Lake City, Fla., Nov. 3 -- The steam-ship Varuna, Capt. Joseph Spencer, which sailed from New-York, Oct. 15, for Galveston, Texas, foundered during the night of Oct. 20 off Jupiter Inlet, Fla. All on board except the second mate and four men were lost. The Varuna belonged to Messrs. C.H. Mallory & Co's. line; was a first-class wooden propeller, only one year old, and 670 tons burden. Her cargo consisted chiefly of dry goods. Thirty-six cabin passengers were on board the Varuna, nearly all of whom were from Texas. New York Times, November 4, 1870
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Mrs. Lyons, wife of Capt. Lyons, of the Customhouse, was accompanied by her four children. We do not wonder that the husband is almost bereft of reason. Galveston News, Friday, November 4, 1870
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Sophia Lyons in the 1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Sophia Lyons
Age in 1870: 35
Birth Year: abt 1835
Birthplace: Prussia
Dwelling Number: 899
Home in 1870: Galveston Ward 1, Galveston, Texas
Race: White
Gender: Female
Occupation: Keeping House
Father of Foreign Birth: Y
Mother of Foreign Birth: Y
Inferred Spouse: Pinkard Lyons
Inferred Children: Willian Lyons
Lupard Lyons
Abe Lyons
Household Members:
Name Age
Pinkard Lyons 37
Sophia Lyons 35
Willian Lyons 8
Lupard Lyons 6
Abe Lyons 1
Johshy Lyons 44
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In Memoriam. Whereas, An All Wise Providence has seen fit in his supreme wisdom to visit us with a heartrending affliction in the loss of the ill-fated steamer Varuna, whereby many of our most estimable citizens, among them Messrs. Henry, Joseph and Charles Blum, worthy members of this Congregation, and the wife and family of Mr. Joseph [sic] Lyons, another member, have been suddenly taken from our midst and consigned to a watery grave,

Therefore, In token of our appreciation of these, our departed citizens, friends and co-religionists, and of the very high esteem in which they were held by every member of Congregation B'nai Israel,

Be It Resolved That we extend our heartfelt sympathies in this hour of sore trial to the friends and relations of the deceased; that we mourn their loss as members of the Congregation, assuring their parents that their children, though lost to them on earth, still live in the memory of many friends and acquaintances,

Resolved, That a tablet of marble with the names of Messrs. Joseph, Henry and Charles Blum and the wife and children of Mr. Joseph [sic] Lyons, be placed in the wall of the vestibule of the Synagogue, with a suitable inscription in memoriam of our appreciation of their worth.

Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the city papers, and a copy sent to the relations of the deceased. S.K. Labatt, Sec'y. Galveston News, Sunday, December 4, 1870
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