The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-26


any very important additions to the appall-
ing news which we published yesterday be-
yond new sacrifice Of life in the attempt OF
boat to approach the scene the calamity.
The boat was capsized in the violence OF
the surf and five Of it's crew of nine were
lost There is no addition to the list OF
those who were saved from the wreck OF the
Huron. 1t is certain that by this shocking
disaster more than hundred persons were
consigned to fate which fills the imagina-
ton with horror. The whole country feels
the liveliest sympathy for the friends OF the
victims, and the government is doing all 1t
can for the relief Of the survivors and the
recovery Of the bodies Of the dead. The
survivors are now on their way to Washing
ton via Norfolk.
It is not easy to resist the conclusion that
this appalling sacrifice of life was needless,
and that somebody either among the living
or among the dead cuipably blundered.
The putting to sea from Norfolk when
danger signal WIS futtering in the breeze at
that port is strong prima facie evidence
against the officer, whether the living Ad-
miral Trenchard or the lamented Comman-
der Ryan or the Secretary of the Navy at
Washington was responsible for that act
have proved SO irreparable. OF course no.
body will maintain that danger signal Is
never, under any circumstances, to be dis
regarded. The steamships which ply be-
tween this country and Europe and which
belong to regular lines with fixed days
ing to keep their engagements with
the public, and as their stanchness has
been fully tried and tested and their course
takes them out at once into the open sea
and puts them at distance from dangerous
coasts, their commanders are justified in
exercising reasonable discretion. But the
case OF the Huron was entirely different.
There was no necessity for her sailing with
the punctunlity Of merchant steamer
making stated trips. The Huron was to
have put in for several days at Port Royal
and to have proceeded thence to the West
Indies on a leisurely cruise. Were we at
war with SPAIN and had there been urgent
need OF promptly reinforcing our fleet in
the Cuban waters, it might have been
defensible to take some risk, but in the
actual circumstances there was not only
no reason for haste but strong reasons
against it.
In the first place, the Huron had recently
been overhauled and undergone large re-
pairs in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. and her
seagoing qualities had not yet been ade-
quately tested. TO be sure, the ordinary
trials had been made in smooth water, but
Huron to stand the strain and wrenching Of
violent tempest. Until a newly built or
newly repaired vessel has been tried in
rough weather there is always some reason
for distrusting her machinery and her
strength, and she ought not to be1exposed
has been demonstrated in lighter dangers
In the next place, the voyage upon
which the untried Huron was STATED
with danger signals flying took her
Immediately along the most storm-vexed
and perilous portion OF our coast ut the be-
The blunder, therefore, did not merely con-
sist in putting to sea in defiance of danger
signal in case of no urgency, but in expos
ing an untested ship just out Of the Navy
Yard after extensive repairs to the violence
Of storms on the most dangerous part of our
coast. Before entering at all into inquiries
whether the Huron was originally we'll built,
whether she has of late been sufficiently re-
paired, or whether the inspectors certif-
Gates attesting her soundness were honestly
given, it is too apparent that there was
neither necessity nor excuse tor disre-
garding the danger signal and sending her
to sea.
We Judge it probable that the blame be-
longs neither to Commander Ryan nor to
Admiral Trenchard, but to the Navy De-
partmcnt 1t is in the usual course for the
department to appoint the day Of sailing in
the orders it gives when ship of war is to
be sent on q distant GRAND. The order was
probably transmitted to Commander Ryan
through Admiral Trenchard, and neither Of
them were at liberty to disobey it. If the
commander Ct the Huron had telegraphed
to Washington from Norfolk, stating the
fact that a danger signal was flying and
asking if the department wished to
modify his orders, he might have
exposed himself to rebu1e for oificious-
ness, since the order for putting up
the signals was sent from Washington and
might be presumed to be known to the Navy
turn ont to be- when it becomes known, that
the Navy Department does not concern itself
ut all about the cautions given BY the Signal
Service Bureau, and that nobody in the navy
from tho highest officers down ever takes
note Of the signals as having any practical
relation TO his own duties. We presume
that no public vessel has ever failed to sail
from any port on the appointed day in con-
sequence Of display Of danger signals