The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-27

the Inflated steamer Huron who had been reported
among the lost were In wards OF that establish
ment The medical director, Dr. s. y. Cones. in
charge OF the hospital upon seeing the published list
OF the OF those who were supposed to have
been lost ordered an investigation Of the books TO be
made and found that tho following named mon be-
longing tho OF the Huron are under bis charge
In hospital
James jenkins. seaman. native Of Nswi0undlaus:
entered hospital on the 18th October 1871 aoor'ng
under affection OF the chest
James w. Smith, seaman tcoored), OF Manhattan
vile, r. received into hospital October ~, 1877.
Thomas Withan, landsmau. native Of Gloucester.
Mass ;placed on the sick list October u.s. 1877
George N. Sheppard. seaman, halls from Pittsburg.
Pa entered on the hospital books October Is, 1877.
This sufficiently recovered TO be sent 70 MS
duty yesterday oy order OF Medical cones on
lyn Navy Yard.
James Burns. native OF Derry, Ireland, seaman Of
Of March last Burns was yesterday very much pros
tratcd. suffering from pulmonary affection ho IS,
In fact In the last stages oil consumption, and but lew
weeks remain him OF the joys or suffcrings OF this
life jenkins and Smith, being the only remaining
hnpd-expresscd their sorrow for the melancholy iao
which beell their old shipmaes and thanked The all
Wise Provdence which had spared them .helr lives.
seaworthiness Of the Huron, and we're much as
tonshcd read IN Sundays HERALD OF ner loss
Tho hospital at the Navy Yard 10 indeed clean,
cheerful place Tho whole establishment, from bot
10 IL as clean AS could be- ventilated and well
provided Tor. There ~ persons on the list Of The
hospital. 50 OF whom arc paticnt., outside OF the
officers and medical stan CONNECTED the'ewth.
STATEMENT OF JOHN ROACH AND SON.
MORGAN IRON WORKS.,
NEW YORK. Now 20, 1877. !
To THE EDITOR OF HERALD
so many theories have been presented in print as to
The cause 0t the lamentahle accident to the United
States steamer Huron. many OF them offered by per-
sons not all familiar with the vessel or her construc-
Iion that make the following statement TO correct
some Of these errors:-
The Huron was on OF the three iron sloops Of war
known AZ the Alert Alliance ana Ranger the name
OF the Alliance being aitorward changed 70 Huron
Her dimensions wcre.-Length, LID 1eet; beam 81
foet depth, 10 feet incnes. Thus Is will DO seen
that the vessel was well proportoned. The plan
and specifications were prepared by the Navy De-
partment IN all the Details aud WAS built under the
every day inspection OF naval constructor. Tho
hull contained fully fifty per cent moro weight
oil material than would be required by any under
writer's rules Tor a merchant vossol OF the
dimensions, and when completed was one Of the
strongest vessels OF her size IN abe world The hull
differed from one built for the merchant service in
that there inside well OUTSIDE plating,
leaving space Of eighteen inches between tho TWO,
thus forming, as were, Two hus IN case OF an &C
cident OF this kind. Bcsides the four wAtertght
compartments and bulkhcads were tapped and double
rveted, which Is never required for merchant YES
scls also an iron deck, not required IN vessels Of TINS
SIZE.
The machinery also designed by the Navy De-
partmcnt, and before being hnaly adopted the plans
were submitted by ADVERTISEMENT asking for sugges
tions improvements from mechanical engineers
outside OF the department, and premium offered Tor
any such m ght be used With some few atera
tons The plans submitted by the Navy Department re-
ceved the unanimous recommendation OF the CON-
petiug engineers, aud as finally adopted were FUR
nished the Contractor in detail and no modification or
deviation allowed therefrom
With regard to TACT referred TO IN the prcss that
her masts rotten. these together with anchors,
chains aud all outfit were not contained IN our con-
tract but furnished by the department at the
Navy Yard subsequent 70 the completion OF the con-
tract, but understand that alter being in service
some years oremast was put In recently at
The New York Navy YARD, some defect having been
developed IN the original Whoa the contract tor
Philadelphia navy Yard. and, under tue complete
control oil naval officers severe trial Oh the machin-
cry la CONSECUTIVE hours WAS made, so as TO de-
velop twenty per cent moro power than was antici-
pated.
Regarding the repairs made at the New York Yard
shorty previous TO surfing this unfortunate voy-
age lind that the vessel put into dock 10 paint
bottom. change screw (not account OF any defect,
but note the difference IN results with one OF DIFF
fercnt modo put Ia new foremast referred TO above
and the machinery generally WAS examined to see
that II In perfect order, as Is the universal GUS
tom before proceeding on u lengthy cruise.
to tho different theories IN regard 70 the cause OF
the vessel going to picc B. we presume. as she was
going cruise OF some length, she had
large quantity OF COAL stores, provisions, &c. on
force the gale sea- lifted and pounded in man.
ner tnat vessel could withstand, and one hour un
der circumstances would have more effect Than II
she have laid this position for six monthf
IN ordinary weather. IN fact, II Is Impossible TO form
any idea OF the power OF the blows she
Huron properly designed for strength, was bull
In a Substantial manner, and would have weatherec
| any storm which vessel Is expected to meet
Respectfully, JOHN ROACH SON.