The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-11-10
7rTTER FROM LIEUT.. MAURY.

LETTER FROM LIEUT.. MAon1.
We find in the Washington Intelligencer
an affecting letter from this gentleman. on
.ha suhiect of the loss of the Central
America" and the conduct of Lieutenant
Herndon. His object in writing this letter
| to the Secretary of the Navy he thus in
dictates:
The Department has already been Off
| o;.,,1 informed of this wreck and disaster,
and how nobly Herndon stood to his post
and gloriously persisted; how the women
and children we're all saved; and how he
a;d all that man could do or officer should
to save his ship and the crew also. But
the particulars have been given to the
| Department only in perishable form of
newspaper records.
AS tribute to his memory, as material
| for history, as an heirloom OF the Navy
| and legacy of his country, l desire to
place on record in the Department this
simple writing and memorial of him.
We were intimatess; have known him
from boyhood; he was my kinsman. The
ties of consanguinity, as well as our pro-
fessional avocations, brought us frequently
and much together; we were close friends.
Under these circumstances. I ask your
leave to file report of that gale and his
loss. I aim to embody in it simple mar
rative of incidents, derived from statements
which the survivors from the wreck have
made either public, through the prints of
the day, or privately to his family and
| friends. These incidents, in the silent in
| fuence of the lessons they teach, constitute
an Inheritance of rare value to his coun-
trymen they are the heirloom of which
spoke, and will, I am persuaded, be pro-
ductive of much good to the service.
He then goes on to give those particulars
about the loss of the Central America"
already made known to the public-showing
how Herndon s'went down with his ship,
leaving a glowing example of devotion to
duty, Christian conduct, and heroism,"
He mentions the following incident
The steamers boats were ordered to be
lowered the Marine had none that could
live in such u sea.
Now came another trying time. The
boat scenes of the steamer 'Arctic" had
made deep impression upon Herndon's
mind they now crowded into remembrance.
Who of this crew should be selected to
man his boats Would they desert him
when they got off from the ship There
were some who he knew would not.
It was not an occasion when the word
might be passed for volunteers for it was
the post of safety, not of danger, but never
theless of great trust, that was to be filled.
The captain wanted trusly men, that he
knew we'll from long association, and the
crew of such vessels is not very permanent
as to its personnel. Therefore he felt at a
loss, for there was still a man wanting for
the boatswain's boat. A sailor, perceiving
the captains dilemma, stepped up and
modestly offered to go. He had not, it
may be supposed, been long in the ship,
for Herndon evidently did not know him
we'll, and replied in his mild and gentle
way, Il wonder if can trust you 7" The
sailor instinctly understood this call for q
shibboleth, and simply said, "Ihaue hands
that are hard to ro0 and heart that's soft to
FEEL" This was enough ;he went and was
true. Not boat deserted that ship.
All the women and children were first
sent to the brig and every one arrived there
in safety. Each boat made two loads to
the brig, carrying in all one hundred per-
sons.
With regard to the last sad, closing
scene, Lieut.. NJ. writes, and few are the
hearts that will not be touched by the story:
! AS one of the last boats was about to
leave the ship, her commander gave his
watch to a passenger, with a request that
it might be delivered to his wife. He wish
also, but his utterance was choked. Tell
her -" Unable to proceed, he bent
down his head and buried his face in his
hands for a moment, as if in prayer, for he
was devout man and true Christian.
In that moment, brief as 1t was, he en-
dured the great agony. But it was over
now. His crowding thought no doubt had
been of friends at home its desolation a
beloved wife and lovely daughter Deepen
dent alone for support upon him. God
and his country would care for them now;
Honor and duty required him to stick to
his ship, and he saw she must go down.
Calm and collected, he rose up from that
short but mighty struggle with renewed
vigor, and went with encouraging looks
about the duties of the ship as before. He
ordered the hurricane deck to be cut away
and RATS to be made. The life preservers
were also brought up and distributed to all
who would wear them. Night was setting
in, and he directed Frazer, the I'd officer,
to take charge Of the arm chest and send
up rocket every half hour.
| Van Rensselaer,, his 1st officer, was also
by him. Herndon has spoken of him to
| of