Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-12-07
THE HURON,
statement Of I,n.iun Young. :

n. m, tTlOhlt anu bLehtneu Oub III CnhFBc OF n
pilot. The pilot left at one o'clock. j had
the afternoon watch. A stin breeze and
heavy sea was running from the southeast; I;
took departure at 25 from Cape Henry light,
bearing west by south, distant about five miles,
and south by east three-fourths east; unbent
the chains and secured the anchors for sea
about two o'clock made all plain sail; wind
hauled more to the south and took in topsails /,
four o'clock the wind increasing, also sea in
creasing and the ship rolling TO leeward about
ten degrees. / was relieved by Ensign Dan
ner about four O'Clock. About eight O'Clock
Mr.. Danner told me that the iib and flying
jib stays were carried away, and the wind was
blowing gale went to bed about 30; was
reused about midnight by the Quartermaster
calling Mr.. French; heard Mr.. French ask him
the state OF the weather; the Quartermaster
replied: Bad.n | dozed off again and was
re-aroused about 10 by the humping Of the
ship, when she struck bottom hard The
Captain sung out as he came out from the
cabin: Hard down" | put on a coat and
pair of pants, ran on deck and found that IL
was blowing a fresh gale; heard the order
" Brazil up the mainstay sail, " and assisted but
could not take II In then; asked the Captain II
we should throw the guns overheard. He
said Yes, do II as quick as possible Got
the permanent tackles hooked to the lee gun,
but could not remove It because she had biged,
and could not get II over for the sea. The
Captain then ordered me to burn all the sig
mails could. In the meantime all the port
boats and cutter had been carried away the
ship was lying on her port, bilged broadside
at an incline OF about 40 deg. and the sea
breaking clear over her; went into the cabin
and saved two boxes OF coaster lights; sent
up five rockets and burnt over 100 signals the
sea was then staving In the cabin very rapidly,
and when | heard the word given for all hands
to go forward as quick as possible | hurried
the Quartermasters who were with me and
some other men to go forward; as l passed
the cabin door Mr. French asked me II that
was alli / told him yes; then he said we must
go quick. We all started together. l had a
hold ON Gatling gun when very heavy sea
came over and washed myself and about five
others down to the leeward, and 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; regained the gear
of nine-inch gun and worked myself forward ;
thought saw Mr.. French go with main rigging
saw anumber Of men standing in the starboard
gangway and on the first launch, and number
of men under the main-top-gallant fOrecastle.
! succeeded in getting on the top-galant fore
castle with the assistance Of the men there
number Of men had on life-preservers and
one rubber balsa was rugged on the fore
castle The top-gallant forecastle was full of
men and officers Two or three men lashed
themselves to the bowsprit. Everyone 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 clear over us and nearly suffocate
us. MIR. Conway, watch officer, had on
a blanket, and shared it with Mr.. Danner, Mr..
LoOmis and myself. We sounded over the side
and found about six feet of water. A little while
after we sounded again and got seven and a hall
and eight feet; saw lights about one point on
starboard bow and we gave three cheers and
repeated them several times. We then saw
that the flood tide was breaking over us worse
We here saw the first launch, the only boat
loft atn N and EDpalr Cant Roam nd fiaa
navigator overheard; saw two men killed on
the forecastle. Mr.. Conway suggested that
we make some effort to get line on shore.
said would attempt il, and called for men tC
put the balsa over, when three-inch line was
made fast to the balsa and the same low.
cred overheard, but it fouled with the
jibboom foreguard and other spars and gOt
down on the torpedo spars; worked about ten
minutes to clear balsa, and called for some
one to help me- Mr.. Danner came down part
OF the way and said he was too weak and could
not get on. / then told him that it was oul
| only chance and we had better try. He said he
could not, or he would see in little while
Williams, seaman, came down and said ht
would go in about ten minutes. We succeed
ed in getting the balsa clear of the spars.
could get no main line, and the First Lieuten
ant, Mr.. Simons, Mr.. White and many Others
in the forecastle sung out to me- 1.-THE line il
out; cut it and get on shore If possible for as
sistance." had a small pen-knife, but coul(
not open it because my hands were benumbed
Williams opened it and succeeded in cutting
the rope; was then struck several times by
spars, once in the small of the back and across
the hips. We thought the beach ran per
pendicular to the ship. 1t was foggy and W,
could not see the shore. When the line wa!
cut the balsa went toward the stern of thu
ship, and we thought we were going to sea
one thing that deceived the majority of thu
ships company. We padded the balsi
with pieces of paneling. Near the sterl
of the ship a heavy surf struck u
and capsized the balsa end for end
My leg being jammed, it had me under
meath the water for a while. Both re
gained the balsa, when | told Williams w
would then steer the balsa in fear of anothe
capsize. We were thrown over again, and th
catastrophe threw Williams about ten feet
My arm being jammed / was thrown on m
back. When we came up again it was rathe
still water. l swan and pushed the balls
toward Williams. He got on top and stoot
up and looked around, and said that he say
the masts of fishing vessels ahead, whicl
proved to be telegraph poles on shore.
told him we would steer for it, We capsiZeC
| twice more, and before We knew it we were OIL
the beach / told him to haul the basa up, a
we might want to use 1t to send off to tn
ship. Landed about three-quarters of a mil
up the beach from the wreck; found two mel
inside the surf, but too weak to get up; wen
down and pulled them up. then ran to tn
| first house | saw, but found no one in it
started down the beach as fast as | could, m
legs hurting me very badly; found ten o
fifteen people from the shore standing oppo
site the wreck looking at it. told them t
go further up the beach and do all they coult
to save the men, as they appeared to be land
ing up there with very strong curren
running up coast. We pulled out sew
eral more men; l asked them wher
| the life-saving station was; they salt
| one was seven miles up the beach, and tn
| other five miles down the baaph MI
| on horseback, and sent him to the uppe
station for aid and to telegraph to Washing
ton for assistance to the wreck. This wa
about seven o'clock a. m. Then saw Mr.. Con
way, who had been landed. Asked these mel
on shore why the life-car was not there. The,
| told me that the life crew of thirteen were a
Roanoke Island. l asked why they did no
bring it up. They said it was locked up il
the station, and they were afraid to break opel
the door. l told them then if they woult
| come with me would break open the doc
and get IL out. Five of them volunteered Il
| go. l asked them If they saw our signals am
they said they did, even the first signal.
then walked and ran down the beach will
| these men, but saw team coming down whicl
proved TO be that of Sheriff Bunkley, of Oar
City. broke open the door; got the morta
n lines broke open the locker and found pow
der and balls, which Sheriff Bunkley brough
| up, but when got back to the scene of tn
wreck all the masts of the Huron were gon
| ana no one was on DOaru. lnls was almost clever
| o'clock a. IN. Sheriff Bunkley then In
vited us to his house. The officers accepted
the invitation; the other men were provided
for at the station, with provisions, beds
blankets and clothing. The Sheriff with
team then went up the beach and was all nigh
with his men looking for bodies. / tele
graphed to Admiral Trenchard at Hampton
| Roads for aid and clothes and provisions
which was signed by Master w. p. Conway.
signed the same telegram TO the Chief Sigma
Officer in Washington, stating that four OF
| ficers and thirty men were saved, and that tn
ship was a total wreck. The next morning on
Of the men reported two men-of-war and
wrecking steamer in the ofiing We went i'm
mediately to the station and tried to call tn
attention Of the ship with a large blue flag
but could not. Then l went up to point oI
posite the wreck and found the telegraph op
orator tagging the wrecking steamer
| took his flag and signaled to them the name
of the officers saved and number of men, an
asked them what we should do wit
eight dead men we had. They answered
swat a moment and we will communicat
with the Admiral" Shortly afterward tn
flagship Powhattan and the Fortune starte
northward and disappeared The Swatara trie
| TO signal us, but without glasses l could no
readit. At one o'clock a relief party unde
| command OF Lieut.. Watson arrived from Cos
/ O..