The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-26
AT BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.

terday consequent upon the disaster which befe,
the United States steamer Huron was intense. The
officers OF the yard, trained they are to meet
misfortune with a calm MEN, betrayed much emo
ton At the news OF the sad fate which overlook
their brothers In arms. This feeling especially
observable among the younger officers. Large
numbers OF men and women called at the yard to
inquire for friends and relatives who were aboard
the '.l-starred" ship. They were received by
Lieutenant T. Robert Benson, the gentlemanly
otilccr OF the guard who stated to the reporter
that he informed ali the visitors that no de-
spatches had been received from the wreck.
WHAT COMMODORE NICHOLSON SAYS.
Commodore J. w. Nicholson, the commandant OF
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, stated that he had re-
ceved no dispatches Ia reference to the loss OF the
mostly Young men who had grown mo since hrs
time. and consequently, he added, II have no per-
sonal knowledge Of the majority of them and can
Commander George y. Ryan very well. hut could
add nothing to the sketch already published In the
HERALD except that Ryan leaves surviving him q
wife and three children.
BRAVE SURVIVOR.
Ensign Lucien Young, OF kentucky.was on the
Huron when she struck. When this officer gradu-
atcd from the Naval Academy, In 1873, he was or
dered to the Alaska on the European station.
w9en the snip WAS beating S against yale on the
been drowned hut for the bravery OF this yonng
oniccr. who regardless OF the tempest. flung him
self into the sea ana rescued the drowning man.
For this gallant act he received honorable mention
In a general order issued by the Secretary or the
Navy and he was also rewarded by gold medal
issued by the Humane Society OF New York.
WHY WAS THE SHIP LOsTs
Commo lore Nicholson says that at present 1t is
impossible to state with any degree OF accuracy
why the Huron foundcrcd He thinks that with
her steam power and her anchors she could hold
her ground against the gale, fierce though y might
have been, and inclines TO the opinion that she
must have lost her rcckOnings and discovered her
error too late to remedy 1t. lie says that 1t was
foohardy In the officers to put to sea In
an casterly gale. when cautionary signals
were displayed along the coast. al mysen,"
aaaeG Inc no tS near Seng
war aboard the steamship Isaac Smith, when the
whole fleet were under way to Port Royal. We
letting the sea have u clean sweep through the
vessel. But this could not have been done on the
Huron as she was an iron ship
CONDITION OF THE HURON.
The HdrOn WAS built by John Roach, OF Chester,
Pa about three years ago, under u contract with
the government. She was locked in the Brooklyn
Navy Yard in October, and n new propeller cspe.
ciay east for her. was put In, her original pro-
pelcr not working smoothly. new foremost was
also put In. and she was generally overtuuled and
put In complete order. On her trial trip In the
North River she steamed eleven knots an hour.
about $50 tons and carried live guns She left New
York about 4 week ago in perfect order. The above
statement OF Commodore Nicholson agrees sub
stantally with that Of Captain ID. !. Braine, the
commander OF the receiving ship Colorado.
WHAT CAPTAIN BRAISE SAYS.
Captain H. |. Bralne, commander OF the receiving
ship Colorado, was found In his quarters aboard
his ship The captain said tnat he was averse TO
making any statement TO representatives OF the
press Notwithstanding which TACT he expressed
himself very freely AZ TO the condition
OF the Huron. lie said:-"Whcn the ship
went to sea she was us stanch vessel "a any OF
her size, length and beam that ever rode tho
ocean. Her loss, he said, Is ncomprehe nsible.
She was built IN water.tght compartments. She
was strong size for size. length for length and
Deam tor beam ms the French steamer LAmcriquc
that remained In the Jersey sands nearly all winter
and was nnallv loated or | see by morning
paper that certain officers have expressed 0pin-
Ions a. TO the cause Of her loss. but such ex-
prcssions OF opinion are premature. The officers
who express themselves may be igno-
10 the construction OF a vessel. am unwilling to
express any opinion. Her cornpasses may have
been out OF order her steering gear may have been
damaged, she may have dragged her anchors or
disabled her machinery. believe the officers IN
charge were able and reliable men and that some
fatality must have overtakcn the vessel which re
suited In this terrible sacrifice Of human life. see
that q young man. J. N. Clark. OF Brooklyn who
went with me to the Arctic Sea In the Juniata Is
among the lost.r
WHAT ANOTHER OFFICER SAYS.
Another officer aboard the Colorado, who did
not desire his name published said.-.'This vessel
was one OF Robcsons patched up ships After
three years service she was rotten hulk. Her
foremost, when taken out nj this yard two months
ago was rotten. aud her propeller had To bc re-
placed. | have no doubt that her engines went
down and she saggcd on Ice shore under u north
east gale. THIS" continued the oiilccr, lis the
nrst serious calamity that has beia,en United
states ship Of war since the irga,c Oneida was
run down In the China Sea. by an English mail
steamer, about seven years ago. THIS calamity
has cast q terrible gloom over naval officers.