Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-03-02
Loss Of the T.. y. Steamer Oneida

SAN Francisco, March 1.-The Bcnetac
rcss has arrived from Yokohama, Japan, 10.
day. She brings full particulars Of the loss Of
the Ii. s. steamer Oneida, which Left Iokoha-
ma on the Esd OF January, homeward bound
The steamer left her anchorage about )
- clock in the afternoon, and the accident oc.
cured at + o clock the same evening. The Uni
ted States Minister visited her in the forenoon
ana received the usual salute, and the guns
were reloaded with the expectation Of replying
To 4 salute from Russian runboat to Minister
DoIong. The salute, however, was not given,
and the guns remained loaded
On passing out OF the harnor her fires were
banked and steam blown off, While tho off,
r.rs were at dinner, ut about o'clock, the
lockout man shouted "Stcamcr light ahead !"
and 4 midshipman gave the order 10 port he I'm.
Everything seemed quiet on board the other
steamer This leads to the belief that she had
not obs 4rvcd the Oneida, although her lights
were burning brightly.
The steamer, which proved to be the BON:
bay, OF the PcnnsuIar line, came right on, and
strncI the Oncida on the starboard, abaft the
ranuway. Abou, half way between the main
and mzzan rigging hole was out, through
which the whole interior OF the ship was vlsl-
bic. Tie tinnacIe, wheel and ruddcr were
carried away, and two men standing at the
wheel we're instantly killed The Bombay did
not s,op alter crashing through the Oneida, al.
though the guns Of the latter, which happened
10 be loaded, were almost instantly hred to
attract hcr attention and bring her back.
Orders were given to lower the boats. but
only one lie boat was available, the others
having been crushed. The lille boat was man:
red by DR.. Suddards, the boatswaln. and
fifteen of the crew. Five guns were fired, but
before the sixth could be discharged the Oneida
sunk within ten minutes alter she was struck.
None of those saved saw man or heard
voice on board the Bombay. They report
that when it became evident that there was no
hone Of saving the ship. the officers gathered
around Captain Williams, aad he was heard
| to say that ii the ship went down, ne would
90 with her. The life boat was Obliged to leave
the sinking ship to avoid being s"amped'
After puliing about for awhile, the crew or
,hc Iiic-boat seeing none of the crew floating
| mot one Of ali the lG0 who went down. no.
WILLINGLY bent their boats head towards the
land ahout five miles distant. On landing the
| native. treated them kindly and obtaining the
assistance of guide, they started to walk to
| Yokohama, where they arrived at daylight the
next morning The Bombay was Immediately
ordered to the scene OF the wreck and succeed
ed in saving thirty nine men, who had got into
cutter which h)ated where the ship went
down. =,
Several other vessels, including one with
Minister Delong on board, proceeded to the
scene OF the disaster during the day, but no
! more lives were saved
The Japanccac Government sent boats and
apparatus TO search for the wreck, and 1t neces'
sary to buoy the spot.
The passengers on board the Bombay were
surprised when they heard OF the calamity
which had beIallcn the vessel that they had
struck, and declare that they neither heard
minute guns fired nor any request from the
| Oneida to stay by her.
| A naval court has been demanded by the
captain OF the Bombay who is accused OF negli'
ccncc and inhumanlty.
The officers and men Of the Oneida number
ed one hundred and seventy six, only htty sls
OF whom, including Dr. Snddarda and two Jun
jor officers, sulvivcd the disaster.