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

The HURON DISASTER.
Graphic Description Of the Catastrophe
by Ensign Lurien Young, Que OF She
HurOn's Officers Active Efforts
TO Avert the Di-aster.
The Landmark has the statement OF
the ensign, Lucien Young, which is as
follows Left Hampton Roads about
eleven o'clock Friday morning, and
steamed on in charge of pilot the pilot
left at one o'clock had the afternoon
watch; stiff breeze and heavy sea running
from TIE southeast took our departure
at half-past one o'clock, from Cape Henry
light, bearing west by south, distant
about five miles, and south by east,
three.quarters east; unbent chains and
secured anchors for sea about one
o'clock made all plain sail wind hauled
more to SOUTH and took in topsails; four
o'clock, wind increasing, also sea increas-
ing, and ship rolling to leeward about
ten degrees. | was relieved by Ensign
Denner about four o'clock; about eight
O'Clock Mr.. Bonner told me that the jib
and hyjng.jib stays were carried away,
and the wind was blowing n gale went
to bed about halt-past eight o'clock was
aroused about midnight by the quarter
master calling Mr.. French heard Mr..
French ask him the state of the weather;
the quartermaster replied, dad" |
dozed off again, and was re.aroused at
one o'clock by the humping of the ship
when she struck the bottom heard the
captain sing out, as he came forward,
Hard down." put on coat and pair
of pants, and ran on deck; found
that it was blowing a gale; heard
the order to draw up the main-stay
sail, and assisted, but could not take it
in then asked the captain if we
should throw the guns overheard, and
he said, " Yes, do it as quick as posi-
ble;" got the permanent tackles hooked
to the lee.gun. but could not remove
them because she had bilged, and could
not get it over into the sea; the captain
then ordered me to burn all the sigrals
could; in the meantime all the port boat.
and the cutter had been carried away
the ship was lying on her port, bilged
broadside, inclined about forty degrees
and the seas breaking clear over her
went then into the cabin and saved two
boxes of lights, sent up five rockets, and
burned over one hundred signals. The
sea was then staving in the cabin very
rapidly, when heard word given for all
hands to 60 forward as quickly az posi-.
BILE; hurried the quartermasters, who
we're near me, and some other men, to 90
forward; rs passed the cabin door Mr..
French asked mo if that was all, and
said yes" "Then," he said. eve must
90 quick" We all started together;
had to hold on to n Gatling gun, when a
very heavy sea came over and washed
myself and about five others down to
lceward. All but myself went under
the sail, and they were drowned; | was
caught in the bag of the sail and was
hurt in both my legs against the gait;
regained the gear OF nine inch-gun and
worked myself forward; thought | saw
Mr.. French 20 in the main rigging; saw
number of men standing in the star
board gangway and on the first launch
and a number of men underneath the
topgallant fOrecastle; / succeeded in get
ting on the topgallant forecastle with the
assistance of the men there; anumber O
the men had on life-preservers, and one
had rubber balls rugged on the forecastle
the tepgallant force ,stle was full OF mer
and officers; or three men lasheC
h emselves to the bowsprit; every
one was perfectly cool and showed M
signs of lear; the majority of us got
close together on the upper side of thu
forecastle, suffering much from cold ant
exposure; the seas would break clea
over us and nearly sufocate us; Mr.
Conway, the watch officer, had one blan
ket and shared it with Mr.. Donner, Mr.
Loomis and myself; we sounded sur sid
and found about six feet of water; lit
tie while after we sounded again, and W
got geven and half and eight feet; "a,
lights about one point on the starboar
bow, and we gave three cheers, an
repeated them several times. We the
saw that the hoOd-tide was making j
fast, and the sea was breaking over u
worse. We here saw the first launch, tn
5 only boat left, stove in and knocked Cap
. RYAN and the navigator overheard; sa'
: two men killed on the forecastle. NJ
Conway suggested that we make som
; effort to get line on shore; ] said
!. would attempt it, and called tor men
E put the balls over, when three-inC
g line was made fast to the balls, anu II
same lowered overheard, but iouled wit
the lib.boom foreyard and other spar
: and | 90. down on the torpedo spar ar
J worked about ten minutes to clear II
: balls, and called for some one to help m
S Mr.. Downer came down part OF the wa
a and said he was too weak and could N
J. get on. then told him that it was OF
only chance, and he had better try; J
= raid he could not or he would. In a il
!. tie while Williams, seaman, came dow
Il and said he weuld go; in about ten mi
!, utes we succeeded in getting the bal
e GEAR of the spars; | could get no ma
e line, and the first lieutenant, Mr.. simon
u Mr.. White and many others in the TOR
:. castle sung out to me: "The line Is on
q cut and get on shore, if possible, 4
2 for assistance" had small penkni
e Int could not open it, because my han
If we're benumbed; Williams opened it Al
s, | succeeded in cutting the rope; | W
u then struck several lines by the spa
y e once in the small of the back and scr,
J. the hips. We thought the beach r