The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-12-01
ASSISTANCE ARRIVES.

1.-The next morning one of the men lie
ported two men-of- war aud a wlecking
steamer in the otting. We went mmcd
ately to the station, and | tried to call the
attention of the ship with "A large blue flag,
but could not. Then went up to the point
opposite the week and found the telegraph
operator tagging the wrecking steamer. |
took the flag ana signaied to them the
names of the officers saved and the NUN
Der of men. and asked what we should do
with the eight dead men we had. They
answered, Wait a moment and we will
communicate with the Admiral Shortly
afterward the flagship Po"hatan aud the
Fortune started up the beach and disap
peared. The .Slcatdra tried to sigual to us,
but without glasses could not read it.
At o clock relief party under command
of Lieutenant G. w. Watson arrived from
the Gosport Navy Yard, with Surgeon Geo.
Arthur, stores, etc. All of the survivors
and the bodies OF the dead were then
placed on board the steamer B0nita and
conveyed to Norfolk
\ sailor, who WAS saved, is reported to
have said that the ship was steamiug al the
time she struck, carrying only enough of
sail to steady her, and that her machinery
was in perfect order He further states
that the vessel was laying her course south,
south east, and that to the local deviation
Of the compasses may be attributed the
cause of the ships striking. II this story
may be credited, it places the responsibility
of the affair upon the officers of the ship
whose duty it was to know exactly what
the true compass bearings WERE and to
make allowances for the effect thereon of
all local attractions. Captain Marchant
of the bri z Mississippi, saw the Huron only
a few hours before she struck He regard
ed her positions as dangerous, and the
course she steering as likely to lead
her into trouble. When the proper court
of inquiry has Investigated the matter, the
blame will be placed where it properly be
longs. The officers of the ship, who were
responsible for the ships course, have, if
the blame rests upon them, paid the pen
atty of their mistake with their lives.
The surviving officers and men of the
wrecked steamer Huron, in their accounts
of the disaster, all agree in essentials.
The engine was in good working order TIL
the vessel stuck the beach, when the VIC
lence Of the waves soon broke her up and
rendered it difficult for any On board to
escape. The life saving crew We're absent
from the station near by; and the people
on the shore, who had seen the signals of
distress, did not venture to break open the
house and take the life car. This was doue
by Ensign Young after he rea he'd the
shore, but it was then too late. The eight
bodies, which have been recovered from
the sea, were buried at Norfolk
The disaster IL the Huron. from what
we could gather, was evidently owing to
the effort of the navigator of the Huron to
hug the shore, aud keep out of the Gulf
Stream. When she lost Currituck light,
she could not take up Body Island on ac
count Of the fog. The engines We're in
admirable order, and the ship only wanted
to get away.
The bodies of Ensign Bonner and Cadet
Engineer Loomis. of the Huron, have been
recovered, and those of twenty-six others