New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-19
THE HURON WRECK.
TIE COURT or INQUIRY HOLDS COMMANDER RYAN
REsPoNsIBLH--A REPORT IN REGARD To GAIL
ERING TIE DEAD

TIE COURT or INQUIRY HOLDS COMMANDER RYAN
REsPoNsIBLR-A REPORT IN REGARD To GAIL
ERING TIE DEAD.
GENERAL PRESS DISPATCH
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The opinion OF the
Naval Court Of Inquiry in the Huron disaster has been
promulgated by the Secretary OF the Navy II gives a
synopsis Of all testimony taken in the course of the
inquiry and refers frequently to what the witnesses
said. The conclusions Of the court are that Com
mandcr Ryan primarily responsible for the loss
OF that vessel and that Lieutenant Palmer, the nayga
ing officer. made in nayieaton also that the deck
officers on the night loss might have been at fault
in not ascertanug the accuracy Of the perpendicular
soundings, reported to them from time TO time
The court saws the commanding officer Of a vessel IS its
supreme authority, and that if any accident occurs by
reason Of his not having asceancd accurately the de
Elections Of the compass from any influence OF the ship
ITSELF he must be held responsible for that want
OF care. IL refers frequently to matters that
were brought out in the testimony, giving
evidence of want OF scamanship the Inflated Huron.
discrepancy in the testimony of two vitnesscsas TO the
actual course in which The vessel was Ld is referred
To, one witness testlSlnS mat hsr coui'' va.
southeast by east quarter cas and the otter That
her course southeast by east hfctouiths cast max
ing discrepancy of half point in her course. which
would have had material eff 60 u connection with the
inset OF the current upon the ships edway. As one m
stance of N ant OF good se1Iuaushtp they say that vessel
gong upon such coast with Zee shore should
Of tc ails would incline the he 1stnan 10 Eeep her ia l.
which in couneclon with The inset would set Der eti
more 10 lecward They find, wiki the exceptions noted
OTHER officer man the vessel was responsible for
The ship reported 10 have been In every
respect well founI, staunch and sca-worihy and
she ~ that condition up 10 the time She
struck. Her engines until after she
struck, when the sand beating UP to her stern,
or tie wrench Of her shaft out OF line, prevented
the reyolut of Lcr propeller They find that OF
from the wreck has any complaint 10 make
against any officer upon tire vessel for want ~
hearty cooperation legal the midst OF the
pcrls which surrounded them and find that
was cool, ready willing, and brave up TO the last
lieutenant Commander Green has reported to the
Navy Department the details OF his operations in
recovering the dead from the wreck OF The steamer
Huron. The report is short and the following is tie IN
! lei Lieutenant Harrington and Assistant Surgeon
Arthur ard the marines at the wreck take chagc OF
anything OF value al might come on shorcand star ted,
wiki MI. Clark and five sailors, survivors from the
Huron, mp the coast. Is l proceeded up the beach /
found bodies scattered along from one u seven miles
apart Tor "a distance OF forty miles from
the scene OF the wreck. ! examined IN all the
bodies Of eight officers and seycLyfvc identifying
eight officers and sixty conc men. All the bodies
the poles beng numbered systematically, the number Of
miles from Norfolk being designated by numer and the
six OF the BODIES c0ud DC ldehtlhed by thcr features
tue others by marks Their bodies snd clothes.
CurrueN aud CuiIiuck Lighthouse cInDs ana lartcu
larry the keeper Of Tie Currituck Beach lighthouse
pIahty To mYseI ana party. MI. william !. Biinkley
Of Nass Head, and hossrs Baum and POynce, OF Curr
as Tue Keepers OF lAIe SAVING stations NOS L. D. aud t.
Before closing my report would respectfully call your
attention to the conduct Of Master CHARLES A. Clark
l.. .. n He Jealous, vieiant, aud
udefagable IN the discharge Of aborious duries
while assisting me during my stay the beach; and
also, my thanks are due to Lieutenant r. H. Harrington
L. 5. Marine Corps, ana AsslstantSurgeon Arthur
way III thelr power Inc marines rendered elf
Gent service in latrolinE the beach night
and day. for distance of seven miles north OF
the wreck The sailors who were vita me did their dis
agreeable duty IN conveying and identifying the bodies
cLeerfly under al clrCunsan particularly Samuel
CLARK o. $ L. F., by whom most Of the bodies were
identified lie having marked great many with india
ink. and recognizing the marks whenever found IN
vi each grave.