Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-17
FORTY DROWNED
Observation-Disclosures
Off Florida Coast,
TU RxED TURTLE
Maine Fishing Schooners Are
Also Wrecked.
VIOLENT HURRICANE E
ONE OF TIE WORST STORMS SEEN
TOR MANY YEARS
News From Many Atlantic Points Tells
of Raging Seas and Widespread
Destruction.
VIOLENT HURRICANE
ONE OF TIE WORST STORMS SEEN
TOR MANY YEARS.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NORFOLK, Va September 1.-THE Nor
folk Public Ledger in an extra this even
ing will say:
The British steamship Mexicana turned
turtle at Tuesday night off the Florida
coast. ard of her officers and crew of
twenty-five none escaped save one, who
told in Norfolk this morning in Spanish the
story of the catastrophe.
Only One Escaped.
Domingo Reyarberay is the name of the
seaman who was strangely saved from
death TO tell the story of the loss of the
Mexicana. He was brought in here by the
British steamship Rokeby. the master of
which. Capt. Shields, found him at sea off
Hatteras yesterday wearing life belt and
bestriding piece of the Mexicana's bridge.
The survivor said that the Mexicana
sailed from Philadelphia for Vera Cruz.
Mexico. last Monday; that she carried
petroleum in bulk; that Capt. King COM
manded her and she had a crew of twen-
ty-four men.
Struck by the Blast.
He said that about midnight Tuesday she
was struck by hurricane. and shortly
turned upside down and went down. He Is
convinced that all aboard save him went
down with her, for he grabbed a life pre-
server. and after he rose from the whirlpool
her sinking created and got aboard the
piece of bridge he never saw or heard an
other person until picked up yesterday by
the Rokeby.
Drifted Since Tuesday.
He had then drifted about In the vicinity
or where the Mexicana went down ever
since Tuesday night. Capt. Shields upon
arrival here turned over to the Spanish
aCTf1
whom he had saved. The Rokeby is bound
from Port Tampa and Port Ingls, Fla for
damburg. She Is consigned to CaStner
Curran x Bullitt, who are coaling her for
her voyage across the sea
Fury of the Ocean
Further reports of the fury along the At
lantic coast of Tuesday nights great storm
were brought in today by steamers from
New York and Philadelphia some of which
arrived as much as twelve hours late Cap
tains Oneil of the Clyde steamer Wfnyah
from Philadelphia, and Crawley of Old Do
mlnion line steamer Guyandotte, from New
York. report the storm as the worst ever
encountered by them during their long ex-
periences as sea captains. The Guyandotte
reports no accident of any kind and no
damage to freight, but the Winyah's cargo
was damaged to some extent by water as
,he result OF heavy seas washing over the
big ship.
Two Ladies Injured.
Miss Elizabeth Morgan of Louisville KY
and Mrs. w. II. Trice of Norfolk pas-
sengers out from New York on the steamer
Princess Ann. which arrived last night
after an awful encounter with the coast
storm. during which both of these ladies
suffered injuries. We're reported better to-
Gay.
AS yet nothing has been heard from the
Merchants
from Boston, and Dorchester, from Provi-
dence. both of which were due here early
ths morning bound to Baltimore CAPTAIN
Onell OF the steamer Winyah reports having
passed on the coast last evening the floating
wreck of big unknown ocean barge.
Survivor at Norfolk.
NORFOLK. Va. September l7-The
British steamship Rokeby, Capt Shields
which arrived here this morning from Port
- English. has on board Domingo Ballo Rev
arpefay the sole survivor of the crew of
twenty-five men on the British steamship
Aexicana. which foundered with all on
poard on The Florida coast Tuesday night
Reyarberay caught piece of wreckage and
managed to keep up until he was seen yes-
, terday morning by the Rokeby and rescued
The Sailors Tale.
The Spaniard. through an Interpreter. told
Oh the Mexicana's sinking The steamer
was bound from Tampico for Vera Cruz.
with cargo OF petroleum in bulk when
the fuil force Of the hurricane broke upon
her Mountainous broke constantly
over the ship and finally one gigantic wave
crashed through her decks The fire room
was flooded. and the Mexicana became
helpless. For u few moments she wallowed
In tho trough of the seas and chen plunged
. TO the bottom
Oil on the Waters
The rescued man says hundreds of gallons
OF OIL were poured over the ships side In
vain attempt to calm the sea and II pos
sible, save the ship. When the Mexicana
boats had long since been crushed by the
force of the waves. and the men were pow
erless TO save themselves.
Ballo Reyarberay went under with the
vessel and by the merest chance became
entangled in some loose rigging and spars.
The buoyancy of these brought him to the
surface. and he made himself fast to the
largest spar. For seven hours he fioated
IN the turbulent until finally the RoXby
move In sight. His was a daring
one.
Owned in England.
The Mexicana sailed from Tampico Mon
oay- she was last reported being bound
from Marcus Hook to Tamp.co August 10
Her captain was r. S. King. and T. King
Line Ltd) Of Middeborough. England.
owned the lost vessel Philips. Philips e.
Co. Q4td) were her mana gers
The Mexcana was built at Sunderland In
1s9s Ballo Reyarberay is unable to give