The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-25
are az great loss to know why Commander Ryan
should have been ordered to impcril his vessel at
a time when the re was M necessity for IT,

HER MACHINERY REPORTED N GOOD ORDER
The Huron was to have touched at Port Royal,
and as her machinery was In FIRST class order. ac-
cording to the reports OF the recent tests at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard, there Is little proba-
bility that the bleaching was in consequence
OF any detect or accident TO her engines. In
fact, the Official report shows that her engines
were In first class order From state OF rest she
was backed in forty seconds, and under full speed
ten knots hour, she was stopped and en-.
gines reversed in minute and fifteen Sec
onds. Her screw was entirely new, ana
her propelling power above the usual rate. Her
engines were OF the compound pattern, designed
ing She OF the same build as the
Alert and Ranger, carrying four guns, one
eleven-inch pivot, two nine-inch broadside.
one sixty FOUNDER and one twelve FOUNDER, to-
gethcr with one Calling gun. The foremast was
entirely new.
She had been put in the best OF order, as the re-
ports OF the Board OF Inspection shows, and was
under orders to harbor In Havana for a
time, having been sent out to survey the islands OF
the Caribbean Sea and the Antilles She was fitted
out with an entirely new set OF valuable instru-
ments
COMMANDER RYAN's MERITS.
Commander Ryan was considered one OF the best
other mertorlous officers for the duty OF observing
the transit OF Venus and had but recently been
ordered to the Huron
Sergeant Naylor has been ordered to establish q
telegraph station at the scene or the wreck. Pay.
master Sanders, OF Philadelphia, at nrst reported
saved, IS now reported lost. This Is a.. that is
known here.
OPINION OF CHIEF ENGINEER SHOCKS.
Chief Engineer Shocks opinion as to the cause
OF the disaster Is concurred in by other
naval ofllcers,' and is to the effect that
the current into which the Huron drlfted
was driven shoreward by the violent storm
which ragged at midnight, and which was re-
marked here In Washington as OF unusual sever
ity The navigating ofiicer, Lieutenant Palmer,
had the reputation OF being q skilml
seaman, and undoubtedly thought the YES.
sci was making the ofing In good or.
der, whereas the narrow current was
Some OF the naval olcers still think that an acct
dent may have happened to her machinery, and
that in consequence she became unmanageable in
tho heavy sea.
FEARFUL WARNING THIS TIME
The conversation naturally reverts to the un-
necessary perng OF life and property against tho
warnings OF the Signal Bureau. The fact is re-.
called that last March New York steamer equally
as seaworthy as the Huron, dened the cautionary
signals at Norfolk, put to and went to pieces on
Atlantic City. The government annually approprI-
ates a large sum to carry tho Signal Bureau, and
yet Its own oflcers pay no attention to the
dement's which Its labors have conferred upon com
mercc. In this instance the loss TO the government
Is nearly 100000
sEvERITY OF THE STORM.
The Signal Bureau reports that the storm along
the Atlantic coast has been great for several
days that on Wednesday cautionary signals were
following stations -
Cape May.
Norfolk.
Cape Henry.
Kitty Hawk.
Cape HattcraA
Cape Lookout
Wilmington.
Smithve.
At the two last named stations the signals were
ordered down at midnight on the 23d inst, but re-
main up at the other stations yet The velocity OF
tile wind was also reported as being that or gale
and Blowing cast southeast
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
whatever may have been the sca-going qualities
OF the Huron these facts as furnished by the Signal
Bureau reports, attest an utter disregard OF the
merits Of the service either by the unfortunate
commander or by Rear Admiral Trcnchard VINO ia
in command OF the North Atlantic Station.
The Navy Department, as well as the friends OF
those board, have soliciious all day to OBJ
tain the latest reports from the wreck; but ono
line OF telegraph communicates with the signal
station, and this runs from Norfolk to Nagr,s
Head.
Rear Admiral Trcncnard was ordered to 20 OF
send vessel TO the scene OF the disaster The
charts at the department show that nothins
less than tner wrecking steamers coulc
possibly live on the coast In such weathc,
as must have been at the scene or the wreck al
day.
WHY DID THEY wArrs
The regret or Secretary Thompson is that the
Baker Wrecking Company did not promptly send
It's vessel and men without waiting for orders OF
Geographic counsel on the subject The President
heard the news with the deepest feelings OF sorrow,
and a pail hangs over Washington as gloomy as
when the news OF the disaster to the Inflated
Oneida reached the Navy Department.
| kilograms come from every source asking II
such or such one is among the saved, but the