Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-12-11
MISCELLA N E GUS.
THE WRECK OF THE HURON.
Statement of Ensign Lucicm Young.

"Wc left Hampton Roads about l l o'clock
\. NJ. on Friday and steamed out in charge
of pilot The pilot left Mt o'clock. |
had the afternoon watch. There was n stiff
breeze and heavy sea was running from
the southeast. Took our departure from
Cape Henry at 1.25, the light bearing west
By south distant about five miles, and south
by cast east unbent chain and secured
achors for sea. About 2 o'clock made all
plain sail wind hauled more to south and
took in top>aiIs. At four o'clock wind in
crcaSng, also sea increasing and ship rolling
to leeward about ten degrees. ] was relieved
bv Ensign D,nncr about four o'clock
About eight O'Clock MIR. Danncr told me
that the jib and flying jib-stays were carried
AWAY, ana the wind was blowing q gale.
Went to bed about $50 was aroused about
midnight by the quartermaster calling Mr..
French heard Mr.. French asked him the
state of the weather the quartcrmas:er re-
piled bad :" d"zed off again and was again
aroused about 1:lO by the humping of the
ship when she struck bottom heard the
captain sing out as he came from the cabin,
"TIsrd down." put on coat and pair
Of pants aud ran on deck found that it was
living n fresh gale heard the order,
Brazil up the manstaysail," and assisted,
but could not take it in then asked the
captain if We should throw the guns over
board, he said, "Ycs, do it as quickly as
possible; :" got permanent tackles hooked to
Ice gun. but could not remove it, because
she Ind biGcd, and could not get it over for
the sea the captain then ordered me to
burn ell the signals l could; in the mean
time all the port boats and the cutter had
been carried away; the shi was lying on
her port, y 9ed broadside, inclined about 40
degrees, any seas breaking clear over her
went in the cabin and saved two boxes of
Coston lights sent up FIVE rockets and burnt
over n hundred signals the sea was then
stsving in the cabin very rapidly. When l
heard the orGer given for n!l hands to 20
forward es quick as possible, | hurried the
quartcrmasrcrs who wcra with me and some
other men to go forward !; as | passed the
cabin door Mr.. French asked me if that was
all; replied Yes" Then he said 1--WE
must 90 quick - all started together I
had hold on the Calling gun when a very
heavy sea came over and washed myself and
about five others down TO the leeward all
but myself went under the sail and they
were drowned ] was caught in the bag of
the sail and hurt both legs against the gaff
rcgained the gear of the nine inch gun and
French 20 in the main rigging; saw a num-
Der OF men standing in sterboard gancwsy
and on the first launch, and a lumber of
men underneath the top gallant forecastle.
| succeeded in getting on tie top-gallant
IorecastIc with the assistance of the men
there; a number Of men had Oh life pre-
servers, and one rubber balsa was rigged on
the forecas:lc; the top>gallant forecaste was
fnl Of u
lasbcd themselves to the bowsPTit; every one
was perfectly cool and showed no signs Of
fear. The majority Of Us got close together
on the upper side Of the forecastle, suffering
much from cold and exposure. The seas
would break over Us and nearly suffocste US.
Mr. Conway the watch officer. had on a
blanket and shared it with Mr.. Dauner, Mr..
Loomis and myself. We sounded over the
side and found about six feet of water ;
little while after we sounded again and got
seven ard half ard eight feet. Saw lights
about one point on the starboard bow and we
gave three cheers, and repeated them sever
al times we then saw that the food tide
was making in fast and The sea was breaking
over us raore heavily We here saw the fret
launch. the only boat left, stove in. knocking
Captain Ryan and the navigator overheard
| saw two men killed in the forecastle. Mr..
Conway suggested that We make some effort
TO get line on shore. / said l would at
tempt it, and called for some one to put the
basa over. when three-inch line was made
fast to the balss and the same lowered over
board, but fouled with the jibboom foreyard
and other sparE, and got down on the tor
pedo spar and worked about ten minutes TO
clear the bsisa, and called for some one to
help me-. Mr. Dsnner came down part the
way and said he was too weak and could not
get on. then told him that it was our only
chance and he had better try. He said he
could not, and that he would in little
while Williams. seaman, then came down
5 ..;6 bo --oul5 co In about ten minutes