The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-10 00:00:00

THAT HAS BECOME OF THE ONEIDA ?

(From the Daily News.)

Has she gone down by burning or foundering!
Has she been delayed by her machinery getting out
of repair, or from want of fuel ? If so, how long is
she likely to be delayed ? Where will she turn up ?
—at Swan River, Singapore, Point de Galle, Aden,
Mauritius, or any of the small islands in the In-
dian Ocean ? The Oneida was the pioneer ship of
the Overland Australian Mail line. She had
nearly 200 souls on board and a large quantity of
gold. The Simla started 18 days after her from
Australia, passed over the same route, and has ar-
rived before her. The Oneida ought to have ar-
rived at Suez March the 6th, and she bad not
reached that place March 26th.
The Jura has arrived with the Simla's mails and
passengers, and the latter have furnished some in-
teresting particulars respecting the missing ship.
The Oneida could stow away 1,400 tons of coals,
and there can be no doubt she took that quan-
tity from Sydney and filled up at King George's
Sound. The Simla took in bad coals at Sydney,
but nevertheless she made the voyage from the
Sound to Galle in good time and had coals to spare.
But it is not certain that the Oneida had bad fuel,
and this is a matter of some importance when it is
considered that her consumption is so much greater
than that of the Simla. The Simla was most extra-
ordinarily favoured in her weather. Through
Bass's Straits she had an easterly breeze which is
rather unusual, andfrom the Sound to Galle she had
most favourable winds. There were not the slight-
e-st signs throughout the voyage to Galle of recent
foul weather, and Capt. Cooper, the commander of
the Simla, was perfectly surprised on arriving at
that place to find that the the Oneida had not made
her appearance. Now the Oneida is a full-powered
screw steamer ; with anything like favourable wea-
ther she would steam about 260 miles a day, which
would bring her from King George's Sound to Point
de Galle in 13 days, the distance being 3,300 miles.
Now, assuming that she had a full supply of good
coals on board, and reckoning her consumption at
80 tons a-day, that supply would last 17 days. It
would, therefore, appear most improbable that she
has been detained in the Indian Ocean for want of
fuel. Supposing again that her machinery gave
way, her delay can be accounted for. Unfortu-
nately she has a large three-fanned screw, which
cannot be disconnected, and this would rendar her
sailing powers of the slowest description, so that
her delay is not in some respects so alarming. But
a most important consideration is whether she may
not be detained so long in the Indian Ocean as to
fall short of provisions, especially if she broke down
near the line, where she may be becalmed for a
long time, and even be unable to make any head-
way if she met with a moderate wind in her favour.
The Simla would have made a quicker passage
thanshe did if her bottom had not been foul. As soon
as she reached Suez she turned round immediately
and started for Australia, and it is expected that she
will make a capital passage out, and reach her des-
tination within the contract time. When she gets
to Sydney again she will have her bottom cleaned.
The temporary dock made for the Oneida there was
not large enough for the Simla. A patent slip is
making at Sydney for cleaning and repairing the
large mail steamers. Capt. Cooper, the commander
of the Simla, won golden opinions from the passen-
gers, and they presented him with an address of
satisfaction at Suez. One of the passengers was Mr.
Westgarth, a colonial celebrity. Many of the pas-
sengers went to England via Marseilles, from Malta.
Mr. Westgarth and about 30 others came on to
Southampton. The overland route is likely to be
a favourite one, after a short time. At present the
colonists have a dread of crossing the Egyptian de-
sert. The Simla brought home only a small quan-
tity of gold, because a large number of favourite
clipper ships were about to leave Australia for Eng-
land at the same time as she left, and because also
of the recent departure of the Oneida. The Euro-
pean, which would leave Sydney and Melbourne a
month after the Simla, with the overland mail,
would, it was expected, bring a large quantity of
gold. When the Simla left Melbourne, three nug-
gets had been found, each worth about 1,6001. ster-
ling. Trade in Victoria was quiet. It was expected
that Sir Henry Barkly, the new governor of that
colony, would not have very many or very great
difficulties to contend with. The Australian passen-
!ors were delighted with the Jura, which brought
them to Southampton from Alexandria. The Jura,
as soon as she landed her passengers, mails, and
specie at Southampton, started for Liverpool. The
mails consisted of 139 boxes and 17 bags of letters
and papers, which were despatched to London by a
special train.

The following letter has been addressed to the
editor of the Times :

" Sir,—May I crave a corner to say a few words
upon a subject of deep and painful interest ?
" Where is Capt. Hyde, where is the Oneida,
with her 13rge living freight and her gold ?
" All we know is this—she was the first home-
ward vessel for Suez under the new steam contract;
She left King George's Sound on the 4th Feb., the
correct time, and when the Simla left Galle last
March the Oneida had not been heard of.

" Let us look at the probable facts. The captain
leaves King George's Sound with a notoriously
slow vessel (when only under canvass), a very cor-
morant for fuel to get her along, and then well filled
up with coal.
" He would steam away, and would have no
doubt a splendid south-east trade. He would thus
enter the tropics within four days. And now comes
the doctrine of chances. On the course he took he
would have no fear of hurricanes, though they
would be in season.' If he had an accident from
fire, it must be remembered he bad plenty of boats,
and was supplied with Clifford's lowering apparatus.
In that event he would have been heard of at Mau-
ritius in some shape before the Ist of March. If
his engines broke down—and he would try their
strength to make this first passage—he could bear
up for no other port, with a fair wind, than that
island, or he must carry on, and 'Carry on' George
Hyde would, if he had to make a handspike into a
topmast.
Having thus determined, he had no help for
it, could expect no assistance, he would crawl past
the Cocos Islands under all the vexations and
roasting of that purgatory called the middle passage
of the great Indian Ocean. I was there last year
about the same time that Capt. Hyde would be this
year, going up to Galle in a smart sailing vessel
(the well-known circle-sailinf Constance), in ballast
trim, and well-managed, and we were exactly 34
days from entering the tropics to making Point de
Galle. And if Capt. Hyde has crippled engines,
and nothing but his canvass to depend on, at the
season, too, of the north-west monsoon, with that
big ship almost coal-laden, we may wish him joy of
his voyage, but we shall assuredly soon hear of
him.
" Whatever may have happened to him or his
'vessel, let us who have friends on board, and those
who are picturing sorrows to themselves and
others, bear in mind one fact—the Oneida is tinder
the charge of as good a sailor as ever trod a deck,
a man of lion heart and cool head. I have known
him very many years, and I have
esnadilnedwciehave
ahimv
when his temper, courage, and endurance
never flinched amid appalling dangers.
yet,
George and
Halyldre hawtil a l
" Depend upon it, we may calm our fears • he
d .tehlaft
will give an account of
o, himself
man, a brave man, ca
do, and that ' with a will.'—l am, sir, your obe•
dient servant, S.
" Maida Vale, April 92,

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