The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-09-25

passengers OF lnt steamship ttA trHAi - "a
81 Augustine, and shis morning made the
following statement
"a was 4. Cabin passenger on board the
gCenn,er rify Of Vera Cruz, Occupying state
room on he port side Of the ship. Every.
thing went on all right until Saturday alter
noon, when pretty atid breeze sprang up,
Increasing eTesy minute. At o'clock the
wind was 50 high that the ship worked very
mnch, and nothing seemed 10 remain in its
place. Water came into my room and ! was
compelled to take the mattress into the saloon,
where I found 81 the other passengers, and
lie down. Miss Fay was lying next TO ms,
and we were talking as though nothing unu-
snal was going on. The storm increased,
and the akylighl was carried away by q sea.
This let ia immense quantities Of water, wet
ting every one. BY this time everything was
il confusion. Chairs, tables, and other arti-
clos Of furniture we're dancing up and across
the saloon, 50 that il became dangerous to
say there, and the vessel made q terrible
lunge, which threw Con. Torhert across the
saloon. He struck against the side and cut a
cash Ia bis head. He leaned upon chair
until the wound was dressed. Miss Fay was
very calm, as were most Of the ladies. Mrs.
Welsh was very much excited on account of
her liiile girl. Mr. Welsh was constantly
going around 10 the ladies consoling and com
forting them. He also passed brandy around
10 warm those who were wet and cold. At
about midnight the pnrser came upand said
ell hands must go and help to bail out the
ship. All responded who had no wives or
others 10 look after. carried life pre-
server with NE. and took my post OF the
gangway with the mate and first waiter.
bracnd myself with one hand while emptying
buckets that were passed up with the other
The Captain passed mo six or seven times
going down below TO soc how the water gained.
he seemed cool, and was busy all the time.
The ship listed 50 much 10 the starboard that
/ was apprehGnsive Of her capsizing Iasked
The pnrser if there was any danger Of that,
and be said no; that she was heavily laden,
aud would stand oil right. We bailed until
p. M. on Sunday, when q terrible crash was
heard and the steamer seemed to be engnlied
by the sea- She was completely covered with
water. | was dashed out against The railing
and could not realize my situation for some
seconds. The lights were all put out, and we
we're IN darkness / did not see the Captain
afier this, and think he was washed over,
board with others who we're on deck. At
this time all the passengers rushed out Of the
saloon to thenpper deck cabin. They oil had
on life preservers and looked as calm as could
be expected went in and held the door,
looking ont While there sailor came up,
and saw that his leg was broken. He beg
ged for life preserver, but ADDRESSED no one
in particular. l went down to the saloon and
brought up one, but before ! gave it 10 him
an Old gentleman who had little boy begged
me to give il to the boy, who had none. His
appeal could not refuse, so ! gave il 10 him.
] saw the sailor 10 more on board. When
~. II
saw the stewardess sitting away at cryiret
while the chairs and other furniture IN the
water were knocking all around her. think
she siaid there and went down with the ship.
About fifteen utesbefoFet the ship wentdown
her mainmast fell, nea-ly striking me on the
head. Had It fell two feet more forward, il
would have killed me and some Of the others
in the cabin. The only man | could see on
deck az this time was the first engineer. He
was trying to toss over safe for himself TO
jump into. The ship was sinking fast, and |
made up my mind TO leave her. did not
want to be carried down by the whirlpool
caused by the vessel sinking, aud | stepped
ever the fallen mast, waited for good wave,
and sprang out into the sea. | could not get
away from the ship for some time, as the
waves kept taking me back to her. Many
passengers followed me, and soon the waves
seemed to be alive with men and women.
struck oat vigorously, and when | thought
was a good distance of turned and saw the
ship had disappeared, and that we we're all at
the mercy Of the waves. A terrible whirl
carried me down, down, down, and when |
again appeared on the surface. which seemed
to take an age, | was exhausted. | saw part
Of the skylight and grasped IL My fingers
we're cut TO the bone, but the deeper the glass
ent the tighter | chung to it. II was soon
wrenehed from my grasp, and looked for
something else to cling to. The sea was Gov
eredwitha miscellaneous assortmentof boxes,
barrels, planks, sticks, spars, &C., all beating
among the struggling crowd OF men and
women, crushing some out Of sight kept
changing boards and planks at each wave for
of the steamers deck, about four feet wide
by fifteen long. This had two large rings
and bolts in IL Before could get on it the
ships baker joined me, aud we took posses
sion Of IL As | was trying to drag myself
upon il felt something pulling at my dusler,
and, looking around, saw lady with no
clothing on her, not even life preserver.
She begged me to save her. told her to let
go Of me so that could get on the raft, and
then | would pull her upon il. She would
not do SO, and ! was compelled by force to
open her hand and tear my duster from her
grasp. climbed on the raft, holding her
hand, aud, with the assistance of the baker,
we got her on the raft with us. The lady was
very weak, bat we managed 10 keep her on
the raft with as little exertion TO herself us
was possible. The next wave brought 10 US
Mr.. Rafael Arrae He had lost his life pre-
server and was naked. ! noticed that all the
passengers were nearly or quite naked in the
water. Mr.. Arrue said thai he had lost his
wife, and that to swim with her as long as he
did he found It necessary to tear her clothes
Oh The next tremendous sea tore us all
from the raff, and il seemed that | would
neser come up. When | did | was near the
rail, and swan to il. The baker soon follow
ed, but Mr.. Arrue was some distance Of.
He soon came TO Us, and said he saw the lady
and she tried To grasp him, but he, having no
life preseryer, showed his piece Of board TO
her, and made for US. This was the last Of
the poor lady. About fifty yards from us
saw little boy floating on his back looking
upward. think he was dead. The three OF
MS stnid on the raft about thirty minutes ut a
time, first we were washed of one side and
then the other, sometimes coming up under
the raR and nearly drowning Ourselves trying
TO get away from il, as the lie preseryers held
us tightly up against il. 1 felt once or twice
as though ! should give up and strive no more
10 save myself, as death seemed inevitable.
In the afternoon we ran across sailor who
was on another piece Of the steamer. We
almost struck one another. He said, "Hello,
boys. How are you making out 7" We re.
pied, Pretty vel, under the circumstances.
The next minute we were whIrling through
abe air aud water, and as we came up the
sailor was laughing at Us, for the wave had
not broken until il passed him. We kept to-
ae,her until dark, fighting for life. At about
d clock heavy sea knocked as Oh our raft,
aDd aaw 40 more Of il. ] shouted and
called 70 the others, but no reply came.
was alone, With nothing bat my life preserver.
was tossed about for eve or six hours. when
lnoficed change 10 the waves. | felt for
bottom and found t. Ny God, how glad
wasI Il was dark Is pitch, and one time /
struck into deep water again. The receding
waves puzzled me, and il was two hours be-
fore could tell which way TO go. Then
eas dashed upon the beach. / tried to stand
up, but felt weak, and staggered 70 the sand
hills, and laid there the rest Of the night.
sprang to my fee, several times to assure my
self that waa really ashore. | must have
reached shore 81 about ~ or / O'Clock on
Sunday night Daylight assured me that
vas al right. was awfnlly hungry. We
padded to two or three boxes 70 see il they
contained eatebIes, but only 10 be disap-
pointed / walked on the beach about mile
d more and met col0red man- He at once
took mo 10 Biz house. and am sure he slinled