The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-09-09
A Terrible Cyclone.

A Terrible Cyclone.
| We extract the following from
dispatches relating to the loss of the
Steamer Vera Cruz in storm in the
Atlantic. The probable loss of the
steamer San Salvador and numerous
smaller craft is also reported.
The Herald prints the following
graphic description of the loss of the
Vera Cruz, by Mr.. Owen, the com
panion of Gen. Torbert: At l
O'Clock p. M, Saturday, the captain
was heard to remark to Mr.. PATHS,
his first officer: 81 have just noticed
the barometer is falling rapidly.
We are going to have hurricane"
Orders were then given to cut up
and throw the cargo overheard, and
also the barrels of oil, cases of acid,
and cases of vegetables on deck. A
real blast of cyclone struck us on the
port bow, about l :35 p. m. Saturday
and landed the ship almost on her
beam ends. During the evening
three skylights in the main saloon
were carried away, and the. waves
poured considerable water into saloon
and staterooms, setting all adrift.
BY midnight the passengers were
generally sitting upon or lying on
the floor of the saloon, conversing
with and assisting each other, yet
good cheer was the rule, and many
were the exchanges of wit and humor
between them. All the servants,
as they passed around them, added
Ito the good feeling. Maj. Gen. Tor
bet. of the United States army, had
be,,n washed out of the state room,
which u-as he first on the bow, early
SATURDAY. evening". He had been
thrown against a tale in the after
noon, and cut his right Geek, which
troubled him considerably; as 1t bled
freely; but he was in his lest AID
kindest humor, speaking, cheering,
assisting the men, and attending to
women and children everywhere.
At p. m. the ship took a heavy
sea, and the water put the fires out
Immediately, stopping the engines.
The donkey engine was then started
and was going when the ship sunk.
The purser came hurriedly below
calling for Gen. Torbert, and said
the captain had sent him to tell the
passengers to come and assist the
crew or the vessel would go down.
We Immediately got up. l went
to the deck, and to the floor of the
engine room, where I assisted to
pass buckets for an hour. Capt.
Van Rice was in the line, near the
top, passing water, while l was
there. It was no use. The sea was
continually breaking over the vessel
and coming down in large quantities
between decks. The donkey engine
was working, but not to any purpose.
After this l went to the saloon and
told Gen. Torbert we were going to
pieces, and nothing remained but
for US to get life perservers and put
on the women. There was no such
thing as excitement on board. Even
the children were quiet and reason
able. Each assisted the other in ar
angling life preservers, and Gen.
Torbert was like sunbeam, laugh
ing and joking with all while he as
sisted them. The storm at this time
was most terrific. The waves were
fifty feet high, not in swells and
riders, but in peaks, like sugar
loaves. The peaks, beating like
surf, tore into each other. When
we went up and on it, it was not to
go down the other side, but to be
turned over at the top and rolling
through the air, and so back and
forth. This lasted about two or
three hours, after which the waves
took a more natural form and came
in swelling ridges, and we whirled
down and over them to the opposite
side.
Of the seventy souls on board be-
fore the storm began, only thirteen
have reached land alive, three of
these being passengers. They chung
to floating fragments of the wreck
and drifted ashore near St.Augustine,
Fla, after buffeting with the waves
for from twenty to twenty-six hours.