Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-03-15
NO. So.
THE LOSS OF THE ONEIDA.

THE LOSS OF THE ONEIDA.
A correspondent of the New York
Tribune sends that paper letter from
Yokohama giving a full account of the
disaster to the steamer Oneida. As soon
as Minister De Long heard the news at
Yokohama he started for the scene of the
disaster in the steamer Yangtze, the only
vessel that could be procured. The writer
adds
In the meantime, the captain Of the
storeship Idaho and the captain Of the Rus
sian corvette, who had been rowing Wild
ly about the harbor in hopes to aid any Of
the survivors, were taken on board the
Yangtze, Three boats, filled with gallant
Russian and American sailors to search the
beach, were taken in tow, and at Z O'Clock
we steamed down the bay. followed by
the English sloop-ofwar Sylvia, while the
French steam-launch and an English tug
boat were skirting the shores seeking for
survivors. The Bombay was ordered by
Captain Stanhope, senior officer of the
English fleet, to return and search for the
men her captain had left to drown, and
after the order had been twice repeated,
the last time with threat that Captain
Eyre should return or he would make
him. that ship had gone ahead: when the
1angtze arrived to within two or three
miles Of the place Of collision, we met the
Bombay returning. Speed was slackened,
and signals made for her to stop, which
she partly complied with, answering our
hail with reply that she had thirty-nine
more survivors aboard, and that no moro
| la -, <Ia Lax-
near the scene of disaster. We then low
cred our boats and started to bring the
men off to the Yangtze; but the captain
Of the Bombay put on steam, and, with
our boats bearing the American colors at
the bow en- route to his ship to receive the
men, he left us and started for Yokohama.
This was insulting, for every American
and Russian on the Yangtze felt that to
our ship belonged the rescued men. Min
lister De Long Immediately gave orders
to the captain of the IangtZe to put on
every pound Of steam and overhaul the
insolent and defiant Bombay. The order
was promptly obeyed, and the captain of
the mail steamer, seeing that we meant
mischief, concluded to take prudent
course and to lie to until Captain Null
len of the Idaho went alongside, and
there found the captains clerk, William
+ H. Crowninsheld, and l5 men of the
7 Oneida, who, with % more who had gone
to Yokohama overland, had been saved in
a boat launched just before the Oneida
went down. These men were transferred
to the deck of the Yangtze, where they
met with as warm a greeting and received
as kind attention as ever man gave to a
brother. Among all the crowd of rough
men, who had braved death a hundred
times perhaps, there was not one whose
eye did not testify to his deep emotion; it
was touching scene. and one never to
be forgotten. After further search, that
resulted only in disappointment, the PROV
of the Yangtze was turned toward YokO-
hama. and we reluctantly left the spot
where we knew were sleeping LOG good
loyal American seamen, from whom we
had parted but few brief hours before.
The following are the statements of
William w. Crowninshield, Captain Will
liam's clerk, and Master Yates of the
Oneida -
STATEMENT OF MIR. CROwINSHIELD.
We left Yokohama, at about 4.30 O'Clock
P. NJ. on Monday, Jan. "a, bound for Hong
Kong, en- route for New York. At six
o'clock we were well into the channel,
and, with a fair wind and tide. concluded
to slacken steam. which we accordingly
did. and then all hands, except those in
charge of the deck, went below for sup
per. / had laid down on the starboard
transom below decks with my clothing
and heavy overcoat on, and fell asleep.
l was awakened-I do not know how soon
by sudden shock, and upon recover
ing consciousness, was aware that had
been stunned, as | was covered with the
debris OF the wreck wood, broken spars,
sails, etc. As crawled out from the
!; mass of matter, could see the sea astern
and the stars shining, and then it flashed
upon my mind that o,lr ship had come
into collision with another vessel. i found
myself badly bruised. hut crawled out in
the stern and up the splintered sides to the
/ sparde OK; | then went forward, and meet
ing several officers, Il afterwards learned
that it was the English mail steamer Bonn
bay) had ran into our starboard-quarter,
and cut US down Our steam whistle was
blowing tiercely, and the guns were being
loaded to fire as alarm notes, for il was
certain that the ship was in sinking con-
dition; it had so been expected by Lieut.
Commander w. Muldaur The most per-
feet discipline pervaded the crew, and no
cry was heard or alarm was manifested.
f Taking hurried view, | saw that we
could stav afloat but short time, and l
then climbed into the main rigging, when
the guns We're fired. This was about
10 minutes after the collision. The officer
: of the deck then announced that the ship
was going down fast, and ordered the crew
TO take to the rigging Looking down,
saw the water pouring down the hatches
abait the mainmast / then took of my
coats, and in few seconds the ship gave
lurch and went down stern first. was
taken under, should think, about Is or
20 feet, and. on coming up, found myself
near boat, for which | struck out. and
when nearly exhausted was drawn on
board by Master Yates. saw many
heads dotting the water, but the sea soon
swept us away, and they were lost to
view The Bombay did not stop or send
US boats; had she done so nearly every
man aboard would have been saved. She
was struck Just abait the mizzcn-mast. at
- daf nd ruf