The daily gazette., 1880-09-11

HOUR OF DANGER.
Recent advices received by the Her.
aid enable the following list of per-
sons thus far reported saved from the
steamer City of Very Cruz to be made
out:
THE SAVED.
Arrue Rafael, passenger.
Owen, A. K, passenger.
Silva. o. p, passenger.
l'randenberg, E., Quartermaster.
Connell, John, coal passer, Ireland.
T Dromgold, Thomas, Fourth Assist
ant Engineer.
Greenfield, f.. seaman, Germany.
Kelly, James, seaman, N. Y.
Smith, Charles, second assistant en-
gineer.
Talbot, Mason, seaman, England.
Fourteen others, one of whom was
a negro, are reported to have landed
near Titusville, a point over one hun
dred and eighty miles south of the
place where Mr.. Owen aud his com.
paniOns were cast upon the beach.
THE FIRST SIGN OF DANGER.
On Saturday, at ybreak, the fore
and aft sails were set. The wind was
then blowing brisk from the southeast
and the sea was running high. The
real blast or the cyclone struck us on
the port bow abOnt twenty-five min
u'es to two p. m. (Satu day. and listed
the ship almost on her beam ends, the
hurricane deck on the lee side kissing
fhax tAr Thso hin ~ ne ,ps,,I
companied with heavy rain. From
this time it became next to impossible
to walk about without clinging to
posts, tables, &C., and all things not
securely fastened were quickly thrown
from port to starboard. The wind had
been northeast up to the calm ON Fri
day night. Through the evening and
night the passengers were generally
lying or sitting ON the floor of the sa-
loon, talking to and assisting each 9TH
er, for many were more or less cut or
bruised in the face and hands, from
being thrown against different things.
Yet good cheer was the rule, and
many were the pleasant exchanges of
wit and hunor between them. The
servants were, as rule, attentive and
in the best of spirits. John O'Toole
and the stewardess being conspicuous
for their services.
BRAVE ToRBERT.
"General TorberG had been washed
out of mis- state room (No. 81, which was
the first on the port bow, early Saturday
evening, aud came to me Groom 27) in
the saloon. The Genel al had been
thrown against table during the after
noon aud had cut his right cheek, which
troubled him considerably, as it bled
freely; but be was In his best and kindest
humor-speaking cheering word here
assisting man there and attending to
The women and children everywhere.
An Irish woman, en- route for Havana,
perhaps Miss +. Burns, but who was
called Nellie by her companion, whom
take to be Miss Clark, but who was
called Rose was the wit of the occasion
and many hearty laughs did she create
for us. These two women and John
O'Toole sat on the floor of the. saloon,
opposite to where the General and were
lying, and ate nuts, raisIns, &C., while
the skylights were being carried away
and when the lights were being knocked
down and out.
PUTTING ON LIFE PRIsERvERs.
Regaining the saloon told General
Torbert that we were filling with water
and fast going to pieces, and it remained
for us but to get life preservers on the
women and chlldl en- and to prepare for
the worst, which all did in good spirits
and without excitement, each assisting
the other. Dennis Casey-as true and
faithful man as ever waited upon
another-went with me down in the
"Glory Hole" or lazarette storeroom to
get life preservers for those who had not
found good ones In their rooms. This
was the last time saw poor Dennis.
rhe storm was now most terrific such
waves, rain and wind can never be de-
scrbed. The ship listed on her beam
ends at every wave; aud 1t was barely
possible to crawl from place to place.
Persons present will never forget the
groaning and cracking OF the ships tim
Oers, the terrible commissions OF the
vessel from steam to stern when she took
sea and the whistling of the wind
through the rigging and over the smoke
stack. The storm was so thick that one
Ciuiu bCo OuAy ouipo AChSIh onu buc
rainlcut like hail. 1t was at the risk of
ones eyes to face it. General Torbert
and were lying in my berth with our
life preservers on, when at twelve
minutes past four A. M, q sea came over
the port side, breaking into the engine
room and through the port side Of the
aloon. making crash like battery OF
artillery, striking terror for an instant
into every one and dashing the passen-
gers, tables, doors, fragments and water
luto one mass, and to the starboard and
aft. The General directly after this
came to me with Master Wallengd
(about nine years old) and said:-
"Rolneo, you aud must take this lit
tie boy aud care for him between u.s." |
SAID, "No, General, it Is mercy to letthe
little fellow go down with the ship; all
will be over with everyone in fifteen
minutes. But the General kindly insist
cd. saying, 81 cannSt leave this dear hit
tie fellow behind. You and 1 mustsave
him II we save ourselves. Take him in
your arms till come back" A minute
later a sea came rushing and caring
through the saloon, washing everyone
and everything aft and to starboard. The
little fellow and were rolled over and
over among tables, chairs, doors, etc
and | came to the surface without him;
but he was picked up by sailor aft and
brought to his father In the social hall.
/ called TO General Torbert to come with
me TO the social hall. He said, "All
right, I will go aft and meet yon above"
WASHED OVERHEARD.