The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-16
HOW THE ONEIDA WENT DOWN.

Thrilling Account of the Disaster by
One who went Down with the Ship
A miraculous Escape.
We copy the following interesting extracts
from letter written to his sister by Mr.. W. w.
Crowninshield, the clerk of Captain Williams,
of the United States steamer Oneida. The let
ter was written without any view to publica-
tion, but the deep interest in the subject makes
it of special importance and value:
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, January 2G.
The Oneida is no more but, thank Heaven,
am one of the survivors Of an awful catas-
trOphe. We started two days ago with our
ship for Hong Kong, and In Two hours our
good vessel was at the bottom, having been
run into by an English steamer belonging to
The Peninsula and Oriental Company. All are
drowned, but DR.. Suddards, Mr.. Yates, the
boatswain, flfty-two men, and myself. My
escape was most miraculous. Al the time Of
the collision was asleep in the cabin, on the
transom, at about ten minutes to In the even
ing. The steamer struck us near the fore part
of the cabin. l found myself on the floor, just
coming 10 from being stunned, and, on OPEN
and all exposed to the starlight. had sense
enough to climb out of the stern over to the
spar deck and to look down into the cabin to
see If Captain Williams was there, but could not
see him. l seized cap withlR reach
and put it on with the strap under my chin.
| had on a thick suit, ovcrcoat and boots.
went to the quarterback. met Pay
master Tullock. and inquired how the
disaster happened. 1 met Captain VIII
liams and told him how serious the damage
was. He was going on the bridge. spoke to
one or two more officers, and finding the ship
was sinking, went into the main rigging, and
in five minutes our good ship commenced to
sink rapidly. | was ten feet above the rail.
When She had sunk so as to have the water
the ship as could, but the vortex carried me
down, and it was q long time ere came 10
the surface When did saw nothing of the
ship, but many heads above water. saw one
Of our boats near by me, and had just strength
enough to reacA her. was pulled on board
exhausted, and found Mr.. Yates, with thirty
seven of the crew, on board. We steercd for
the nearest land, four miles away as near as
could Judge. l was nearly frozen, and soon
had chill; but after awhile we came near the
beach, and made landing In the surf, where
was lust able 10 get ashore, being very stiff
with the cold We reached q Japanese vii
lagc, and found shelter and rest for the
night, twrnty-eight miles from Yokohama. MY
heart is too full to tell you more OF myself,
altnOunn AL Hau WcIl uo"h ii IHC sup.
CAPTAIN Williams acted as bravely as he has
always done. He would not leave his post on
the bridge, although he was almost pulled
away. and when urged by Mr.. Yates, replied.
81 70 down with my ship" petty officer
urging him TO 60, he graspcd the iron rail, and
said, mo, this Is my place, and here remain"
God bless him the country and the world
have lost Il noble officer, who died rather than
leave what he considered his post OF duty.
This heroic conduct was followed by every
officer and man on board the ship; not soul
who had station lcttit, but faced death in
such u manner that makes me feel proud: we
were Americans, and were 1t not for you all
at home, could wish l was locked In their
arms.
The Oneida was the favorite' ship of the sta
tion Could you see what the popular feeling
was here from me sysrY sT 0ah Oters OGRrHs be}ter b}tt
than Y tdiid. We lett the port under the most
favorable auspices, the ship homeMsrd bound:
All the mcn-Of-war chcered us, the merchant
ships dpned their flags, telling us of their
good wishes for a safe and pleasant passage
home. But in one hour we were facing death
ne only Americans can do, for not murmur,
NOT n CRY was heard when the good ship Onci-
din (Which had done her duty through the war;
was sinking, and every one knew that meant
DEATH Through all my experience during the
war saw nothing 10 compare with IT, but
cannot write mOre-my heart Is too lull.
January 29.-Nothing has been heard from
the shin or the crew; no doubt the rest have
gone down to the depths OF the SEQ; some
nirces of the wreck have been seen along the
Shore, and among them an empty trunk OF
mine which was slowed away. Boals have
been looking out and are still doing so for any
bodies which may come to the surface;
The ships name that ran into us Is the Bom-
bay. The captain Is having an investigation,
,,l, ha
in leaving us. 1t will 20 hard with him, Tor
had he stopped and lowered his boats he could
have saved nearly all on board. Our minister
Is conducting the case on behalf OF the living
and the dead, and the case Is strong against
the British.
January 3l.-Thc investigation drags slowly,
along. Last evening they found the ship, and
have marked the spot. The ends oil the Inas[s
are visible some foot or two 1t low water. NO
bodies have been found vet; but 1t Is hardly
time for any to appear, the water and weather
being so cold. In q day or two we shall have
the melancholy duty of Identifying them, rs
rs all Japanese fishermen have orders, under
penalty Of death, to bring all effects saved to
Yokohama.
The New York Tribune's Yokohama cores
pondcnt gives the following extract from the
testimony of Lieutenant Clemens, OF her British
Majesty's ship Ocean:
Upon the arrival of the Bombay, went on
board for our locked mail, and in conversation
with CAPTAIN Arthur Wellesley Eyre. lie said:
I'll have tonight cut whole quarter OIL a ID
Yankee frigatr and served her bloody well
right, for met her Us came up running out
with her helm a-starboard." Either the doc
tor in the presence of the captain. or Captain
Eyre. in tile presence OF the doctor, said her
sides were so badly stove, that as she drifted
past us one could see into the officers cabin.
The evidence as to the unparalleled inhu-
manity of Captain Eyre, OF the Bombay, accll-
mulates. A letter from United States Consul
Shepherd, ut Jcdao, conveying the sad tidlngs
of the loss of Lieutenant Commander Stewart,
of the Oneida, to his father, says that upon the
collision
All rushed on deck and look their several
positions. From the bridge Lieutenant Com
mandrr Stewart hailed the bombay. saying
..Ship ahoy! Stand by US; you've cut us down!'
But the Bombay kept on and made no reply.
Arain he cried "r0r Gods sake stand by; you
have cut us in two =" But no answer, and on
the Bombay went Your son and one OF the
midshirmen (Atlams) loaded and fired three
rims: the engineer turned on the Whlstle-all
Of which the captain of the Bombay says he
did not hear, and did not even stop TO see
what damage he had done, which, had he nave
done, all OF nearly all might have been saved.
Twenty miles away, at Yokohama, the guns
were distinctly heard, and still this brute OF q
caDtain. not more than 4 mile away, says lie
uil not hear them or see The ilasll.
MiTTERS IN GEORGI1.
,,, ., c,Iunobus cotton sDcculatOrS