Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-09-15
NEW SERIES--V0L. 81, NO. 36

down two or three fathoms under the
water, and If | was lucky enough to
grasp timber when | camo to it, il
was almost sure to be snatched away
fiom me the next moment. / saw a
mother and her daughter tightly clasp.
ed together. They rode past me on
wave and disappeared, Their bodies
came ashore, still bound in the same
embrace. All that Sunday night was
tossed about, and finally, at 1880 o'clock,
Monday morning, after having been
in the water twenty.sIx hours, was
hurled up on the beach. | lay there
exhausted for long time. The other
six came ashore on the same beach,
although at long distances apart. The
last saw of Gen. Torbert alive he
was on the after part of the vessel
with Mr.. Owen. He was breathing,
| was told, when he was cast ashore.
A boy dragged him up as far as he
could on the beach, and then ran for
help. When he came back with assist
ance Gen. Torbert was dead. His dead
body was removed to the little village
of Port Orange, which is at the en-.
trance to the Mosquito Inlet There
| saw it. His head was covered with
bruises, showing that he must have
been struck several times by the pieces
of the wreck. His body was buried at
Daytona." Talbot added that all his
companions were more or less bruised
by the drifting debris of the wreck.
One of them stripped off bis clothing,
and, in naked state, swan until he
was cast up on the beach. He had no
life-preserver, and was the first to
come ashore. At Matanzas, seventeen
miles south of st. Augustine, the body
OF q young man, wearing nothing but
shirt and drawers, was found A few
miles further south the bodies of man
between fifty and sixty years of age,
and elderly lady, girl and a child
were washed ashore.
A. X. OWENS STATEMENT.
Mr. A. X. Owen is civil engineer
of considerable note, native and resi-
dent of Chester, Pa, and has been
well known at Washington for six or
eight years as the enthusiastic advo-
cate Of a Pacific railroad which should
traverse the middle region Of Texas
and the Mexican States Of Durango
and Sinaloa, terminating in the Gulf
of California at the almost unknown
and uninhabited port Of Totolovampo.
He published several pamphlets, with
maps and plans of this route, and sue
ceeded in interesting number OF in
nuential persons at Washington, though
his route was generally objected to
as passing through an almost desert
region of county. He has made re-
peated visits to Mexico, where he was
at one time connected with project
for establishing improved drainage in
the city of Mexico. He received en-
couragement from the government OF
President Diaz, and few months ago
made personal exploration of the
port of Totolovampo and the adjacent
region, which he found entirely favor
able to his railroad project In view
of these facts, which tend to show that
he is q man Of exact mind, his state
ment concerning the condition of tho
ship during and previous to the storm
are full of interest. The stevedore
work, it appears, was not well done,
and oven before the gale grew furious
the ship had decided list Mr.. Owen
saws aAt o'clock p. NJ, Saturday,
the Captain was heard to remark to
Mr.. Harris, his first officer, 4 have
lust noticed that the barometer is fall
ing rapidly. We are going to have a
hurricane Orders were then given
to cut up and throw the car overheard
and also the barrels of oil, cases of
acid and cases of vegetables on deck.
The real blast of the cyclone struck us
on the port bow at about twenty-five
minutes to two p. NJ, Saturday, and
listed the ship almost on her beam ends.
From this time it became next TO i'm
possible to walk about without cling
ing to chairs tables and other station.
ary furniture of the cabin, and as all
movable articles in the saloon were
quickly thrown from port to starboard,
walking was exceedingly dangerous.
The wind was at this time northeast,
and the vessel was steering south by
east. During the evening three sky.
lights in the main saloon were carried
away and the waves poured consider
able water into tho saloon and state
rooms, setting all adriit. By midnight
the passengers were generally sitting
upon or lying upon 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 to the good feeling. Major Gen.
cral Torbert, United States army, had
been washed out of his stateroom, No
5, which was first on the port bow
early on Saturday evening. He then
came TO me in the saloon room, No. n
THE GALLANT ToRBERT.
"lIe had been thrown against Ia
bic in the afternoon and had cut his
right cheek, which troubled him con
siderably, as it bled freely, but he was
in his best and kindest humor, speak
ing cheering word here, assisting 0
man there and attending TO the women
and children everywhere. He lay on
the saloon floor for part of the night
J.t -as Avoided vut, aud thon came
and laid with me, bringing his water
proof, which he threw over us to pro
tect us from the water dripping in
from the top and sides. At O'Clock
=. NJ, the engine room was dry. The
drag was put on, but II reversed ant
was useless. II was not gotten ready
until this time, and was too small fol
service, even If in proper order. AT
p. NJ. the ship took heavy sea anC
the waters put the fires out, imme
diately stopping the engines. The
donkey engine then started, and wal
going when the ship sank The pur
= ser came hurriedly below, calling fol
Gen. Torbert, and said that the Cap
! tain had sent him to tell the passen
, gers to come and assist the crew or the
vessel would 60 down. We imme
diately got up. went to TO the deck
, and to the floor Of the engine room
, where assisted to pass the buckets
! for an hour. Captain Van Sice was il
! line near the top passing water whil'
, | was there. II was Of no use. Th'
, sea was continually breaking over th,
vessel and coming down in large quaint
0 ties between decks The donkey en-
gine was working, but not TO any