Domingo Peraza was born in Puerto Rico in 1840 and by the early 1870’s was living in New York where he attended the New York College of Pharmacy. His 1873 graduation class was featured in the May 1st edition of “The Pharmaceutical Era.”
In 1877 he established a drug store at 301 (sometimes 303) Third Avenue on Manhattan’s east side. Located on the northeast corner of 23rd Street and Third Avenue, NYC directories listed him as the store’s proprietor up through 1894. On occasion his listing included two other Manhattan drug stores as well, one at 1148 Third Avenue (1888) and another at 92 Lexington Avenue (1894). All indications were that he was a well respected pharmacist who in addition to running his business served as a trustee and officer of the New York College of Pharmacy during the late 1880’s and early 1890’s.
Things changed abruptly in 1895 when, as reported in the January 8th edition of the “New York Times,” Peraza sold his business and disappeared.
Domingo Peraza, druggist, at the corner of Third Avenue and Twenty-third Street, has sold out his place of business to E. J. Sultan. A creditor said yesterday that Mr. Peraza was last seen by him two weeks ago. Mr. Peraza called concerning payment of a bill then due, and promised to settle in a few days, but he has not since put in an appearance.
Peraza was missing for over a year when this story detailing the circumstances behind his disappearance appeared in the April 16, 1896 edition of “The Pharmaceutical Era,” under the heading “Domingo Peraza’s Return.”
The disappearance of Domingo Peraza, trustee of the New York College of Pharmacy, apparently successful druggist, and the good friend of many a struggling youth of his own nationality, was more than a seven days’ wonder to the drug trade of New York City. Up to the present time no satisfactory reason seems to have been presented why Mr. Peraza should so suddenly have become poor and hopelessly involved in debt, and, worst of all, have left town without word to the men he owed. There were few of them but would have helped him to tide over his difficulties.
Since Mr. Peraza left New York months ago no word has been received from him. His creditors were aware that he had at one time been in Paris, but that was all they knew. It will surprise them, as well as Mr. Peraza’s friends, to know that four weeks ago he was in this city. So ashamed was he of his poverty and his debts that he kept out of the way of every friend he once had save one, and to him he only went when in dire need. The story of Mr. Peraza’s disappearance and return will surely interest everybody who knew him, and there were few in the trade who did not. The facts are from good authority.
It would seem that the Peraza drug store, at the corner of Third Avenue and Twenty-third Street, made a mint of money for its proprietor at one time. It was no unusual thing to take in from $60 to $75 a day there some years ago, and Mr. Peraza saw a fortune ahead of him. When he was prospering the most he became acquainted with a South American whose name is prefaced with the title of General. The man soon became the druggist’s close friend, and it was not long before he had interested Mr. Peraza in a Utopian scheme which had for its basis the placing of the General in the president’s chair of one of the South American republic’s. In order to bring this about money was necessary. Mr. Peraza fell into the scheme with great ardor and soon his money went into the hands of the General.
This payment of money to the South American took most of the profits of the drug store, but the proprietor never suspected but that he would receive his money back. The General finally left New York and went to Paris, carrying with him a very large sum of money for the purpose of starting an expedition to the republic in South America. Shortly after a business reverse opened Mr. Peraza’s eyes, and when he looked about he found the only property he had in the world was his drug store. He owed $22,000, so was heels over head in debt even if he had sold the store to satisfy his creditors.
It is said that he decided then to sell the store for what ready cash he could get and go to Paris to find the General, from whom he had not heard, and get back as much of his money as he could. In pursuance of this plan he sold the store to E. J. Sultan at a much lower price than he would have disposed of it otherwise, and left with his family for Paris.
Once in the French capital he began his search for the General, but either did not find him or was unable to get any of his money from the adventurer. After a while his money gave out, and he was obliged to seek work to supply himself and family with food. He found it difficult to get steady employment, and finally tramped the streets in vain. Nobody could give him work. Then he made application to one of the French pharmaceutical societies, and they helped him to some extent, but he had to saw wood for 25 cents a day to eke out a living. Finding that his condition and that of his family was worse than it would be in New York, he made a last application to the French society and secured enough to bring him and his family here in steerage.
Four weeks ago he presented himself to a man here to whom he owed $1,800. He said he was absolutely without money, could not bring himself to the point of facing his other creditors, and begged for assistance. He wanted to go to the West Indies, where, among his own people, he might obtain a fresh start. His family he had placed among friends here. His pitiable plea had its effect, and the creditor advanced him enough to pay his passage South.
The story told above is reported to have been secured in driblets from Mr. Peraza while he was here. He felt his position keenly, and reported continually the hope that he could get enough to pay back what he owed here, so that he might come back and be able to show his face again among those he had known so long.
As the above story suggests, four weeks before it was written a March 13 1896 “La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico” story puts Peraza back in Puerto Rico.
Our old friend and compatriot Don Domingo Peraza arrived on this Island from New York, whom we greet affectionately. Mr. Peraza is a Puerto Rican who brings honor to his country and has lived in New York for many years, where he occupies a distinguished place for his probity and honesty.
Not long after arriving he was apparently back in business as the proprietor of a drug store in the Santurce section of San Juan. This was certainly the case in November, 1898 when the November 2nd edition of “La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico” announced that his drug store was being considered as the location for the local post office.
A local newspaper indicates that Mr. Domingo Peraza, who meets special requirements for the case, will be appointed postmaster in Santurce. The choice seems very correct to us: in this way, the important office will be in a central location and in a place open to the public at all hours. Mr. Peraza speaks Spanish, English and French, and therefore will be able to communicate with everyone.
On July 20, 1899 another story in “La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico” announced that his appointment as postmaster was official.
Mr. Domingo Peraza, owner of the American pharmacy, has been appointed to take charge of the sub-station, which is connected to his pharmacy. Stamps are available for sale, and the public may, as heretofore, certify letters and packages.
It appears that his drug store continued to operate as the local post office until 1907 when the May 2, 1907 edition of the “La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico” announced that Peraza was replaced as postmaster in Santurce by Mr. Garcia Neander.
Whether he sold his drug store to Neander or just relinquished his postmaster duties is not clear, but the following year the February 4, 1908 edition of “La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico” announced Peraza was opening another drug store in Santurce.
We have been kindly favored with a circular from Messrs. Peraza and Vega,” pharmacists of Santurce. Through it, they are pleased to announce that they have opened a pharmacy establishment at Stop 19, between the streets of “Daffant” and “Dos Hermanos,” which will be dedicated to all businesses in the field and especially to the dispatch of medical and patent prescriptions of all origins.
Census records in 1910 continued to list Peraza as a pharmacist living in Puerto Rico but by 1920 a story in a San Juan newspaper called “Imparcial.” made it clear that his pharmacy was under new ownership referring to the business of E. L. Catarineu as the “Succesors of Domingo Peraza & Co.”
When exactly Peraza gave up the business is not clear, but what we do know is that on June 2, 1918 he was headed back to New York on the steamship Carolina when it was sunk by a German U-boat off the Delaware coast.
According to a June 5, 1918 story in the “New York Times:”
The fears that the 5,000 ton passenger steamship Carolina of the New York and Porto Rico Steamship Line, from San Juan to New York had been one of the victims of a U-boat raider were confirmed yesterday. Of the 331 passengers and crew on board the Carolina, nineteen landed at Lewes, and twenty-nine at Atlantic City and 244 are known to be aboard the schooner Eva B. Douglass, bound for this port.
According to survivors who have already landed, the Carolina was sunk shortly after 6 o’clock on Sunday night by the German submarine U-37…somewhere 150 miles southeast of the Delaware Capes.
Accounts as to the stopping of the steamer varied. One man said that the German held her up with a hail, whereas the captain hove to. Another said a warning shot was fired across the bow, and a woman reported that this shot was followed by another shell which exploded above the deck. In any event, the officers of the submarine ordered the crew and passengers into the boats at once. There was no time to collect belongings, but it was said that a number of army officers on board found time to put on civilian clothes and thereby escape the possibility of being carried off as prisoners.
After those on board had got into the steamer’s ten boats, being apparently treated with reasonable courtesy by the Germans, the steamer was sunk by shellfire. Then the boats pulled away trying to keep together , but Sunday night a storm came up, which separated them and overturned at least one, the one which afterward was brought into Lewes. The voyagers in this boat clung to her as she lay upside down in the water, but eventually the strain shook the hold of the weaker ones, and sixteen had been compelled to let go and drown before the storm finally passed and the boat was righted.
The boat which landed at Atlantic City had been in the water forty-four hours with little water and almost no food on board, and some few of the survivors were suffering considerably, though none was in a serious condition. It is believed that more survivors will be landed at Atlantic ports during the night.
A story out of New York that was picked up by the “Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun” on June 6th named Domingo Peraza as one of 10 passengers still unaccounted for.
There’s no record that I can find that Peraza was ever found. At the age of 78, it’s possible that he was one of those that ultimately lost their grip on the overturned lifeboat.
I can’t help but think that Peraza was on his way back to New York to pay off his debts from years past.
The bottle I found is a small mouth-blown prescription bottle, 3-1/2 inches tall, that contains exactly one ounce. It dates no later than 1895 when Peraza sold his New York City business to Edward J. Sultan.
Today, according to “Google Maps,” 301 Third Avenue is a vacant lot. Future plans for the site were announced on February 20, 2024 in an item found on market proof.com.
Permits have been filed to build a 19-story 69 unit building at 301 Third Avenue, in Kips Bay, Manhattan. The proposed 210-foot tall building will have 80,886 square feet of residential space and 26,666 square feet of commercial space. The permit was filed on February 20, 2024.
The item went on to say that the two-story building previously located on the site was built in 1960. So it did not date back to the time of the Peraza business.