The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-04-06

Lieutenant Commander Muldaur
and Paymaster TullOck.
The following letter from a naval
officer stationed In japanese waters to
Colonel Cowie Of this city, will be
cad with interest, as it touches upon
two points hitherto not very clearly
explained, namely: Why the Oneida
attempted to cross the bow of the
Bombay, and why Surgeon Stoddards
eatered the boat with the men VINO
we're saved:
~. s. STEAMER DELAWARE,
OFF FoO-CHow, Feb. IL, 1870.
DEAR SIR: 1t grieves me much to
De obliged to write to you OF the terri
BIZ disaster of which ere this you
INST have heard. Dear james is gone
from mopRst US, and the best tribute
chat | can pay to the memory of u
ola and beloved messmate is to offer
what consolation may be In my power
10 his parents.
catering the Naval Acadamy, as we
aid. almost together, always in the
same class, separating at one gradua-
tfnn only to meet in a few months on
tde same squadron; afterward for
niae months messmates On the Oneida,
i5 seems to me llks losing q brother,
aud we'll can | sympathise with you In
yl1r afflicticn at losing a son who
must have been so dear. l was in
long Kong when I heard Of the dis
aster. and have had but little oppor-
tunity of informing myself of the de-
tails.
The ship left Yokohama about 5
o'clock on the evening of the 24th of
January, homeward bound. Shortly
after dark a steamer was sighted
ahead. and as there was a danger of
r~nnning ashore if she stood on her
course, the Oneida attempted to cross
the other steamers bow; in so doing
they colIided, the Bombay striking
the Oneida between the main aud
mizzen rigging, cutting her down and
laving open the whole after part of the
starboard side. The two men at the
1heel we're killed instantly, aud the
rudder rendered useless. All hope of
saving the ship was Immediately given
up, and every eXeTtion was made to
save the sick and feeble. Every Off
Ger and man stood to his station nobly
but two boats were available. the other
being stove; one was Immediately
cleared away, and into it were put the
sick in charge of one Of the surgeons.
Meanwhile every exertion was made
10 attract attention by halls, firing
guns blowing the steam whistle. etc.,
but the wretch in command of the
Bombay kept on his course, nor did
he report the accident on his arrival
in Yokohama, but an hour afterward.
The men worked like heroes. and
stuck to their stations to the last.
Tic engineer of the watch (Charles
Nv. Senter), refused to leave his post,
and was drowned at the throttle valve.
Mr.. Stewart, the executive officer.
aided by Midshipman Adams, loaded
and fred the guns, They worked
until the water was waist. deep around
atem. Adams went into the maya
zine 10 get q last charge OF powder,
and Bhile returning was struck down
and instantly killed by the forecastle
9un which slid from it's place dowr
j hatehway. The Captain refused tc
4as-e a boat. Ordering the men t
aave themselves he said he would g
down With his ship. MessFs. Stewart
tbe executive. Muldsur, the navigator
aud Yates, officer of the deck, stood
I'D the Captain on the bridge. The
men we're driven to the fo~recastle b!
fhe water. and there, with certain
death staring them IN the face, instead
Of giving way 10 grief, they went down
cheering the old flag. Dear jane
gyobably never knew what happened
He is said to have been sick and con
fned to his room, aud from what
know Of where his room must havt
been he was probably instantly killeC
by the collision. Poor fellow! he al
least escaped the agony of the mex
ten minutes. The extreme cold o
tia water must have paralyzed all who
we're precipitated into it. Twenty OF
6cers ard ninety seven men we're lost
four officers and hfty-seven men saved
Mr. Stewart and Paymaster Tullocl
we're both seen after the ship sunk
Put both went down before aid coul
reach them.
On hearing of the affair the Admi
gel Immediately gave orders for tn
Delaware to proceed to 1okohamf
We had reached this point when on
~ the engines broke down, and tn
admiral will 60 on by mail steameI
Nc shall probably return to Hong
Kong. The bodies OF the lost have
4 suppose, been recovered before this
III there Is anything IN my power tha
j may do for you, pray command me:
L. seems to me as If In the Oneid
went down nearly all the friends tina
had. so long was with them, an
lanes particularly-~s better mess
mate never walked the deck. He ws
lied BY everybody, and PARTICULAR
a. his superior officers. Once he ha
been mentiosed in dispatches to IL
Admiral for conduct during q gale
wind. and I know that he new
Hinched from danger. Had he bee
ON the Oneida's deck, he would hay
met his death as braVely as the res
If [ can get any of his effects | sha
send them to you, for you must Walt
them next to himself.
In closing, allow me to offer ny sci
yices again. Please accept for you.
self, and convey to your family, NJ
sqarmest sympathies for them 10 the
great affection.
[ have the honor to be, sir, yol
most obedient servant,
Z. w. VERY, Ensign.
Colonel George Cowie, Washin
ton. ID. g."
The subjoined letter from Payma
ter Lyon, United States Navy, b
Just been received:
UNITED STATES SHIP IDAHO.
70 KOHAMA, Feb. II, 1870
Hon Thomas l.. Tulloek, Washlngto
Ny DEAR SIR: | feel very gre
he3itancy about intruding myself-s
entire strangeP-upon you in th
hour of sorrow; but your sons war
friends here seem TO think me Il
most suitable person to convey TO VI
assurances of our deep and earne
VII 1Z..LalA-- =