The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-11-12
He Went Down with Harness On.

We ind, IN the National IptetLigencer, a letter
to the secretary of the Navy written by Lieut..
Maury giving in detail the order of events connect
ed with the loss Of the Steamer Central Amer-
ca Lieutenant Maury, who was brother-in- law
of the brave Herndon, in the introduction, says
AS a tribute to his (Horndon's) memory, as ma
teral for history, ns an heirloom of the Navy, and
legacy to his country, desire TO place on record
in the Department this simple writing and memo
rial of him.
The letter gives the history Of the disaster a4
CLEANED from the most authentic sources, aud g
thrngly beautiful. We make one eytraot,which
nc know will draw tears from eyes unused to
weeping The letter says:
| There we're many touching incidents Of the
most heroic personal devotion TO duty and to him
during that dreadful storm Even after the ship
had gone down, and her passengers were left the
water cnging by whatever they could lay hands
on;otfices OF knightly courtesy were passed among
| them
| As ore Of the boats was about 10 leave the
ship, her commander gave his watch to passcn-
| ger, with request that it might be delivered to
his wife. He wished to charge him with mes
sage for her also, but his utterance was choked.-
! " Fell 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 a de7out
man and true Christian
In that moment, brieI as il was he endured the
great agony But it was over now His crowdiug
thoughts no doubt, had been Of friends and home;
its desoatIon beloved wife and lovely daugh-
ter dependent 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
struggle with renewed vigor, and went with en-.
| cOuragung looks about the duties OF the ship as
before. He ordered the hurricane deck to be cut
away and RATS made The life preservers were
also brought up and distributed TO all who would
wear them Night setting in, and he directed
Frazer, the 81 officer, to take charge of the arm
chest and send up rocket every malt hour
Van Rensselaer, his lst officer, was also by him
Herndon has spoken Of him TO me in terms of es
teen aud admiration and Van Rensselaer, proved
himself worthy to the last OF such commentators
Side. by side these two stood at their post, AM
perished together with their harness on
After the boat which bore Mr. Payne, to whom
Herndon entrusted his watch, had showed of, tht
captain went to his state room aud put on his uni
form. The gold band around his cap was conceal
ed by the OF discovering which he usually wore owe
it. He took the covering off and threw it on hl
floor then walking out he took his stan'
on the wheel-house, holding on to the iron rainy
with his left hand. A rocket set off th
ship fetched her last lurch, and as she went dow
he uncovered.
cry arose from the sea, but not from his lip.
The waves had closed over him,and the curtain q
the night was drawn over one of the most sublim
moral spectacles that the sea ever saw.
sJust before the steamer went down row. boa
was heard approaohing Herndon hailed her. |
was the boatswains boat, rowel By hard hand
and gentle heart" returning on board from tn
brig 10 report her disabled coalition II she can
along side she would he engulfed with the sinkin
ship. Hern1on ordered her to keep Oft She dl
so, and was saved. This, 80 far as have bee
able to learn, was his last order. Forgetful q
self mindful Of Others his lie was beautiful to th
last and in his death he has added a new glory t
to the annals Of the sea.
It does not appear certain that her commando
was seen or heard, after she went down, by any
those who survived the wreck. Mr.. Guilds, one
the passengers, thinks he converSed with him
the water after midnight on Saturday, only litt
while before he himself was picked up. But Herr
y y don was small Of stature, Of delicate frame au
:, constitution, and by no means robust health. II
was already suffering from the iucessant labor al
exposure of the last two days and that long Fridu
!, night His fatigue must have been glear al
7, when the waves closed over his ship he was in a
= probability TOO much exhausted to struggle wit
y y the rest in that pool Of drowning men for iloH
y and life.
" Everything thai coul be done by the best So
! captain to save his ship was done to saw tA
:, one. Brave hearts and strong arms, a
;, willing minds were on board. There was i
, was no lack OF skill or courage Order aHi b.
- cipline were preserved to the last and she Il
down under conduct that fills the heart with SCI
timents of unuIteruble admiration,
Herndon was in the 4iJh year OF his age. II
s was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia on la 2lI
V day of October 1873 He WAS the sou Of Il
ID late Dsbney Herndon of tina, place, and WIS ii
q fifth OF seven childrenfve and TWO daughter
II of whom Mrs. Maury is the elder lie was namt
j. after Captain William Lewis OF the Navy, wi
If was lost at sea on board the u. s. brig EperYic
II Lewis Hernlon was left early and entered the nay
; at the age Of fifteen. AIlecuonare in dispostio
=, soft ana gentle in his manners he was beloyod
n his own he also won the love and esteem Of Il
( associates wherever he went, anu he became u I
vorite throughout the service.
IL None knew him better, or loved him more lha
q respectfully, your obecnt 'crvaar.
i NJ e, MAURY,