Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-11-05
Tribute 10 CAPTAIN HerndOn

4-iCut' II AGi " NhS ~ 'N'SH"-
~, Washington, has WI ten let 0. to the
Secretary OF the Navy, to be paced on ree-
ord in that department, detailing simple
narrative of the loss of the Central Amer
icu," and tribute to The memory Of Capt.
Herndon. Til; following extract will be
read with the deepest interest.
Capt Herndon, by those noble traits
which have 81 endeared his memory to the
hearts of his couutrymen, had won the re-
spect and admiration OF the crew and pas
sengers of that ship in such degree ss to
acquire an influence over them that was
marvellous III its effects. The men yielded
to it, and even the women felt its force;
calm and resoluie themselves, they encour-
aged and cheered the men at the pumps and
in the ganeways, and finally, to Herndon's
last appeal Tor one more effort, they rose
superior t. their sex, and proposed to go On
deck themselves, and with fair hands and
feeble AIMS there do mems work in bait
Ting with the tempest
There were many touching incidents Of
the most heroic personal devotion to duty
and TO him during the dreadful storm. Even
after the ship had gons down, and her pas
-sengers were left in the water, clinging oy
whatever they could lay hands or, Offices of
knightly courtesy were passel among them.
As one OF the last toats was about to
leave the ship her commar der gave his
watch to passenger with request that it
might be delivered to his wife. He wished
to charge him with message for her also;
but his utterance was choked. "Teli her
- Unable to proceed, he bent down
ha head end buried his face in his hands for
a moment, as if prayer; for he was a devout
man and true christian.
In that moment, brief as il was. he en-
dured the greatest agony. But it was over
now. His crowding thoughts no doubt had
been of friends and home-its desolation-
a beloved wife and hveiy daughter depen-
dent alone for support upon him God and
his country would care for them row. Hon
or and duty required him to stick to his ship
and he saw that she must go down.
Calm and collected, he rose up from that
short but mighty struggle with renewed wig
or, and went with encouraging looss about
the duties OF the ship as before He order
ed the hurricane deck to BE cut away and
rats to be made. The life preserers were
also brought up and distributed to all who
would wear them. Night was setting in.
and he directed Frazer, the second oticer,
to take charge of the arm chest and send UP
a rocket every hall hour.
Van Rennseiaer, his first officer, was al
so BY him. Herndon has spoken to me in
terms of esteem and admiration Of this Of
ficer, and Van Rensselaer, proved himself
worthy to the last of such concentrations.
Side by size thev stood at their post, and
perlshed together with their harness on.
After the boat hch bore Mr.. Payne--to
whom Herndom had intrusted his watch
had showed off, the captain went to his state
room and put on his uniform. The gold
band around his cap was concealed by tie
oil silk covering hich he usually wors over
it. He took il of and threw it on his cab
in floor, then walking out, he took his stand
on the wheel-h use, holding on to the iron
railing with his left hand. A rocket wes
sent off; the ship fetched her last !urch, and,
as she went down. ne uncovered.
A ery aruse from the sea; b0t not from
his lips. The water had closed about him.
snd the curta in of the night WIS drawn
over one of the most sublime moral spec
tarles that the sea ever saw.
Just before tine steamer went down,
rovboat was heard approaching. Herndon
hailed her. II was the boatswain's boat,
rowed by hard hands and gentle heart, re-
turning on board from the bri to report her
sabled condition. II she came alongside
she would be eneulph pheG with the sinking
ship; IIernd IN ordered her to keep OH, shs
did so, and was s,ved. This, 50 f-r as
have been able to learn, was his last order.
Forgetful fer self, mindful os others, his life
was beautiful TO the last; and in his death
he has added a new glory TO the annals OF
the sea.
1t does not appear certain that her COM
mander was seen or heard after she went
dowu by any of those who survived BY the
wreck. NJ. ChiIds, one of the passengers,
thinks he convsrsed with him in the water
alter mdnrght Of Saturday, only little while
be fere he himself was picked up. But Hern-
don y as small of stature, of delicate frame
anG constitution. and by no means in robust
health. He was already suffering from the
incessant labor and exposure of the last two
days and that long Friday night His ia
tigue m st have been great, he was prob
ably too much exhausted to struggle with
the rest in that pool Of drowning men for
floats and lite.
Everything that could be done by the best
Of sea captains save BIZ 8 ip was done to
save this one Brave hearts and strong arms
end willing minds were on board. There
was no lack of sk Ill or of courage. Order
and discipline were preserved 20 the last;
and she went down under conduct that fills
the heart with uGupera5le sentiments OF
admiration.