The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-12-13


and we could not see the shore; when
the line was cut the balls went toward
the stern of the ship, and we thought we
were going to sea, which was one thing
that deceived majority of the ships
company, We padded the balls with
pieces of panneling near the stern OF the
ship heavy surf struck up and capsiaed
the balls, and my leg being iammed in,
was under the water for while, but we
both regained the balls, when | told Viii.
liams to 60 to the end and we would then
steer the balls as we were in fear OF
another capsize; we were thrown over
again, and this catastrophe threw Will
liams about ten ieet, and my arm being
jammed, was thrown on my back; when
we came up again it was in rather still
water, and swan and pushed the balls
towards Williams; he got on top, stood
up, looked around and said that he saw
the masts of fishing vessels ahead, which
proved to be Telegraph poles on shore; |
told him we would steer for it; we cap
sized twice more and before we knew il
we were on the beach I told him to haul
the balls up, as we might want to use
them to send off to the ship. We landed
about three.iourths of a mile up the
beach from the wreck and found two
men inside the surf, but too weak to get
up; we went down and pulled them up;
| then ran to the first house saw, but
found no one in it. I then started down
the beach as fast as | could, my legs hurt
ing me badly; found ten Or fifteen people
from the shore standing opposite the
wreck looking at it; told them to 60
farther up the beach, and do all they
could to save the men, az they
appeared to be landing up there with
very strong current running up the coast
we pulled out several more men asked
them where the life.station was, and they
said one was seven miles up the beach
and the other five miles down the beach.
| saw a man on horseback, and sent him
to the upper station for aid and to tele-
graph to Washington for assistance to the
wreck this was about seven o'clock in
the morning. Then | saw Mr.. Conway,
who had been landed, and asked the men
on shore why the lite.saving car was not
there they told me that the life crew OF
thirteen were at Roanoke island.
asked why they did not bring the car up ;
they said il was locked up in the station,
and they were afraid to break open the
door. | told them if they would come
with me | would break open the door
and get it out; five Of them volunteered
to 60. asked them if they saw our
signals, and they said they did, even the
first signal. then walked and ran down
the beach with these men, but saw a team
coming down, which proved to be that of
Sheriff Bunkley, of Dare City. ! broke
open the door, got the mortar and lines,
broke open locker and found powder and
balls, which Sheriff Bunkley brought up
but when got back to the scene of the
wreck, all the masts of the Huron were
gone and no one was on board. This
was almost eleven o'clock in the
forenoon. sheriff Bunkley then in,
vited us to his house. The officers
accepted the invitation The other mer
were provided tor at the station with
provisions beds, blankets, and clothing
The sheriff. with q team, then went uI
the beach aud was all night with his mer
looking for bodies. telegraphed tt
Admiral rrenchard, at Hampton Roads
for aid, and clothes and provisions
which was signed by Master W. =. Con
way. signed the same telegram to the
chief signal officer in Washington, stating
that four officers and thirty men were
saved and that the ship was totaI
wreck. The next morning one of the
men reported two men.ofwar and ,
wrecking steamer in the otling. W.
went Immediately to the station and
tried TO call the attention of the shi
with large blue flag, but could not
Then went up to a point opposite th'
wreck and found telegraph operate
tagging to the wrecking steamer.
took his flag and signalled to them tn
names of the officers saved and the mum
Der OF men, end asked them what W
should do with the eight dead men W,
had they answered, Wait momen
and we will communicate with the ad
miral :" shortly after the flagship Pow
haitian and the Fortune started north
ward and disappeared. The Swatori
tried to signal us, but without glasses
could not read it; at one o'clock tn
relief party, under Lieutenant Watson
arrived from GOspOrt, with the navy
yard surgeon, George Arthur, stores, etc
All the saved and the bodies of the dea,
were then placed on board the steame
Bonita and conveyed to Norfslk.