The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-05 00:00:00

THE CASE OF CAPTAIN EYRE.

The Japan Mail, just arrived, gives the conclusion of
the inquiry into the loss of the Oneida, which took place
at Kangawa, immediately after the collision. The ac-
counts already received gave us the captain's mate's, and
pilot's evidence, and the papers before us report
the evidence of the other officers of the ship. Several of
these witnesses said they heard shouts of " Steamer ahoy !"
from the other vessel, but did not know the col-
lision was serious. More remarkable was the
evidence of Robert Clements, Lieutenant
who stated that he boarded the Bombay about nine
o'clock, and asked why Captain Eyre had anchored so far
out. He replied that he thought he was justified in
anchoring so far off, as it was difficult to tell what dis-
tance the lights were. He had never been on the coast
of Japan before, and was also in the hands of the
pilot who had advised him to anchor there.
Besides that he had cut the quarter off a.
Yankee frigate coming up ' the bay. Witness said
" Yankee frigate 1 That must have been the Oneida. I
hope she is not seriously damaged. Is she in want' of
assistance ?" He said no, he thought not. He lay to for
some time, and saw no signals denoting that she wanted
help. He had the mails on board, and thought he would
come on and land them. He thought the other could not
go on and would come back to Yokohama to repair
damages. He said he had some of her booms and sails on
board, and fancied he had knocked some of her boats
away. Witness asked if he had been damaged himself.
Captain Eyre replied that his ship was making water, but
nothing seriously.
Lieutenant Leaventhorpewent on board before witness,
but not on duty. Captain Eyre said also besides " that
he had cut the quarter off a Yankee frigate,"—`• Serve
her jolly well right ; she crossed my bows on starboard
helm." Witness replied, " Well, that was a curious
thing to do • I hope you were porting." Learned after-
wards that Lieutenant Leaventhorpe had informed Cap-
tain Eyre what ship it was that he must have struck.
Captain Eyre did not think the Oneida seriously damaged.
Had he done so he should have reported it. As it was,
he reported it as a serious thing.
Mr. Gough, sub- Lieutenant of the Ocean, said he had
been sent on board the Bombay to request the captain to
go down to the scene of the accident, as his was the only
ship with the steam up. Captain Eyre said " I can't, I
have a hole in my bows." Another officer gave similar
evidence. Captain Eyre addressed the Court, mention-
ing at the time he spoke to the officers from the Ocean he
might have spoken hastily—having been standing for so
many hours, and being anxious and worried.
After a good deal more evidence had been taken the
court gave its decision at considerable length. Two ques-
tions it said had to be decided. 1. Was the injury sus-
tained by the Bombay brought about by the fault of her
commander, Captain Eyre? 2. After the collosion be-
tween. the Bombay and the Oneida had taken place, what
was the conduct of the master of the former vessel? The
first question the court answered in the negative.
With regard to the second question the court decided
among many other conclusions. That no danger to his
vessel, passengers, and cargo was apprehended by Mr.
Eyre. That from the questions he asked the pilot, he
evidently thought that the Oneida might possibly have
sustained serious injury. That after his ship again pro-
ceeded he gave no orders that a look-out should be keptin
the direction of the Oneida. That had he, or anyone else,
been keeping a proper look-out, the flash of the Oneida's
guns must have been seen, though their report might not
have been heard. We recognise the fact that Mr. Eyre
was placed in a position of great difficulty and
doubt, and in circumstances under which he was called
upon to decide promptly ; but we regret to have to record
it as our opinion that he acted hastily and ill-advisedly in
that, instead of waiting and endeavouring to render assist-
ance to the Oneida, he, without having reason to believe
that his own vessel was in a perilous condition, proceeded
on his voyage. The court held that this was a breach of
the 33rd section of the 63rd chapter of the Merchant
Shipping Act Amendment Act of 1862, and, as already
announced by telegraph, suspended Captain Eyre's certiti,
cate for six months.

The nomination for East Devon will take place on
Saturday. No opposition is yet offered to Mr. Kennaway'd
election.