The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-04-02
From the Alta, March l4th
THE ONEIDA
Inauiry into the Cause of the Collision.

THE MEDIA CALAMITY
inquiry into the Cause of the Collision
British Consular Court-De Long appears a
La,oya-Dec1ares has Intention to Prosecut
Captain Eyre-The Taxing Of Epidence Com
naeneed-TestinOny Of Eyre.
On the 24th of January, at Yokohama, a
Court of Inquiry was held In II. b Ms
Consulate, at Kanagawa, into the circum,
stances attending the loss of the United
States steamer oneida, on Monday, the
24th of January, outside the Yokohama
harbor, on her voyage from Yokohama to
New York. .-t.,
The British Consul, Mr.. Lowder, presided,
and he was assisted by several British ship
masters.
The British Minister, Mr.. Parkes, and
American Minister, De Long, were present
The latter appeared as a lawyer, dropping
! his ministerial character for the occasion.
EYRE DEMURs TO JURISDICTION.
Captain Eyre, master of the BOn1bdy'
asked if the evidence given In this Court
would be used against him at a future time
If so. to be allowed the assistance OF ms
legal adviser, Mr.. Barnard. He protested
against the Court as incompetent; ana
against any evidence given in 1t.
His Honor replied that the Court concludes
that Captain Eyre is allowed to retain Mr..
Barnard's services.
MIR. Barnard submitted that this Court
has no power to inquire into the damage
done to a ship of another nationality that
the only competent Court in cases OF COLLISION
is the Supreme Court at Shanghai. Ii,
therefore, this Court was to be the basis OF
any Interior criminal proceedings he protested
but If on the other hand the Court would
limit itself to inquire into the circumstances
attending the collision, he should waive his
objections and his client would be glad to
avail himself of the opportunity to exculpate
himself.
LEGAL STARRING.
Mr.. De Long expressed his surprise at the
contradictory nature of the proceeding Of
Captain Eyre in first asking for a court and
then protesting against it. He expressed
his intention, when this inquiry was over,
to prosecute " that man" pointing to Captain
Eyre, On the most heinous charge the evil
dence might show him guilty of.
Mr.. Barnard objected to such language
being used in an English court by an Amer
lean citizen. THAT gentleman" he was
informed, is a lawyer, and would thus know
that without any specific charge being pre-
ferred against his client, it was contrary to
common law that the evidence here given
should be used to incriminate him.
TESTIMONY OF EYRE.
Captain Eyre, sworn-l hold a masters
certificate. Am In command of the steamer
Bona6ay-was in command on the oath of
January, at 81 P. NJ, in sight of the light
house. Saw a bright light half a point on
port bow. Shortly afterward | made out
two side lights, green and red, | ported the
helm and kept porting until | shut the green
light in. The pilot and the chief officer
We're standing by me. On shutting out the
green light, my pilot said, eve are well
clear" My answer was g port still" The
steam vessel then turned off. Almost i'm
mediately afterwards, | observed the coming
vessel putting her helm hard a starboard,
crossing my bow with full sails and steam.
| stopped my engines; when she came
nearly ahead of me, | put my helm hard a
starboard to clear her, Immediately after
striking her behind the mizen gear, our
quarter-the shock not being more than a
Craze. [ turned round TO see what damage
was done. [ had sent the chief officer down
to see if we were making water. | said to
the pilot, " | don't think much harm is done,
if there is we shall soon see signal rockets"
My engines were stopped about ten minutes,
the chief officer came and reported the ship
making water forward. | then said, q see
no signals of distress, go ahead" Nor did
L hear anything and as the ship was making
water | made speed for Yokohama. While
looking at the vessel astern, [ asked my
pilot, Supposing ship was hurt, or | should
require it, where could we go for safety?"
The answer was, not the slightest fear,
the spit Is near, you cannot get down."
Even after | came to Yokohama | thought
little of the collision. | had not the slightest
idea of the harm done. | did not know
what ship it was. | said when it passed me
Z" that is ar auxiliary screw."
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS BY ARNARD
Even after the green light was shut out l
kept the helm a port when the vessel crossed
my BOWS she was under full sail and steam,
going with wind and tide, the breeze was
strong. The ship was about 100 feet distant
when she crossed my bow, another 20 feet
and should have cleared her. l do not
think | was going at more than Z to 81
knots. The wind was against me, the night
was dark. When | first saw the bright
light, L think the ship was a mile distant. [
can't tell the time elapsing from then until
the collision. The ship evidently starboarded
her helm, she must have been going at the
rate of IA knots. After finding the ship
coming right down upon me, l starboarded
my helm to clear her. ! was on the bridge
the whole time. With me were the pilot
the chief officer. My other people were
all at their proper stations. On forepart of
the poop was the second officer, and the
officer standing by the wheel to see
that the Geographic orders We're attended to.
| sent the fourth officer there because half
an hour previously the quartermaster did
not answer my signals quick enough.
When said ten minutes, I meant from the
time stopped the engines until | vent on
again. | have never been in these waters
before. That was my reason for taking a
| had no idea of the nationality of
he ship. | have been to sea 81 years.
have been in command of vessels for 20
years. saw no damage on the ship, but it
vas my own and the pilots opinion that her
quarter gallery had gone. | saw no rockets
,r signals of any sort, Notwithstanding / F.,
ooked for them. l did not hear any guns.
did not see the other vessel clew up her
ills. At the moment of collision nv nilof =