was found by the fortunate pilots. In
fact they had bonanza, and they worked 1t
for all it was worth, having gold watches, dia-
monds we'll filled wallets, elaborate clothing
and many tons of valuable freight as their re-
ward Indeed, the latter was in such vast pro-
portions that teams we're employed for several
days in hauling thei find, and large lighters
loaded with their produce.
The secret was faithfully kept Monday and
Tuesday night but the whole matter leaked
out late Tuesday night the whole city was
alive with excitement Everybody that had a
boat or could borrow one or press one into the
service fed away to the beach. Business
men and clerks for the time turned wreckers,
and the beach was thronged with anxious
hunters for cast up treasures OF the sea, and
Notwithstanding the pilots had the cream OF
the find, and only gleanings remained, yet
enough was gathered to repay them all richly
Many camped on the beach all night. A bag
of mail matter was found September l; being
found in it worth keeping, it was handed over
to the Postmaster. Several bodies were
washed ashore After being inspected and
plundered they were buried in the sand on the
beach The corpse of young lady came
ashore, on whose person was dress of rich
silk, and on finger valuable solitaire
diamond ring. She was also buried on the
beach, after being rifled of the valuable.
A Jacksonville dispatch of the 7th says such
survivors of the wreck of the Vera Cruz as
are at New Berlin and Smyrna have been
too badly shaken up to be removed. They
are expected here by every boat that comes
down. Only eight bodies have been recover
ed as vet. One was of a lady, 40 years old
who wore three rings, one Of them engraved
"S. S. to H. K, March %, 1870" One young
woman whose body was recovered wore a
valuable diamond ring. These and other
valuables are in the possession of Justice Balls
ton, fifteen miles below Mosquito Inlet. I'm
derwriter Thomas E. Eels came from the
wreck of the steamer to-day. He brought a
gilded ball from the steamers flagstaff, an
ornamented trail-board and a few other pieces.
Over 100000 worth of property from various
wrecks lies strewn over the beach. Five hu n
dred barrels of lard are in one pile and every
sort of furniture in another. A lot of mahog-
any came ashore yesterday at st. Johns bar.
In fact, the whole Florida coast is strewn
with wreckage.
Mr.. Eels has instructions to sell all that
floats ashore at auction for the most he Can get
by insurers and owners.