The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-10-28

Whether of the naval of the merchant service such
conduct should not go unrequted by the government
During the lowering Of the boats, and the embaTka-
ton of the women and children there was as much dis
cpine preserved among the of that ship, and az
much order observed among her passengers was ever
witnessed on board the best-regulated man-of-war
The law requires every commander in the navy To
show in himself good example of virtue and patriot
ism and never was example more nobly set on beauu-
fully followed.
Captain Herndon, by those noble traits which have
endeared his memory to the hearts of his countymen
had the respect and admiration Of the crew and
passengers of that ship In such degree TO require an
influence them that marvellous in its effects
The yielded to it, and the women felt its force
calm and resolute themselves they encouraged and
cheeed the at the pumps and in the gangways and
finally TO Hendons last appeal for more effort, they
rose superior to their and proposed to go ON deck
themselves, and with fair hands and feeble arms
there do mems work in battling with the tempest.
There were many touching incidents of the most he
roc personal devotion to duty and TO him during that
dreadful storm Even after the ship had gone down. and
her passengers left in the water, cingng by what
they could lay hands on offices of knghtly courtesy
passed among them
As one of the boats about 10 leave the ship
her commander gave his watch TO passenger with re-
quest that IL might be delivered to his wife He wished
to charge him with message for her, also but his ut
terance was choked '.Tell her - Unable to pro
ceei he bent down his head and buried his face in his
hands for moment, If in prayer for he was devout
man and true Christian.
In that moment brief it was, he endured the great
agony. But it was His crowding thoughts
doubt had been of friends and homeits dissolution
beloved wife and lovely daughter dependent alone Tor
support upon him God and his county would care for
them Honor 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 vigo and went with en-
couragng looks about the duties Of the ship rs before
He ordered the hurricane deck 10 be cut away and rats
to be made The lifepreseyers were also brought up
and distributed to all who would them. Night was
setting ill., and he directed Frazer the second officer to
take charge of the chest and send up rocket every
half hour
Van Rensselaer,, his first officer, also by him.
Herndon has spoken to in terms of esteem and adj
iraton of this officer and Van Rensselaer, proved HIM
self worthy to the last of such concentrations Side by
side they stood at their post and persisted together with
their harness on. ....
After the boat which bore Mr. Payne-to whom Hem-
don had intrsted his watchhad showed off the captain
went to his staeroom and put his uniform The gold
band around his cap concealed by the oslk cover
ing which he usually it. He took it off and
threw it his cabin floor; then walking out he took
his stand the wheel house. holding to the iron rail-
ing with his left hand rocket set off the ship
fetched her last lurch and she went down, he un-
covered
cry arose from the but not from his lips The
had closed about him. and the curtain OF the night
drawn Of the most sublime moral specaces
that the
Just before the steamer went down, rowboat was
heard approaching Herndon hailed her. 1t was the
heart returning board from the brig to report her dis
abled condition If she alongside she would be
guphed with the sinking ship Herndon ordered her to
keep off she did SO, and saved This, so far as
have been able to learn his last order Forgeful of
self mindful of Others his life beautiful TO the last
and in his death he has added glory to the annals
Of the
Forty of the passengers and crew were picked up
floating on the water that night and the next morning
by the Norwegian barque 'Elen, Capt. johnson, and
brought safely into Norfolk On the 9th day after the
wreck the English brig MARY picked up three Others,
who had drifted about $50 miles with the Gulf stream
Total saved l52.
The Central America sunk about s, p. M of Sep
TENDER H. 1857 the outer edge of the Gulf stream
and the parallel of SIC 45 N.
1t does not appear certain that her commander was
heard after she went down by any of those who
survived the wreck Mr.. Chds of the passengers,
thinks he convered with him in the water after midnight
of Saturday, only little while before he himself
picked up But Herndon small of stature of delicate
frame and constitution and by in robust health
He already suffering from the ncessant labor and ex
posure of the last two days and that long Friday night
His fatigue must have been great and when the waves
closed his ship he was in all probability, too much
exhausted to struggle with the rest in that pool of drown
ing men for floats and life.
Everything that could be done by the best captains
save his ship done to this Brave hearts
and strong arms and willing minds board There
lack of skill of courage Order and discipline
were preserved to the last and she went down under
conduct that fills the heart with unutterable sentiments
of admiration.
Herndon was in the 44th year of his age, He was
born in fredericksburg Virginia, the 25th day of Oc-
tober 1919. He the of the late Dabney Hern-
don of that place, and was the fifth of seven children
five sons and two daughersof whom Mrs Maury is the
elder He named after Captain William Lewis, OF
the navy who lost at board the United States
brig Epervier LOWS Herndon left early an orphan,
and entered the navy mt the age of fifteen Aectonate in
disposition soft and gentle in his manners he was be-
loved of his He also the love and esteem CT
his associates wherever he went and became avorte
throughout the service
None knew him better loved him more than respect
fully, your obedient servant,
NJ +. MAURY,
Lieutenant United States Navy.
Hon ISAAC ToUcEY,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
The Sioop-of- Var Padalia.-The sloop-ofwar Wanda
liza is now preparing for at the navy yard at Ports
mouth New HAMPSHIRE She will shortly join the Pa
ciic squadron. suboined is a list of her officers
Commander A. Sinclair. Lieutenants, ]. II. Brown,
c. H. B. Caldwell John L. Davis, Joseph Fry, and VIM,
It. Glossell Acting master, C. A, Babcock. Surgeon,
Joseph Wilson, r. Assistant surgeon, H B. Trist Pur-
ser. Calvin c. jackson. Acting boatswaip, James NJ.
Miller. Carpenter, Amos Chick. sailmaker, William
Rogers. ..
.a... STATE DEPARTMENT .....
WIeks Information has been received from J. j.
Merritt United States consul at Nassau New Providence,
of the wreck on the 25th Of August of the brig james
Wakefield of Bath The cargo mostly saved, and
carried to Green Turtle bay by the wreckers, and sold
for salvage also of the wreck Of the brig Sarah Thorn
dixie ON the Sd of September the south side of the
Berry islands part of the rigging and materials of the