The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-15

Beaufort, May 11.-More definite
news was received Sunday regarding
the wreck of the Portuguese bark Vera
Cruz III, at Portsmouth on the south
side of Ocracoke inlet, 60 miles north
OF here. The only communication is
by boat to this place. and the boat
which arrived today brings Intelligence
that there were 251 passengers. all
Portuguese. and a crew of Is. All We're
rescued by the Portsmouth l1ve-saying
station crew, but one died a few min
uteS after the rescue.
The Vera Cruz was in charge of a
local pilot, having put in at Ocracoke
inlet after water. While coming in she
struck on the other bar and Their stuck
on the inner bar hard and fast. nearly
two miles from the ~life-SavIng station.
A gale was blowing and the sea very
rough and the work of rescue was ex-
tremeIy dangerous. There are ONLY
about sixty people at Portsmouth so
nearly all the Portuguese had to be
taken across the inlet to Ocracoke five
miles distant.
Some of the cargo was landed main
'SSS III
~ whale oil. Of which 60 tone was on
board. The wind continues from the
northeast ana it is believed the vessel
Will be a total loss. A wrecking tug
arrived there Sunday from Norfolk.
L. G. Terrell, keeper of the Ports
mouth station and crew. are highly
commended for their great work, occu-
pied about u hours.
TALE OF SUFFERING.
Norfolk, Va. May 1.-THE 433 ship
wrecked Portuguese immigrants from
the barkentine Vera Cruz III, driven
ashore at Ocracoke Inlet, N. c.. Satur-
day night are still being cared for on
the coast today. a revenue cutter will
carry them to New Bedford. Mass.
whittier the barkentrne was bound
when she anchored off the North Caro-
lima coast Friday for food and water
and was later wrecked. OF the immi-
grants: 800 are men. and "a women. One
man died from starvation. The others
are well. The barkentine lies high and
dry and may yet be saved. Norfolk
wrecks left for the scene today.
A most thrilling story of the expert
fence at sea Of the barkentlne came toI
Norfolk today over the government
seacoast telegraph wire from Hatteras.l
y liz NSiC NluL "1ll HeT 4J1 lm-i
migrant passengers, bound from thel
Cape Verde islands to New Bedford.I
Mass, was within 135 miles of the Mas
coast two weeks ago.. whenl
a terrific storm carried away the yes-l
seIS sails and drove her far out to sea
1t was thought the craft would founder
and most of those hoard abandoned ALI
nope OF ever reaching shore again. JuryI
sails were finally rugged. but anotherE
storm carried them away.
The barkentine arrived off OcracokeI
helpless Friday afternoon and the i'm
mlrgants aboard had been drinking sea!
water for five days to prevent perishing|
from thirst. Food of all kinds had alsot
gwen out. The immigrants baggageI
ana portions of the ships deck load hadI
to be burned for a fire to make as good
condensation of salt water as possible. |
The captain. o arriving off thel
North Carolina coast, declared he would
never put to sea again with his humanI
freight. That night a bad storm droyeE
the ship ashore. All of the immigrants
are destitute and depending entirely onI
charity until the government takes
charge of them on the revenue cutterl
Boutwell,.
The Mrritt mo Chapman Wrecking|
Company first intended sending the
steamer Rescue to make an immediatel
attempt to save the Vera Cruz which,
lies nigh and dry. but after this planI
was n Agent w. S. TookerI
left this afternoon by rail to make AMI
inspection for the purpose of ascertain
lng il she is worth SAVING