The Osceola times., 1877-12-08

the line was cut the balls went towart
the stern OF the ship, and We thought ",
we're going to sea, which was one thin,
that deceived majority of the shin
company. We padded the balls WITH
pieces Of panneling; near the stern of III.
ship heavy surf struck up and capsizec
the balls, and my leg being damned In,
was under the water for while, but VI
both regained the balls, when told Will
liams to 60 to the end and We would then
steer the balls a. wo were in fear Of
another capsize; we were thrown over
again, and this catastrophe threw vii.
liams about ten iect, and my arm beina
jammed, was thrown ON my back; when
we came up again 1t was In rather still
water, and ! swan and pushed the balls
towards Williams; he got on top, stood
up, looked around and said that he saw
the masts Of fishing vessels ahead, which
proved to be Telegraph poles S. shore;
told him we would steer for it; We cap
sized twice more, and before we know Il
We were on the beach told him to haul
the balls up. as we might want TO use
them TO send off 70 the ship. We landed
about three-fourths Of q mile up the
beach from the wreck and found two
men inside the surf, but too weak TO ret
up; We went down and pulled them up
l then ran TO the first HOUSE l saw, but
found no one in It. then started down
the beach rs fast as could, my legs hurt.
ing me badly found ten or fifteen people
from the shore standing opposite the
wreck looking at it; ] told them 10 10
farther up the beach, and do all they
could to save the men, a. they
appeared to be landing up there with I
very streng current running up the coast
We pulled cut several moro men l asked
them where the Hesitation was, and they
said one was seven miles up the beach
and the other five miles down the beach,
i saw man on horseback, and sent him
to the upper station for aid and to teie.
graph TO Washington for assistance to the
wreck; this was about seven O'Clock In
the morning Then / saw Mr.. Conway.
who had been landed, and asked the men
on shore why the life-saving car was not
there; they told me that the life crew OF
thirteen were at Roanoke island. I
asked why they did not bring the car up !;
they said 1t was locked up in the station,
and they were afraid to break open Tie
door. told them il they would come
with me / would break open the door
and get 1t out; five Of them volunteered
to go. l asked them II they saw our
signals, and they said they did, even the
first signal. then walked and ran down
the beach with these men, but saw q team
coming down, which proved 10 be that Of
Sheriff Bunkley, Of Dare City. I broke
open the door, got the mortar and lines,
broke open locker and found powder and
balls, which sheriff Bunkley brought up !:
but when ! got back 10 the scene of the
wreck, all the masts of the Huron were
gone and no one was on board. This
was almost eleven o'clock In The
forenoon. Sheriff Bunkley then IA.
vited us to his house. The ofjceu
accepted the invitation. The other men
were provided for at the station with
provisions. beds, blankets, and clothing,
The sheriff, with tenn, then went up
the beach and was all night with his mei,
looking for bodies. | telcgraphed 10
Admiral Trenchard, at Hampton Roads.
for aid, and clothes and provisions.
which was signed by Master W. z. Con.
way. signed the same telegram to the
chief signal ofhcer In Washington, stating
that four officers and thirty men were
saved and that the ship was a total
wreck. The next morning one of the
men reported two men-of-war and 4
wrecking steamer in the ofiing. We
went Immediately to the station and /
tried to call the attention Of tho shin
with a large blue flag, but could mot.
Then went up TO point opposite the
wreck and found telegraph operator
tagging to the wrecking steamer. /
took his Aag and signalled N them the
names Of the officers saved and the mum.
Der Of men, and asked them what we
should do with the eight dead men We
had they answered, "Wait a moment
and we will communicate with the I'D.
miral !" shortly after the fiaRship Pow
haitian and the Fortune started north
ward and disappeared. The Swatora
tried 10 signal us, but without glasses /
could not read 1t at one O'Clock the
relief party, under Lieutenant Watson,
arrived from Gosport, with the navy.
yard surgeon, George Arthur, stores, etc.
All the saved and the bodies Of the dead
were then placed on board the steamer
Bonita and conveyed 10 Norfolk.