New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-05
NEWS GATHERED IN THIS CITY.
ANXIOUS FRIENDS wAiuNe FOR TIDINGs -

proof to this city that the City of Vera Cruz was
lost was received by +. Alexandra at his house,
very early this morning. 1t was as follows,
HAVANA, Sept
To +. ALEXANDRA & SONS Ne,c. York:
the steamer CITY Of Vera Cruz has foundered We
that may reach New-YOrk direct from Florida.
zALDo & Co
| Before Mr.. Alexandra came down to the office,
however, the following telegram had been received
by the firm through the Board of Underwriters
ST. AUGUSTINE Fla Sept. g. 1850
CHARLES DENNIS, Secretary Board Of Underwritrs 81
WGUSL, n. L.
Steamship CIV OF Vera Cruz foundered at sea Sunday
the vessel Only three passengers and eight of the
saved Names OF passengers saved not known. Names
of crew Will write. Grew in Jacksonville awaiting
assistance from owners Telegraph to me at 81 Angus
tine until Tuesday THOMAS EELLs.
Agent OF Under writer's.
Alexandra & Sons promptly replied to this tele-
gram in these words
serd passengers and crew here at our expense.
gers and crew mat you can ascertain to relieve minds
of relatives.
There were many visitors at the office of F.
Alexandra & Sons yesterday morning, and there
were sad scenes when relatives and friends called
TO inquire regarding the fate of those
who were dear to them. Among the callers were
the wife and daughter of A. T. LOOMS. Of No
207 Lexngton-ave.. the steward of the vessel the
wife of Quartermaster O'Ncill; the daughter of
Mrs. Jane NJ. Whitbee. the stewaTdess of the
steamer the wife Of NJ. OToolc one Of the wait
ers the wife of John Casey, who was the cap
tans special waiter the wife and sisterin-law of
John Peters, of No. 112 Madison-st., one of the
seamen the wife OF Walter Richie of Newark,
n. j. one OF the passengers; a woman related to
Edwin and Henry Bronx, respectively first and
third engineers a brother of John Nee of No. 400
West Twenty fourth-st., fireman several friends
TO inquire afterSCaptain Van Size and A. X. Owen
a friend of Herman Seke, of Carlylest., Gravesend
and many others, some of whom were doubtless at
tracted by curiosity.
kilograms began TO come in early in the morning.
George II Lowerre. son-n-aw of Captain Van
Size, telegraphed from Yonkers asking that what
news there be sent to him, good or ill.," W.
2. Eyre telegIaphed from Chester Penn, for IN
formation regarding A. X. Owen. This telegram
was replied to by Mr.. Alexandra, who stated that
the Havana kilograms gave no names, but the pub
ished lists were believed to be nearly correct.
MOI long after this dispatch came from f. NJ
DAVIS, OF Philadelphia saying: "a X. Owens
one of yOur passengers, is saved" And few mo-
monts afterward another dispatch, from W. 7.
Eyre, said: owens is saved; have telegram from
him." This was the first name received of anyone
known to be saved A telegram was received from
ID. f. Switzerland, asking if John Gouray had
sailed III the steamer 1t said his family were in
terrible state of anxiety. The answer sent was
that Gourlay one of the passengers. A dispatch
came from Athens. n. y, Iuqulring about the
Bronx boys 1t was signed Lewis Wolfe
Shortly after II o'clock noon the following dis
patch was received:
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. sept.4
Have ordered that crew and passengers be today
THOMAS s. EELIs. Agent Underwriters
As each dispatch was brought into the Office |
there was an immediate rush for the messenger |
boy There was intense expression of eagerness |
in the faces of those who were anxously |
awaiting news, and vet who almost feared !
to listen to the reading of the kilograms |
There were sadly disappointed looks when |
there was nothing that gave encouragement or hope.
Some of the women spent almost the entire day in
the office. Miss Whitbee sat on one end of settee
and wept The clerks and members OF the firm
spoke kindly to her and endeavored to encourage
her to keep up hope but il OF no avail.
She seemed TO be convinced that her mother
was among those who were lost. The wife OF John
Peters spent the afternoon in the Office and so did
he woman who was seeking information of the
Bronks, and another woman who was friend of
Mrs. Harris.
The answer to the telegram sent by the Alexan-
Tres in the morning awaited from moment to
moment. 1T will certainly be here pretty soon
low," said the clerks when they appealed to,
md the people waited and waited. 1t was very
lot in the office, aud there were only sufficient
eats for the women, so the who
waited spent very miserable afternoon
inside the railing. the clerks were busting about
With their coats off. More vessels were to be sent;
esses to in, and the machinery of
commerce must move despite death and shipwreck
occasionally one of the clerks would come forward
0 answer questions to receive kilograms and
Ometlmes to speak kindly to one of the bereayed
lsitOrs Blu; there was curious contrast between
he busy men inside the railing and the waiting
ad people outside.
At half past p IN. the lOngloOked-for telegram
rived. There a wild rush to the counter.
'ue of the clerks nervously opened it and read 1t
ias literally as follows:
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. Sept. 4. 1880.
. ALEXANDRA & Sons, Ner-IOrE
Names OF crew saved James H. Kelly Charles Smith
homas Drumgold John Greenfield Charles Brauden-
myers Will be mere to-day passenger on the way
Young lady one ord ady 1--WE sn
nred l have igurehead OF ship General Iorbert lost
THOMAS 5. EELLs
This telegram gives the names Of five of the crew
nd one passenger who We're saved, making total
only six Of the saved whose names are known.
$ the telegram is not punctuated, parts of
are exceedingly vague. The Idea gathered
ON 1t at the Office was that three sailors
adj been saved who refused to give their {
ames and that word had been received of two {
ore passengers who probably landed at some dis !
nee from ST. Augustine, and were then on the
ay thithcr, their names not being known. :" Pas
niger the way A. X. Owens" supposed to
can that A. X. Owen had set sail for home. An
her reading, however. would make &" Passengers
i'll be here to-day f.; passengers on the way. a. X.
wens hel ped bring five persons three men, one
)ung lady. old lady," Now. whether this
irtv of five was the party three sailors no
fuse to give their names and two passengers who |
o on their way to st. AugustiDe, mentioned fur G
Ter up in the telegram, was not known. In one
se the total Of the saved would be eleven in the
her sixteen.