Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-28
THE Loss OF THE ONEIDA.
The Omcial Evidence.


before the Naval Court of Inquiry at Yokohama
japan, in reference to the collision between the
U. s. steamer Oneida and the p. and o. steamer
Bombay, was received at the Navy Department
this morning. 1t covers 81 pages of closely
printed matter, and will be transmitted to
Congress.
In the evidence given in this case Can't Eyre
comedies that he made the remark after this
collision that he "believed he had taken the
Oneida's quarter gallery off,
Edward Newman, steward of the Bombay
testified that the carpenter OF the Bombay had
said that the Oneida '.was struck hard,o and
Il at he saw bodies carried away on the Oneida
Lieut.. Clemens, of III. NJ. s. Ocean, testified
that Capt. Eyre said to him -. have cut of
serve her right, she crossed my bows with n
starboard helm.''
Lieut.. Leventhorpe, of II. NJ. s. Ocean. testi-
fed that in the same conversation, Capt. Eyre
being present, some one remarked {" that they
could see right into the saloon OF the Oneida
after the collision.
George Wills, residing at the International
Hotel, Yokohama, testified that the steward of
the Bombay said in his presence that the car
penter Of the Bombay told him that there had
been collision, and I" that a hole had been
made In the other ship large enough 10 look into
the cabin;'' that Mr.. Hamerton, third officer OF
the Bombay, who was present at the Interna-
tional Hotel when the steward made this state
Rens Tas Se1 not steR z" Mr.
said, "Why not ?" Mr.. Hamerton made an
swer, "I cannot say; that's where the mistake
is"
1t was testified to that the guns fred by the
Oneida were heard by numerous parties i'm Yo-
kohama, and that the Oneidas steam whistle
was blowing from the time of the collision until
Just before the ship sank; also that Mr.. Stew
art, the executive officer of the Oneida, called
out in loud tone of voice to the Bombay
steamer, ahoy! you have cut us down; re-
main by us.''
The decision given by the court was upon two
questions before them.
First.-Was the injury sustained by the Pc
ninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Com
pany's ship Bombay brought about by the fault
of her commander, Mr.. Eyre?
Second.-After the collision had taken place
between the steamship Bombay and the United
States Corvette Oneida, what was the conduct
of the master of the former vessel?
Upon the first question the court decides that
the damage which has been sustained by the
Bombay is in no way attributable to the default
of her commander, Mr.. Eyre.
As regards the second question, which this
court is called upon to decide, viz the conduct
of Mr.. Eyre after the collision had take place, it
may be observed that il has not been without
long and serious deliberation among ourselves,
and most careful consideration OF all the evil
dence adduced, that we have arrived at an
unanimous decision. o
We find from the evidence before us that On
a dark but starlight night, the 24th of January
last, the steamship Bombay, through no fault
OF her commander, hr. Eyre, came into col
a.
in the close vicinity of Saratoga Spit, situated
some ten miles from Yokohama. That the eff
feet of this collision on the Bombay was COM
paratively slight. That guns were fired from
the Oneida as signals Of distress from ten to
fifteen minutes after the collision took place
That the report of these guns was not heard,
nor were the flashes seen on board the Bombay
That after the collision, the fact of the Bombay
having been hailed from the Oneida was re-
ported to Mr.. Eyre. That Mr.. Eyre only knew
that some of the upper works of the Oneida had
amount of injury sustained by her. That
the Bombay was mail steamer carrying
compartments, only one of which was
reported to him as making water fast.
That the whole extent Of the injury sustained
ey the Bombay was not ascertaned till the day
the collision it was not considered to be serious.
for had it been so, it is natural to suppose that
the knowledge Of the pilot would have been
availed OF and the Bombay run on to the Sara
toga spit That in our opinion no danger
10 the Bombay, her passengers and cargo,
Tam tRe bg sEea M Eyre Iy
evidently thought that the Oneida might possi-
bly, have sustained serious injury. That he
waited at the most five minutes after the COLI
sion to see If signals of distress were made from
he gave no orders that Snn ioofoat fdio s6sad
be kept in the direction of the Oneida
That had he or any one else been keeping
proper lookout, the flash of the Oneida's guns
must have been seen, though their report might
not nave been heard.
Under all these circumstances 1t becomes our
duty to pronounce whether in our opinion Mr.
Eyre was justified in proceeding on his voyage
without waiting to ascertain whether the Oneida
was in need Of assistance.
We recognize the fact that he was placed in
position Of great difficulty and doubt, and in cir
cumstances under which he was called upon to
decide promptly; but we regret to have to record
II as our opinion that he acted hastily and ILL
advisedly, in that, instead of waiting and eudeav-
ering to render assistance to the Oneida, he,
without having reason to believe that his own
vessel was in perilous position, proceeded on
This conduct constitutes, in our opinion, a
breach OF 33d section of the SD chapter of the
and ss easa of
Mr.. Eyre's certificate tor six calendar months
from this date.
Kanagawd, 18th February, 1870.
(SignedEFred. Lowder, H. b. Ms Consul,
President of the Court; Arthur Tinklar, Com,
mander H. M. 3. Ocean; David Moore Staff
Commander Of II: M. s: Ocean; John Gilfllan,
Master OF 3. 3. sultan; William Chapman, Mas
ter of Rockcliff.
Minister De Long has sent copies of the Of
hcial notes and evidence in the case of the
Oneida to Senator Stewart for distribution to
the relatives Of those on board.
MRS. FRANK MOORE, wife Of the Secretary o.
Legation at Paris, appeared at the last Court
ball in q sky-blue satin dress trimmed with
genuine point lace.
A NUMBER of amendments have been made to
the Tariff bill by the Ways and Means Commit
tee, most Of which relate to minor items. A
clause has been inserted providing that the act
shall take effect OH the LIST Of October next
The SENATE this morning passed the bill to
incorporate the National Union Savings Bank
of the District Of Columbia, and names ~ cor
porators George H. Plant, VIM. s. Huntington.
Lewis Clephane, II. A. willard, Geo. w. Adams.
8. p. Brown, VIM. Stickney, B. p. Snyder, A.
L. Sturtevant, j.: H. Lathrop, Nethaniei Wilson,
Todd, Edw'd Simms, jos. Casey, JAS. d. Latta,