The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-04-02

me, anu II wis OHly ~ oiAJ
in shifting the cargo that | succeeded IN
keeping the water under. ttfttfEs
REPLIES WHILE CONSTRAINED BY DE LONG.
L think it was 81 P. NJ. when | first saw the
Oneido's lights. The collision must have
happened FIVE or six minutes later. drop,
ped anchor at Yokohama at 7:43 P NJ: L
cannot say how far we had drifted from the
oneida when | again started the engines. l
first saw the bright light at the masthead; l
saw the two side lights at the same time. L
have made the statement that | struck a ship
and that | think | took away. her quarter gal
Ierv. | have not said that | had seen a hole
in the vessel or a man carried away; if had
seen ANYTHING of that sort | should have
stoned at once. | heard no sound. My
! pilot did not tell me that he heard anything.
if the ships steam whistle had been blown or
guns fired within fifteen minutes after the
Collision | don't think / should have heard
them, SO strong was the breeze separating
US. My engines were stopped a couple of
minutes before the collision, when | saw the
collision was imminent. When l started |
was looking astern through my glass to the
spot of collision, and continued SO for a good
quarter of an hour. | did not hail the ship.
/ was too busy at that time to try to avoid
the collision. The conclusion Was very
light. On my bow were hanging afterward
the other ships gait and a boom. | was not
at all entangled in the ship. The Bombay
is an old iron ship, her plates one-quarter OF
an inch thick. A spar from the other ship
has perforated both sides of my ship, and is
sticking in broken off. 1t is below the water
mark. The spar has gone right through In
the stem. My reason for sending the chief
officer down to examine my ship, notwith-
standing the conclusion was so slight, was
that this is always done. My ship is in COM
partments, and sustained noinjury beyond the
fore compartment. If the fore compartment
had been filled with water it would depend
upon the bulk head if the ship was in danger
of sinking. My motive for leaving was that
| did not know what injury my ship had re-
ceived. [ found it was making water and L
had passengers and mails on board on the
other hand [ saw no signal of my assistance
being wanted. l began to feel that other
parts of my vessel might be injured, and
asked the pilot where | could beach the YES
sci to save her. 1t was not until yesterday
that | could ascertain what damage was done
to my ships bows. On my arrival here my
chief steward went ashore and so did the
passengers, and | requested that they would
mention the collision; but the first thing l
should have done next morning, was to report
to our Agent and the naval officer. anchored
far out because after having one colllslon,l
did not want to venture among the shipping
on a dark night in a strange place. When 1
saw the other vessels side lights | knew she
was a steamer. The law, when two ships
meet, end to end, is to port their helm, re-
CARELESS of sail or steam but when two sail
ing ships meet, and the one is on the star
board bow, / think the one on the starboard
kzal 1000 H.. 1,r oa1 tho ~orko ~;vo
the way. When a steamer meets another
steamer, which latter is also under sail, and
comes on her port tack, each vessel ports her
helm. | first saw the bright light about a
mile distance. | cannot speak positively
with regard to the bearings of the Spit, but
the light was south and IL east. About a
half a point on the port bow, | saw the same
time a red and green light.
DIRECT RESUMED.
Neither did | hear any screech, nor did
vessel. l did moi hear that night from any
one that the other ships side was cut open ;
the second officer reported TO me that he
heard from the other ship a hail, which he
My idea was that nothing was
wrong with the other ship, and finding water
coming into my vessel, [ was anxious to get
up as quick as possible. My vessel is about
Is years old.
REPLIES TO THE COURT.
My own lights were burning bright. | can
see them from my bridges. Ny course was
due northeast. [ did not think of reversing
the engines, but | do not think there was
time for it. | consider not the pilot but N.Y.
self having charge of the vessel. | ordered
the movements of the helm, flying signal for
pilot. | found the man in a schooner, he
on board and introduced himself. In
these waters one does not look for pilots GER
~tifcates. The wind did not moderate after
the collision. Surprising | had turned round
after the collision | don't think | should
have reached her in less than half an hour,
because the other ship remained stationary
alter the collision, it would have taken me
ten minutes to swing back to the place
of collision (Mr. Barnard objected to these
questions, but was corrected). The pilot
me the bearings of the spit. A steamer
generally gives way to a sailing vessel
under her stern. When the vessels
collided | did not hear any crash as to the
breaking of timbers.
The collision happened about eighteen
miles from my anchorage. When / sent
my officer | got to know that the boom
and piece of sail were hanging about my
bow. l ordered to get it in. 1t did not from
these traces strike me whether the other YES.
sci was bigger or smaller than mine, nor did
it strike me that my ship must have pene-
trated far in order to take away the other
boom. L do not know what spar it is which
is left in my ships stem. When | was going
up l knew the spar was there. You could
see it from both sides. 1t struck me to be a !
singular thing that the spar should be in nv
bow. | thought it was my bowsprit which !
sook away the gaf and sail. These things
we're discovered almost Immediately after the
My ship carries seven boats, two i
ife-boats, two cutters, a mail, a gig. and a -,
oily boat. My crew in all so. This is the {
irst accident ever had. When two ships +
collide, | do not consider it usual to commu- q
licate or stay by each other, unless you S
hink the other seriously damaged. 1 did
lot think the other ship was harmed. I I
lsked the pilot if he thought SO, and he said, i.
No; there is spit" When two ships come .
nto collision during a dark night, 1 am not !
wa re that If Is customary for 4ba 49, y