The Leavenworth weekly times., 1877-11-29
THE LOST STEAMER.

THE LOST STEAMER.
The Wreck Of the Lost Man.oG.War
EOuad-11f Persons DrOsSned-Ghe
Swatara Will Bury the Bead.
FORTRESS MONROE, November 25.-Ad-
miral Trenchard, in the U. 5. steamer
"Powhattan," with the other vessels he had
dispatched to the wreck OF the L. $ steam
er "Huron," arrived off kittyhawk at day.
light Sunday, and reports that the "For-
tune" went down to Body Islands, skirting
the beach and looking for the wreck. Capt.
Stoddard, in the Baker" followed the
beach down and found the wreck about
eight o'clock a. m. The sea was
RUNNING VERY HIGH,
and there Was no possibility OF landing The
signal officers were sent to the Baker" and
in this way communication was had with
the shore, and We learned that one hundred
and fourteen were drowned and but thirty
were saved, of whom four were officers. Ad-
miral Trenchard then ordered the .'Swata-
ra" to remain and
BURY THE DEAD
when a landing could be made with safety
Captain Stoddard remained at the wrecked
vessels, and the "Powhattan" lett for Hamp-
ton Roads at one o'clock p. NJ, and anchor
ed at midnight. She passed large vessel
sunk. The two lower masts were about
eight feet out of water, but the topmasts
were gone.
THE STORY OF THE DISASTER.
NORFOLK, Va, November 26.-The sur
| vivors of the "IIuron" have arrived here
| H.,
make the following statements: The YES
bsel was bearing course south of southeast,
with the wind blowing strongly from the
south, southeast under full sail to steady
her, and steaming along. There was no
event to
EXCITE APPREHENsIONS
of any danger. Master W. J. French
was on deck; he had sighted and passed
Currituck light, and orders were given to
keep bright lookout for Body Island
light At lao the vessel struck, when all
hands rushed on deck; Capt. Ryan and
officers acted promptly, and the crew res
ponded to all orders with alacrity; the
surf was terrific. shortly after the vessel
struck a boat was lowered but was
| IMMEDIATELY swAMPED.
| The vessel slowed broadside to the sea,
which made a clean break over her, sweep
ing everything 1. ON her decks and carrying
the boats from the davits; many seamen
and officers were washed overheard, and sew
eral were killed by pieces of the wreck.
Captain Ryan and Lieutenant Simons wee
last seen together; the sea- struck the YES
sci,
| THEY WERE SWEET AWAY.
| The vessel broke up fast The surf became
more and more furious, making it beyond
all human efforts to hold on, it was dark,
and the signals of distress mad been made.
| but no response received, no one knew
where they were and all that did get ashore
were washed there by the surf.
| THE CAUSE OF THE WRECK
is attributed to the local attraction of the
| compass and a strong current setting in on
| the shore, which made the vessel go further
to the southward than her compass indi-
Gated.
| THE ENsIGS's STATEMENT.
| The "LandmarA' has the statement of
| the Ensign, Lucitn Young, of the "Huron.
which is as follows: I've left Hampton
| Roads about eleven o'clock in the MORN
ing on Friday, and steamed out in charge
OF the pilot The pilot left at one o'clock
| | had the afternoon watch; a stiff breeze
and heavy sea was running from the
southest; We took our departure at 1:25 from
the Cape Henry light house,
| BEARING WEST BY SOUTH,
| distant about five miles, and south by east
| we unbent the chains and secured anchors
| for the sea /; about two o'clock We made all
plain sail wind hauled more to the south
| and took in the top sails. At four o'clock
| the wind was increasing. and also the sea
was increasing, and she ship rolling to lee
| ward about ten degrees.
WAS RELEASED
| by Ensign Donner about four o'clock
| About eight o'clock Mr.. Donner told me
| that the jiD and the iying-iib stays wert
carried away, and the wind was blowing a
| gale | went to bed about $50, and wa.
| aroused about midnight by the quarter.
master calling Mr.. French. | heard Mr.
| French ask him
| THE STATE OF THE WEATHER.
dozed off again and was again aroused
| by lilo, by the humping of the ship, when
she struck bottom heard the Captain sing
out as he came from the capstan, ''hard
down." put on a coat and pair OF
pants, and ran on deck and found that il
was blowing fresh gale. j hear an order
"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 quickly as possible" | got perma-
nent tackles and hooked to the lee gun, but
could not remove it, because she had bilged
and could not get it over into the sea. The
| Captain then ordered me to
BURN ALL THE SIGNALS COULD.
| In the meantime all the port boats and the
cutter had been carried away and the ship
was lying on her port, bilged,. broadside,
and inclined about 40 degrees, and the sea
breaking clear over her. l went into the
cabin and found two boxes of Castor lights;
sent up five rackets and burned over 100
signals. The sea was then staving in the
cabin very rapidly. When l heard the
word given for all hands to
GO FORWARD As QUICK AS POSSIBLE,
I hurried the quartermasters, who we're with
me, and some other men u go forward.
As l passed the cabin door, Mr.. French
asked me if that was all / told him yes
"then," he said, Eve must go quick" We
all started together. i had hold on
GATrLING GUN,
when a very heavy sea came over and wash
ed myself and about five others down to
leeward, and all but myself went under the
sail and they were drowned. ! was caught
in a bag Of sails, and hurled both legs
against the goff, regained the gear Of the
nine-inch gun, and
WORKED MYSELF FORWARD
/ thought / saw Mr. French go into the
rigging; saw a number OF men standing in
the starboard gangway and on the first
launch, and a number OF men under the
top-gallant forecastle i succeeded in get
ting on top of the gallant forecastle with the
assistance OF the men. here were a num-
Der Of men who had on
LIFE PRESERVES,
and one rubber ball, rugged on to the fore
castle. The top gallant forecastle was full
of men and officers; two or three men
lashed themselves to the bowsprit; every
one was perfectly cool and showed no sign
of fear. The majority of us got close to-
gether on the upper side of the forecastle,
suffering much from cold and exposure.
The seas would
BREAK CLEAR OVER Us
and nearly suffocate us. Loomis and my
self sounded our side, and found about six
feet of water. A little while after, we again
sounded, and got seven and . half and eight
feet saw lights about one point on the