Year: 1877

Loss of n United States Man.of.War-.Over


One Hundred Persons Lose Their Lives


Thrilling Statement of a Surviving Of


6cer.


The loss of the United States man. Of
war steamer Huron off the North Caro-
lima coast during q heavy storm adds
another item to the sad record OF dis
asters by sea. Out of list of about l35
officers and men only thirty-four persons
were saved. One of the four surviving
officers-Ensign Lucien Young Ct tells
the following thrilling story Of the wreck:
About ten minutes past one A. N. was
aroused by the humping OF the ship
when she struck bottom hard. The cap
tain sang out as he came from cabin !:
"Hard down." meaning the wheel. 1
put on coat and pair of pants, and then
ran up on deck and found that it was
blowing fresh gale. then heard the
order, {" Brazil up the main trysail, and
assisted, but we could not take it IN.
then asked the captain If we should throw
the guns overheard |? He said Eyes,
do it as quickly as possible. We got
the pennant tackles hooked to the lee
gun, but could not remove it, because
she had bilged, and We could not get the
gun over for the sea. The captain then
ordered me to burn all the signal l
could. In the meantime all the port
boats and cutter had been carried away.
The ship was lying on her port side,
bilged her broadside inclined about
forty degrees, and the seas breaking
clear over her. 1 next went into the
cabin and saved two boxes OF Costar
lights, and sent up FIVE rockets besides
burning over one hundred signals. The
sea was then caving in the cabin rapidly.
When heard the order for call hands
to go forward as quick as possible" =" l
hurried the quartermasters who were
with me and some other men to go for
ward. As passed the cabin door Mr..
French asked me if that was all. 1 stop
ped and told him eyes" Then he said:
"We must be quick" We all started
forward together. had held on to the
Gatling gun, when a very heavy sea
came over and washed me and about five
others down to leeward. All but myself
went under the sail and were drowned.
was caught in the bag OF the sail and
had both legs hurt by being thrown
against the gaff. I then regained the
gear of the nine-inch gun, and worked
myself forward, though l saw MI.
French go in the main rigging. Also
saw number of the men standing IN star
board gangway and In the first launch
and another lot of men underneath the
topgallant forecastle. I succeeded In
getting upon the topgallant forecastle,
with the assistance of those men already
there. A number Of men had on hfe-
preseryers and one rubber balsa Was
rugged on the forecastle. Two or three
of the men lashed themselves to the
bowsprit. Every one was perfectly cool
and showed no signs of fear. The ma
iority of us got close together on the
upper side of the forecastle, suffering
much from cold and exposure. The seas
would break clear over rs and nearly
suffocate us. Mr.. Conway, watch officer,
had one blanket, and shared it with MI.
Danner, Mr.. Loomis and myself. We
sounded over the side and found about
six feet of water. A little while after
we sounded again and got seven and
half and eight feet. We then saw lights
one point on the starboard bow, and we
gave three cheers and repeated it several
times. We then saw that the flood tide
was making in fast, and the sea breaking
over us worse. We here saw our hrst
launch, the only boat left, stove in, and
it knocked Captain Ryan and Navigator
Palmer overheard. I then saw two men
killed on the forecastle. Mr.. Conway
suggested that we make some effort to
get line on shore. said I would at
tempt it and called for some one to put
the balsa overheard, when three-lnch
line was made fast to the balsa and the
same lowered overheard, but it fouled
with the jibboom forguard and other
spars. I got down on the torpedo spar
and worked about ten minutes to clear
the balsa, and called for some one to
help me. MIR. Danner came down part
of the way and said he was too weak and
could not get on. 1 told him it was cur
only chance, and he had better try. He
said he could not and would hold on
awhile. Williams, one of the seamen,
came down then and said he would go.
In about fifteen minutes We succeeded
in getting the balsa clear of the spars.
I could get no more line and First Lieu
tenant Simons, Mr.. White and many
others in the forecastle sang out to me


"The line is out; cut it and get on
shore if possible for assistance.


I had small penknife, but could not
open it because my hands were 80
numbed. Williams opened it and l sue
ceeded in cutting the rope. 1 was then
struck several times by the spars-once
in the small of the back and across the
hips. We thought the beach ran per-
pendicular to the ship. 1t was fsggy
and we could not see the shore. When
the line was cut the balsa went toward
the stern of the ship and we thought we
were going to sea, which was one thing
that misled the majority of the ships
company. We padded the bafsa with
pieces OF panelling. Near the stern OF
the ship heavy surf struck US and cap
sized the balsa end for end, my leg be-
ing jammed tight. 1t held me under
meath the water for q while, but both
Williams and myself regained the balsa,
when I told Williams to get on the end
end we would swim and steer the balsa
in. for fear of another capeize. We were
thrown over again, and the sea threw
Williams away about ten feet. My arm
being jammed, I was thrown on my
back. When I came up again it was
rather still water, so I swan along and
"a 4no boloa toward Wi1Iiams and