Haunted Mansion Stories- Cousin Huet

REST IN PEACE COUSIN HUET

WE ALL KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO IT [1]

Name: Cliff Huet[2]

Born: 1814

Died: 1846

The dark and sinister name of Cliff Huet was long banished from the precincts of Gracey Manor. On him was laid the guilt for a tragic loss of life and the near breaking of the Gracey fortunes. Only after many years was he redeemed by the most unlikely of sources.

Cliff was the son-in-law of Richard and Elma Bell, having married their only daughter Claudette. As was wont in those days, he was given a position in the Gracey Shipping Company as a wedding present. The job required long hours in the office and many a day before the mast on one trading voyage after another. Cliff proved so able and valuable to the Company that he became an agent and confidant of both Master George Gracey Sr. and his right-hand man, John Sullivan, who handled business in Florida.

One fateful day in 1846, John was presented with an opportunity: “Would the Graceys take a shipment of gold coin from New Orleans to Galveston, Texas?” George was unavailable and John had to consider things carefully. Never had they contracted with the Government before and this was a security nightmare. Any man could be tempted by this wealth and turn pirate or mutineer. To complicate matters, they had no ships free and would have to rent one from another captain. This was fraught with peril and John knew too well the punishment for failing Gracey. Still, he decided to take the contract and leased the S.S. New York. He proceeded on the condition that a trusted man, Cliff Huet, would be made second-in-command during the voyage and have the only key to the hold.

The choice of Mr. Huet was not a frivolous one. He knew the Gulf waters better than most and was an expert sailor. Some claimed his ability to read storms bordered on foreknowledge and was unnatural.

A storm roared up from Havana before New Orleans had quite faded from sight. They tried to outrun the blast but steadily lost ground. In a panic, Captain XXXX decided shallower waters were their best refuge. They might even find a port. Cliff warned him that the coasts there were dangerous and he had enough time to run to sea and flank the storm. A terrible argument ensued with the captain accusing him of mutiny.

Cliff backed down and they made for shore where the New York promptly ran atop a shoal. The keel screamed as they listed 20 degrees to port and water poured over the gunnels. For two hours they tried to bail and pump but could not clear the bilge. The proud ship foundered and began to slide down the bank and into a deep trough. The storm hit and flipped it over, trapping 36 on board. Only 17 escaped, but Huet and XXXX were not among them.

At the inquest, Cliff was pilloried and the captain exonerated.  One of the survivors had heard part of the argument and thought Huet had driven them into the shallows. He was formally branded a mutineer and it was implied that he’d planned on stealing the golden cargo.

Meanwhile, Master Gracey was in a fury. He had left explicit orders with Sullivan that they were never to work with Washington unless forced to do so. George’s politics ran to the secessionist and he felt that the South would make a far better country on its own. The deal had been struck and papers signed before Gracey was aware and he could not back out. Consumed with rage he fired John and made plans to ruin him personally.

On the very morning of the shipment John Sullivan died of a stroke. A repentant George allowed his old friend to be buried in the mansion’s graveyard. During the two week inquest John rested peacefully, but with the verdict and dark hints that he and even George were involved with a plot the anger reignited. George smashed the grave marker with a hammer and dug-up the body with his bare hands. No one ever found John’s remains.

The only person to stand by both Cliff Huet and John Sullivan was the future Master Gracey, George Jr. Only 16 when the New York sank, he was adamant that his cousin was innocent and John had made a wise business decision. Just once did he voice the opinion to his father and the resultant argument caused a lasting breech in their relationship. After gaining the mansion in 1858, George Jr. erected a stone for Cliff in the graveyard and another at John’s ancestral home in Florida.

In the multitude of ghosts about the mansion, some have reported seeing a bedraggled seaman trying desperately to maintain the wheel of a storm tossed ship. Honest and faithful Cliff still trying to deliver his cargo of precious coins.

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[1] Cousin Huet Tomb by Andrew, “DJDaSmeg” on Flickr.com

[2] (Cliff Huet-lead interior designer)