National Republican., 1880-09-04
AN APPALLING DISASTER.
An ocean Steamer Gone Down with All
on Board.
Bodies and Fragments from the Wroeh
strown for Miles Along
the Coast.

Tho Vera Cruz Lost IN tho Groat Gulf Gale.
ST.. AUGUSTINE, FLA, Sept. 3.-Thore is
very little dohbt that the steamer City OF
Vera Cruz of the Mexican line. which sailed
from New York on tho 25th OF August for
Havana and Vora Cruz, wont down in tho ro'
cent hurricane, which has already strewn our
coast with wrecks. Only the faintcst hopes
remain that any of her passengers have sur
vivod. This terrible discover" -
yesterday. wh-'- - wac n.'uo nov
..on portions of the mail carried
~ tne Inflated vessel wero washed ashore
some miles south Of this city. One mail bag
contained letters for Cuba and Mexico, which
had been posted In Paris, Franco, on August
i3 aud another lot was found with the envol-
opes bearing tho pUstmark Now York, Aug
ust 25" This at once indicated that the lost
vessel was a mail steamer, bound for southern
ports, nnd tho surnlso WAS that II must have
been the City Of Vera Cruz, ns she left New
York on the day last named.
30 far six bodies have been washed ashore
together with n large amount Of miscellaneous
merchandise. One Of the bodies was that OF
. middle-nged lady, but thero was nothing
about her that would lead to her identifca-
cation. Another body was that ofa child four
years old, namo not known, but probably
Welsh, as they were the only family that had
n child with them. The others were sailors,
with TIE exception OF one who was dressed
like well-to-do business man. He looks like
aSpaniard. 1t is feared that the terrific gale
which has ragged hero for the past week made
it impossible for any Of them on board the
ill-fated steamer 10 save themselves even
wero they able to do 80. The shore for miles
is streun with pieces of timber, boxes, barrels
md othor debris. Wrecking parties have
been organized aud everything Of valuo Is be-
Ing stored In a store house on Main street.
NEW YoRK, Sept. "A telegram received
at tho postotiice to-day says that letters in the
mail washed ashore on tho Florida coast are
postmarked New York, August 25, and Paris
August Is. This indicates that tho mail ar.
rived here by the Batavia from Liverpool, and
was dispatched by the City Of Vera Cruz.
At the office of the Alexandra line at noon
to-day no further IN formation Us to the reported
loss Of the City Of Vera Cruz has been received
though al answer to dispatch to st. Angus.
tine, Fla, asking for details Is momentarily
expected. Some do not believe tho steamer is
lost, but think that she encountered q huni.
cans, during which tho 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
vessel Is worth 100000; insured in London
and America.
. Many relatives and friends of tho passengers
arc at the Office awaiting information.
Captain +. Harris, who commanded this
steamer on her previous voyage, is on board
The chief engineer Ia named Miller and the
purser Burke. First Officer James p. Hinck.
ley Of the steamer Now Orleans, which en-
eountered the gale in which the Vera Cruz is
supposed to have been Lost, said to-day that
his vessel ran into hurricane on the 26th OF
August, ut p. nj, off tho coast of Florida. be-
tween capcs Jupiter and Carnaveral. The
storm was from the north and east The vessel
was struck on the portside and heaved over on
her beams end. Four men were Mt the wheel
all the time. IL was impossible for n man to
stand Oh deck. The vessel for u long time was
at the mercy of the wind and sea. The storm
abated on the goth OF August Three boats
We're stove in aud one lost, and the deck rail was
carried away. He knows nothing about the
Vera Cruz, though he thinks she must have
encountered the same gale. One person on
board tho New Orleans thought he saw tho
Vera Cruz during tho cyclone, but his state.
mont is not Credited
The following was the mail taken from New
York by the Vera Cruz, the total being twenty
two bags, eleven OF letters and eleven Of news
papers, otc.; Nine bags from France for Ha-
yana one bag from Philadelphia for Havana,
one bag from Panama for Havana; these
were reinclosed in four sacks here; three
bugs Of letters from New York for Havana
aud six bags Of newspapers; one bag OF letters
and two bags Of papers from New York for
Vera Cruz one bag of letters and one bag OF
papers from New York for Progresso one
bag OF letters and one bag Of papers from New
York for Campeacha, and one bag of letters
and one bag OF papers from New York for
Fronlera. There were six registered letters
from New York for Vera Cruz and thirty.
six for Havana. There was also dispatch
bag from the state department for the United
states consul at Vera Cruz.
NEW York, Sept, Sup to midnight to-
night no news was received BY Mrs. Alexander
and son concerning the loss OF tho steamer
Vera Cruz, The steamer Niagara, of Wards
line, which sailed the day after the Vera Cruz
has not yet been heard from, but her owners
entertain no anxiety as to her safety.
General Torbert Lost on the Vera Cruz.
Especial Dispatch to THE NATIONAL REPuBLIcAS.l
WILMINGTON, DEL, Sept, 3-l0;20 p, IN.
A special dispatch to the Daily NeiUs from
Milford, this state, tho home of General A
II. a. Torbert, announces that ho was pas.
sengor on the lost steamer Vera Cruz, thus
confirming the supposition on that point.
H. VALLANDIGHAM.
Funeral of Rev nr. Adams.