The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-19
AN OCEAN HORROR.
The Spanish Steamer Viscaya
Sunk off Barnegat, N. j.
More Than Four Score Souls Per-
ish Instantly.

ish Instantly,
A tragedy Of the sea, accompanied with
details of a most narrowing description, be-
fell the Spanish steamship Viscaya at 7:3O
o'clock few nights ago, barely seven hours
after she left the port of New York with
ninety three souls on board, of whom only
twelve were rescued to tell of the disaster.
The Viscaya had just passed Barnegat
Light, on the New Jersey coast; the stars
were shining brightly Captain Francesca
Canill stood on the bridge, and the male
passengers, of whom there were ten, were in
the smoking room and on deck.
Suddenly schooner loomed UP, and with
out warning crashed into the starboard side
amidships, cutting terrible hole in the side,
through which the sea poured, extinguishing
the fires and destroying all chance of running
the vessel ashore.
A part of the rigging fell on Captain
Canilf, killing him instantly. Four minutes
later the steamer sank with all her pas
sengers and sixty-fve Of her crew. Barely
had the boiling OF the water announced that
the steamer had gone down when the
schooner disappeared, leaving no trace even
Of her crew.
The passengers who were on the steamer
Viscaya who are lost are:
Juan Pedro, NJ. A. Calvos, wife, child and
nurse, Mr.. Puer and three children, A. Ruiz,
Hedmann, Iscar Islauer, Luigi Pellion, Jose
N. Garcia.
Close upon the crash followed terrible
scene. Mrs. Calvos, one of the passengers,
rushed on deck with her baby in her arms,
and when she learned that the vessel was
going to sink, she cried loudly for help for
herself and child, but no heed was paid to
her. Mr.. Purr and his three children, all Of
tender years. were also on deck with the
other passengers, and as the vessel went
down the air was rent with the despalrlng
cries of the doomed ones.
Altogether, it is IN unexplainable acci-
dent, and is the most awful marine disaster
that has happened of the coast since the
Geiser was run into by the Thingvalla two
years ago and sunk with los of her passen-
gers and crew.
The crew, evidently, made no effort to save
anyone but themselves. As soon as the YES
sci struck those on deck jumped into tina
water and swan to the schooner. There were
about twenty of them. No attempt was made
to send up distress rockets.
An order was given to lower a lifeboat, but
as the vessel began to settle the crew aban-
doned the attempt. Those who had leaped
overheard managed to reach the schooner
and climbed into the rigging, from which
twelve were subsequently rescued after
twelve hours of suffering by the British
steamer Humboldt, bound from Rio Janeiro
to New York.
A little before 5 o'clock that morning the
Humboldt took pilot aboard. AS the YES
sci came nearer port he mounted the bridge
with Captain Black and First Officer Chase.
On looking through his glass toward shore
the Captain saw something in the distance
which he could not make out.
It looked like vessel, but was without a
hull. Small black objects could been on 1t.
Captain Black steered his vessel toward it,
and. as he approached, saw the tops Of four
tall masts sticking up in the air, with dozen
men hanging on and feebly waving their
arms to attract attention.
A little nearer shore was the steamer, her
funnel and three masts sticking out Of the
water The steamers yawl was lowered and,
manned by First Officer Chase and four sail
ors went to the wrecked schooner, to the
rigging of which it was made fast.
The sailors climbed up and assisted the
twelve shipwrecIed men into the boat. On
reaching the steamer, more dead than alive.
they were taken aboard and given dry clothes
and Eood.
Many Of tie crew were without hats, coats.
shoes. or in fact, any covering but shirts
and trousers, and when taken off they shook
like Daisied men, were not able to speak, and
had to be carried on board the steamer. Dur
ing the twelve hours that they were exposed
a number Of them dropped into the sea,
either frozen or killed.
Those above, seeing the same fate staring
them in the face, cut piec:s from the upper
sails OF the schooner and used them as COW
cr,ng, and to that they owe their lives
The Viscaya, VIII 'ch was outward bound,
lies seven miles off Barnegat, inside the
schooner, as if her Captain had made an ef.
fort to slew her around and beach her. The
'rysails are set, and the gaf9s almost touch
the water.
The V;scaya was a three masted, iron
screw steamer, built in 1872 by j. g. w
Dudgeon, of London. She is 2S7 feet long,
thirty-aigit feet beam and twenty-seven feet
deep. She had three cylinders Of thirty-four,
sixty and thirty inches. She was recently
repaired ard refltted, and valued at $3.50, 900.
TIE cargo was q general one, valued at S6O, :
con.
Captain Canill was about fifty years Of age
rnnd married. He leaves a family, who re-
side in Spain, and has been for twenty years
in the employ of the company. He was just
starting on bis fourth trip in the Viscaya.
Juan Pedro and NJ. A. Cairo had just ar
rived by the steamer La Bretagne from
Havre, France Senior Pedro was member by
lnarl iage of the famous Barro family. At the
decth ot Seror Rarro h.ee, inherited through his
wife part Of the millions, and the planta-
tions of his father-in-law. These, with bis
own possessions, made him the richest man
in the island Of Cuba, his wealth being esti-
rnated at 500 OO0 OOQ
His palace at Havana is said to be one of
the most beautiful private residences outside
of the princely castles of the Old World !.
He was born in Spain, but passed most of
his life in Cuba, where his children were
born. He had been in Europe with his wife,
his son and daughtsr-in law since June.
Senior Alvo was member of the firm of
Francke Sons G. Co., of Havana. He is well
known as one of the largest dealers in sugar
in Havana. He was about forty-seren years
old.
He was accompanied by his wife, his four
year-old son anda maid. Nine. Cairo was
Miss Angulo.
The other passengers are unknown to PROM
inent Cubans in New York City and were
probably on their way to the smaller ports
at which the Viscayo called.