The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-26
The Wreck of the Huron.

| In the terrible disaster which befcll the
Huron we have the amazing spectacle Of
wcll-cquippcd and fuly-manncd Govern
mcnt vessel driven ashore ON familiar
coast. only one day after her departure
from the naval station in Hampton Roads
Had this calamity happened in foreign
waters on comparatively unknown shore,
after long tempest, and as the climax Of a
series of mishaps. it might be comprchcn-
sble. But with the circumstances as they
are, we must ascrbc this great disaster
either to bad scaman-hip or to the unitncs-
OF the Huron for naval service.
II would bc unjust to the dead 10 accept
without direct evidence. Il supposition dis
honoring them. The officers OF the Huron
have borne the reputation Of thorough and
| capable scamcn. Commodore NICHOLSON
| spoke of RYAN yesterday as an able officer
and Of his crew az an efficient crew; the re-
cent promotion of RYAN, though in the line
OF seniority, is yet primd Jfdcie evidence in
his favor. We cannot suppose that loss
of reckoning could have caused this dis
aster, as the Huron was only one
day out. Nor can we rest satisfied with
the theory Of defective compasses, caused
by the attraction OF the iron hull. because
she was fresh from repairs, and this liability
had been looked at and presumably guarded
against. especially as the Huron's assigned
task was that OF surveying disputed points
in Cuban waters. To suppose vessel So
lcctcd fog that crrand, when susceptible OF
such Irregularities in her compa-scs. OF
when governed by officers So incapable rs e.
run upon our own coast, onlya day out from
Hampton Roads. is not a satisfactory cx-
PLANTATION Of the wreck.
We are driven to the belief that the vessel
wa unfit for the naval service n conclu-
/ sion which becomes almost irreei-t bic
wien we find that the Huron WIS ono of the
vessels which SECoK RoBHsoS inflicted ON
the navy. And on this point we find among
those best itled to judge very genera
| agreement. The most probable supposi.ion
is that the Huron was drawn 10y strong
current, aided by the gale Of wind,
| toward the coast and that her steam
machinery was unable 10 keep her
OH. ii this be so, we have only
one more instance in n long series
Of engineering failures in the steam
machinery applied 10 our Government
vessels. For many years this machinery
! has bcen the laughing stock of the
world. for its inability to drive our yes
sells at proper speed; in cnd"avoring to
remedy that. still worse blunders have
often been made.
We hear testimony, also, as to other de-
fleets in this Inflated vessel. 1t is declared
/ that she was slow and imperfect in answer
| ing her helm; that her sailing rig was
| II no use, in time Of stress, ON account
! of the various distractions on deck.
! The Huron was in this I.susCt fiji tod mn
a. thl"'-lna@t"d schooner the great mod
'Ih rage IN Merchant vessels Among the
lew definite points Photographed regarding
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