The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-06
THE HURON.
Official Inquiry at the Navy
Department.
r.. CoNwAY's STORY.
Rear Admiral Trenchard SgnaIIed Per-
mission to go to Sea-"


WAsuixoToS, Dec s, 1871
The Court OF Inquiry appointed by tho Secretary OF
the Navy and consisting OF Vice Admiral Rowan, Rear
Admiral Rogers, Commodore H. n Wyman and Naval
Solicitor J. A. Bowles, Judge Advocate TO investigate
the causes OF the disaster to the United States ship
Huron, met at the Navy Department to-day, organ
izod and proceeaed upon tho business for which they
were appointed Judge Advocate Bowles acted AS
Recorder Of The Court.
TESTIMONY OF REAR ADMIRAL TREScHARD.
The first witness examined was Rear Admiral s. ID.
Trenchard in command OF tho North Atlantic station,
who testified that In response TO signal from Com
mander Ryan, asking II he might so to sea, he re.
piled that he might the draughtsman for whose ar
rival the vessel hau waited three days having arrived
on board.
COMMODORE wyMAN.
Tho next witness was Commodore wymsn, who put
in copies Of the charts furnished tho Huron Tor her
MASTER w. p. coSwAY's EVIDENCE.
The next witness called was Master W. p. Conway,
who watch officer board tho Huron until eight
O'Clock OF the evening she loft Hampton Roads. and
who testified that alter getting around Cape Henry
on the forenoon OF that day they LAID
their course south by east quarter east, which
course was maintained up TO the eud OF his
watch at eight O'Clock; the Jibstay was carried
away soon after six O'clock they set the lore Storm
staysail took IN the spanke put single rect in the
tore trysail and double reef Ia the main trysa,l
quarter before seven O'Clock, when tho lead
WIS cast and found fourteen fatnoms OF water;
at oight O'Clock Master Conway was relieved
by Master Wright, aud the ship was then
going ~ 1--we and half knots under steam and sail,
close III The wind the barometer had for three hours
indicated 3o4O inches; at eight O'Clock Conway
into tho CABIN, where Captain Ryan was examining
the chart, and who remarked that The course they
were steering ought to take the Huron enough
and that he was afraid u he steered turf her out he
would get into the Gull stream at hali-past ten
went deck again; Currituck Light was just
visible the snip the waves;
went below and turned IN; was awakened by heavy
shock; thought NJ first II collision with another
vessel but al the next thump knew she ashore
ana heard some one say SOL heard some one on deck
cry out, "Hard a starooard;" hurried on dock and
found the ship on her port sde incnIug about forty
degrees; the executive officer gave orders batter
down the matches and throw the gus overheard;
Commander Ryan gavc orders 10 lower the sails; the
witness assisted in uling down the port trisail it
was then dangerous, almost impossible, 10 sand
he should cut away the mas,s; tho Commandrr an.
swered '.Yes. but not just now" the witness then
went 10 the starooard gangway and saw what he sup
posed to De the land; he asked Mr. French what
1t WAS, aud he answered. "a quarter before two;"
when the snip kceled over all tho part boats we're
carried away when the ma,ngan ,ame down II
knocked an awning stanchcon through tho starboard
cutter; witness asked II line could not be got on
shore.
The Commander said. Yes, lower the cutter and
try NJ when we lowered her We made line fast 10
her, and called Tor volunteers 10 with INTO the
boat several volunteers offered themselves ana started
20 20 into the boat; then heard French sing out.
lanyards Of the fore rigging and the went
over to port SIDE; NJ this Time the
weather was .o,s thick the spray lying -. 50
| ward 10 try TO make out whether II
was land not; this was utter had called tor voun-
teers; in lew oments aterwaHd the boat swamped
had been lowered and several men about get
iuto II; after that wenua again. heard Mr. French
sing out scut away the masis;" he had the deck at
the time the vessel struck; wo cut tho starboard
lanyard OF the forward rigging and allowed the
/ 10 10 over on the port side 10 the windward, and
/ il carried tho jibboom and mantopmast with il.
then told the man 70 30 down and get up the balsa
the hoops barrel OF tho basa but could
| find the bellows 10 blow It up WITH mad all the
lights put down on the berth deck Tor tear OF nro.
NO THOUGHT OF ANY or
Not being able to do anything iurther 1 went down
on the forecasllc rail with the men. No thought
there was any danger OF loss OF lie, but a knew the
ship would be lost We lnousht at dayigh we could
and officers went forward and others went INTO tho
| main and mizzen rigging Some time later
| | moved out the oowsprit. At this lime
| no one had been lost or drowned tnat knew
| or 1t was then little before daylight The
were then breaking clear over ,hc ship and IL was
with dAicuty any could hold on also noticed the
water was getting higher, aud thought II was Hood
tide. When she first heeed over the port ra,l was
flu. b with the Just before daylight some VI
| the men were swept of Some time alter daylight
us near could judge aDcat seven o'cock-l asked
u man to give ms iiepreserver and would try TO
swim ashore and be OF some assistance; the man
fused to take II OIL alleging that he was unable 10
| i
reached the shore. as everything that got adriit
| seemed 10 be washed out 10 sea; somc time alter
this. finding could not hold out much longer,
| l allowed myself 10 BIO washed OIL ana
| swan ON shore; two or ihrce OF the men
ieit ut tho same tlmo; what ana
| officers we're left on the ship do not know; the
launch was washed away before lett; tod CON-
| nander Ryan and Lieutenant Commander Paimes were
init; Ensign Young ana = seaman hsd iei' the shi p
/ they got ashore or not. III seems the bellows mad
| been found the balsa blown uP)
on SHORE.
was IN the water about nvc miuues, when struck
shore and WAS hauled IN by fisherman. They car
| r,ed me up 10 hut. met MI. Young gong up The
beach. l landed about half mile 10 the nor.hward
| OF the ship When reached the hut found several
| men, who gave me some OF their clothing, as had
nothing on when l reached shore; was naked when
| | lett the ship started out 10 90 up the
beach, when met Mr.. Young again. lie told
there was u he-savDg station three miles down
beach, which the fishermen uidn't daro break; told
HIM 10 luke some OF on. men aud 10 down and break
open the station and ge' GU. inc mortar and SONS
the people from tho snip VINO were tryin. to get
ashore; tho undcrtow was SO strong that no one at
all exhausted could get through ~; when nv Young
returned no living ON board the ship; had
brought the mortar VI ia cart; NO use was made Of
1t: Mr. Dcnnig Ut Warburton and some men came
on shore after got ashore.
Some eight dead oodies wore washed ashore during
the day. me tore and main mast went over the side
some time before Mr.. Young got back. There was no
one the rigging az that time. At lignt The men went
10 the life say ms station The next day about twelve
O'Clock received assistance from Norfolk. Several
naval vessels outside, but were unable 10 sead
any boats ashore. The Swatara, Powbatan and the
wreckIng steamer Is. & }. Baker were there The
surf prevented them iron landing. A boat from the
Baker attempted to land between three and four
O'Clock, but was capszcd and four meu were
drowned. IL was not boat from the lic-sav NJ
station That evening We all lett the scene OF the
wreck and arrived Norfolk next morning. The
weather cloudy, with a moderate breeze blowing
when we left Hampton Roads When took
our course from Cape Henry II about
the same. At eight r. ". the weather was rather
clear, but somewhat overcast and a fresh gallo
blowing. A. hali-past ten y. NJ. the weather
saualy ana rainy II was rather misty could SEQ
Currtuck light; stu nothing more was done than
have stated that know OF 10 save the Huron her
officers and crew. None OF the guns xero thrown
over; don't know why they wero not thrown over.
The eleven incn gun was not thrown over for fear IT
would tear the sido OF tue sup n cast loose Tho
sea was breaking over US so that IL would have been
dangerous 10 attempt TO move that gun.
4 he Court here adjourned until tomorrow.
The Secretary OF the Navy has received q telegram
from Lieutenant Commander Green, at the wreck OF
the Huron. saying that 10 far he has buried oght o
GERS and sxty men and Is waiting Instructions
from tie Commandant ut Norfolk IN regard the dis
position Of the bodies lie says that they SO much
posed hat he Is afraid to forward them North
IN wooden collins, and MS they are all marked that