New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-28
A STRANGE STORY.
A MAN WATCHES THE HURON BEATING HER LIVE
OUT N THE BREAKERS FOR AN HOUR BEFORE

Man WATCHES THE HURON BEATING HER l'fH
OUT N THE BREAKERS FOR AN HOUR BEFORE
GIVING TIE ALARH.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 27.-Lieutenant Waiter
Walton Assistant Inspector Of the Life Saving Service
on the North Carolina coast in obedience 10 orders from
superintendent Kimbal, has made thorough investga-
ton OF all the circumstances relation to the wreck OF
the Huron; and that the might have more legal
character the be received were made under
oath He has inciosed report containing all the test
mOny taken.
1t appears that the Hurors position in the breakers
was first discovered shore by Evan ONeill, fisher
man OF Nays Head, who hal left his home thrcequar
tiers OF mile distant at five minutes past in the morn
ing TO shoot wild fowl. Withing thirty minutes OF
leaving his home, he arrived on the beach and saw
vessels running hgs-the green istarboard and the
white Cmas headl lights only He spoke to his com
panion Mr. Brothers. and said. There is vessel on
the reef or coming ashore OEe then drove upon the
beach north to keep abreast OF the Inflated vessel as
she drfed and pounded along the outer edge OF the bar
She finally struck. and stopped abreast OF Iets hsh
camp about quarter OF mile north OF Jockey Ridge
Then were heard shouts and screams on board the
stranded vessel. O'Nel said he thought there
were women aboard. lie then saw three rockets 20
UP, followed by COston signals which Illuminated
the vessel from end TO end, so that even
the light rigging we'll the men could be plainly seem
He heard the steam whistle and also the engine at
work as he Judged, backing the vessel or He saw
boat the staruOard side full Of men, The snip was
living broadsde sea-wnd, also IN heavy breakers ana
rolling heavily. He heard q noise resembling the snap
ping Of tmbers The foremost then went over the
weather side and the boat with the men in ner was lost
10 sight The shouting and screaming was then louder
than before Il was nearly hour from the time the
snip struck until the foremost fen 1teen minutes after
which tne signalling ceased, aud an darkness.
Notwithstanding that be- thought would be saved
alive 10 was nor tai this moment that ONeH proceeded
To inform others al the disaster. H. first went home
about mile distant. ONcart, disposed OF hs decOy
geese a cr which he proceeded his brothers. on his
Nav there he called Caleb Booker and aicrward Eis
brother Pharaoh O'Nanl 10 whom he disposed or his
team, aud then walked back home, ate hls break
fast. and did not return to the wreck until
Saving station So. lived, believed him 10 be az home
ONLY two aud half miles distant, hal good boat. Tree
wind 20 aud return inside ~ Roanoke Island, would
have reached Keeper Meckens IN twenty minutes and yer
remained silent au& Indifferent during three long hours
OF anguish and suffering. The scene beng enacted on
board the Inflated ship begzars description.
on bis return tO the beach, O'Nell claimed 10 nave
saved mau, who was very near tine eGg OF thr sun
bu this doubtful, tnc evidence goes To show that
Evan ONciFs conduct on the beach Wa such a.
10 cause general comment. One al the hsher-
men remarked: LOOK at Evan ONeli wondi't
you think be would Try 10 save some OF these men
on the contrary, he seemed . be examining or inspect
ing fragments OF DRIFT stuff a. 70 washed up lie Ia
very little 10 say and Kept apart IRON thg crowd ana OF
the twenty two witnesses WIZ were quehtly eA-
AHMED, was the onlY one VINO objected; and II was
not uuul thrraitn'd Wh arrest ~ Us appearance was
secured. According to MS own testimony he dd al he
could, which 20 stand on the bech ana "!h others
pull ON the rope made last 10 men possessing more soul
and courage tnap be.
Lieutenant Walton gives in detail an account OF the Of
forts Of the lesly NJ crews as soon a. they were d
prised OF the disaster ana of number OF people living
on tie sh"I" 70 save 'Ae uiioIluh E,tHs, ana con.
that ont OF uincty-fye bodies found ahout twelve
OF whom were officers not a single trluKet, such rs
would be deemed relic by the relatives OK the dead
was found the bodies. Watches and chains, money
and finger rings mad been stripped of oy those
who first found the bodies, as they were washed
M Good evidence j. found in the ease Of Lieutenant
smons whose third and fourth uners OF the lyit hand
had scratched aud couged by the bOdyrODDess, III
their haste to secure Their lll-2otieh ioOt''