The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-04
D0U BIT AND DESPAIR.
THE VERA CRUZ SUPPOSED LOST.
Relatives and Friends OF Passenger RS
Awaiting Information - IL. is
Thought She Was Lost la Ter.
rible Hurricane or the Coast
or Florida six BODIES
Washed Ashore. Etc.

Augustine, Fla, gives the following: Thert
is very little doubt that the steamer CITY o.
Vera Cruz, of the Mexican line, which sailed
from New York on the 25th of August fol-
Havana and Vera Cruz went down in hur,
ricane, which has already sire Rn our coast
with wrecks. Only the faintest hopes remain
that any of her passengers have survived
This terrible discovery was made here YES
terdsy, when portions of mail carried by the
ill.fated vessel were washed ashore some of
this city. A mail bag containing mail
for Cuba and Mexico, which had been posted
in Paris, France, August 18th, and another
lot, was found with envelopes bearing the
postmsrk "New York, August 25th' This
Indicated that the last vessel was the mail
steamer bound for southern ports, and the
surmise was that it must have been the CITY
of Vera Cruz, as she left New York on the
day last named.
LATER.
A special to the evening papers from St.
Augustine, Fla, says of the supposed wreck
of the Vera Cruz: Thus far six bodies have
been washed ashore together with large
amount of merchandise. One of the bodies
was that of middle age lady, but there was
nothing about her that would lead to her
identity. Another was the body ola child,
four years old, name unknown, but probably
Welp, as they we're the only family that had
child with them. Another man dressed
like well.to-do business man. Ho looks like
a Spaniard It is fe'red that the terrific gale
that has ragged here for tho past week made it
impossible for any of those on board the ill
.ated steamer to save themselves. The
shore tor miles is strewn with lumber.
boxes, barrels and other debris. Wrecking
parties have been organized and everything
of value is being stored in a store house on
Main street.
A telegram received at the post office to-
day, says the letters in the mai washed ashore
on the Florida coast are post marked 'New
York, Aug. 25th," and "Paris, Aug 18Th"
This indicates that the mail arrived here by the
Batavia, from Liverpool, and was dispatched
by the City Of Vera Cruz at the office of the
Alexander line at noon to-day.
No further information as to the re-
ported loss of the City of Vera Cruz
has been received, though answer
TO dispatch to St. Augustine, Florida,
asking for details, is momentarily expected.
Some do not believe the steamer Is lost, but
think she encountered hurricane, during
which the mail and baggage went overheard.
She is pronounced one of the strongest
steamers in the world. She was on the
dry dock previous to her last trip. The YES
sci was worth 100000 and was insured in
London.
Relatives and friends of the passengers are
at the office waiting for information. Captain
+. Harris, who commanded the steamer on
her previous voyage, is on board.
The chief engineer is named Muller
and the purser Burke.
First Officer James Hinckley, Of the
steamer New Orleans, which found
cred in the gale in which the
Vera Cruz Is supposed to have been lost, said
to-day that his vessel ran into hurricane on
the 18th of August at p. M, off the coast
OF Florida, between Cspes Jupiter and Car.
nival. The storm was from the north and
east She was struck on the port side and
heaved over on her beam ends. Four men
were at the wheel all the time. 1t was i'm
possible for a man to stand on the deck of
the vessel. For long time she was at the
mercy of the wind and seas. The storm
abated on the Goth. Three boats were stove
in and one lost, and the deck rail was carried
away. He knows nothing about the Vera
Cruz, although he thinks she. must have en-
countered the same gale. One
person on board of the New Orleans
thought he saw the Vera Cruz during tho cy-
clone, but his statement is no. credited.
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE STORM.
Washington, D. G., Sept. 3.-The post
office department received telegraphc sdvices
to-day from Gainesville, Florida, stating that
severe storm swept over the central portion
of that state on the LIST and End inst. Post
roads we're flooded, bridges washed away,
and mail communications interrupted be-
tween Osceola and Tampa on the west coast
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Savannah, Ga, Sept. 3.-The Morning
News special from St. Augustine says the
beach, north and south of st. Augustine
lighthouse, anc as far south as Matapzas
inlet, is strewn with wrecked stuff such asdry
goods, provisions and every description Of
The first evidence of the
wreck was discovered near the lighthouse
on Tuesday. The story of terrible disaster
was revealed ten miles below Matsnzas. A
trunk and mail bag were
found, the latter of which was
marked with tag, "Return TO New
York" 1t was opened and found to
contain letters, dated August 25, 1880, per
City Of Vera Cruz, also bills of lading for |
goods per steamship Vera Cruz. Near the
place where the mail bags and trunks were
found, the bodies Of three men, woman
and child were discovered by the people in |
the neighborhood All the valusbles and |
jewslry were taken from the bodies so that
the remains could not be identified. All the
shows that the steamer Vera
Cruz, which sailed from New York on the
18th for Havana, either went ashore or
foundered off the Florida coast on Monday
night or Tuesday morning during the heavy
storm, and all on board persisted.
NO PARTICULARS AT SAVANNAH.
Savannah, Sept 3.-The coast, both north
and south Of 81. Augustine, Florida, Is
'trewn with wrecked stuff. The bodies of
.hree men, one woman and two children came
Ashore and were buried. The mail bags con-
.an letters dated New York, Aug. 25th, via
steamer Vera Cruz. No particulsrs received.