The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-06
THE WRECK or THE HURON
Testimony Taken at the Court OF Inquiry
Master Conwny's story.

Testimony Taken nt the tourt OF inquiry
Master Conwny's story.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The Court Of In
quiry appointed by the Secretary Of the Navy.
and consisting OF Nicc-Admiral Rowan. Rear
Admiral Rogers. Commodore ii. II. Wyman.
and Naval Solicitor J. A. Bowles. Judge Advo-
cate. to investigate the causes Of tho disaster to
the United states ship Huron. met at the Navy
Department to-day.
The first witness was Rcnr-Admiral s. d.
Tronchard. in command Of the North Atlantic
station. who testified that in response to n sig
nal from Commander Ryan asking IL he might
so to sea. ho replied that he might. tho
draughtsman for whose arrival the vessel had
waited three days having arrived on board.
Master W. p. Conway. who was watch officer
on board the Huron until o'clock Of the even
ing she left Hampton Roads. testified that after
getting around Cape Henry, on the forenoon
Of that day. they laid their course south
by cast. quarter east. which course was
maintained UP to the end Of his watch
at 3 o'clock The jibstnay wos .cnrried
storm staysal. took in tho spnukcr. put u single
reef in the fore trysnil. and double reef IN The
main trysail u quarter before seven O'Clock.
when the. lead was cast and found fourteen
fathoms of water. At o'clock M.stcr Conway
was relieved by Master Wight. and the ship wns9
then going nj j, knots under st"nM and snii
close in the wind. Tho barometer had forthrce
hours indicated 1910 inches. AZ O'Clock Con-
way wont into tho cabin. whore Capt lSNn was
| cXaming the chnrt. and who remarked mat the
course they were steering ought to take ihe Hu-
ron far enough out md that he was afraid II he
stnered further out he would get into the Gulf
Stream. At l0h mt on dock again: Curriiuck
| lightwns Just Nisl lcHs ,hc shiprosc on thrwgvrs
| heavy shock; thought 1t was q collision win
another vessel. but at tho next thump know she
WIS ashore. and heard some one say 50; Hoard
some one ON deck cry out. "harl n starboardl"
Hurried ON deck and found tho ship ON her
port side. Incln,as aeSp. 40 d,sre%Ss Scr the ,he
matches and throw the guns overheard.
Comm9Inder Ryan gave orders to lower the
the port trysal. 1t was then dangerous. almost
main deck The witness asked ii he should cut
Yes, hut MT MT lust now; The witness then a,,
French what time i was. and he answered Il
quarter before 2. When the ship heeled over
stancheun through the starboArd tutter. Wit
ness asked II q line could not he got on shore.
The commander, SAID. Yes; lower IN" cuttrr
made 4 line iast to her. and | called
for volunteers 10 60. with me In the boat;
Several volunteers offered Themselves. and
started 10 60 into the boat. tn"n heard Fren II
the starboard lanyards Of the fore rigging and
the foremost went over the port side. A. this
time tho weather was thick. the spray ,nyinc so
make ont whether i was land az not. This was
after had called for volunteers. In a
iew moments aterward the boat swamp"d
II hnd been lowered and seyerall men were
about to get into il. After that went aft again.
H. M bad Ge a 1nS H 6 ms S sf
struck. We cut the starhoard lany ard Of the
forward rigging and allowed the, mast 10 60
over on the port side to tho windward. AMI Z
carried the libboom and main topuast with H.
then told the man to go down and e. ~ the
but could not find the bellows to blow II up with
had all the lights nut down on the berth deck
for fear Of iire Not being able TO do anything
the men. No one thought there was ANY dnnger
| Of loss. 81 life. but all knew the ship would ho
out. Some time afterward some Of the men ana
officers went forward. and others went into the
on moVed "n oSt i6e pSSPs P s ms
had been lost or drowned that | knew OF. II
was then little before daylisht The waves
wrto hr,akins clear over ~" -hip' and II wns
with difficulty any one could hold ON. also law
That th. wat was getting hisncr. and th'ugnt
| the port rail was flush with the water
just before daylight some OF the men were
swept of. some time after daylieht-as near a.
| / could Judge. about O'clock asked a mau to
give mo life preseryer. and would try. to
swim ashore and be OF some assistanre. The
he WAS unable to swim. AT this time
an IStro not certain any one had re%rIhgd
seemed TO be- washed out to sea some
time after this. finding | could not hold
of and swan ON shore. Two .nr three Of tho
men l.t at the same time. The lauu h was
washed away h'ior" | l"n. | WAS told Com
| mander Ryan and Lirutcnaut- Commander
Palmer were in it, Ensign Young and a sea
man bad left the ship previously on
about nyo minutes when / struck shore,
| and was hauled in 10y fisherman. | landed
| about half a mile to the north ward II the shlp
| | started out to 20 up the beach when met Mr..
| Young again. He told mo there was u life saw
| INK station thrcr mites down the beach. whlch
| the U-tlg ultln [ dare break. told hlm to
| take some Of our men and 20 down and break
| open the station and get out the mortar and
nI" up the bdnch assi-t the people from the shin
Who were trying To- get ashore. When Mr..
! lnung returned, no one was living ON board
the ship. Mr. Denng. Mr.. Warburton, and
| some men came on shore after got as oIc.
! Some eight dead bodies were washed ashore
| during the day. The fore and ma II mtst- went
over the side some time before Mr.. Young got
| back. There WAS no one in the rigging At that
| time.