The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-03-25
aDhIc Letter from W. w. CrOWnln.
HELD Describing the Catastrophe.
How he Fortunately Escaped.


-
We are permitted to copy the fol-
I1 wing interesting extracts from a
fstter written to his sister by Mr.. w.
W. CroWninshield, the clerk of Capt.
Williams of the United States steam
-r Oneida. 1t will be observed that
RIr. CroWninshield got out of the cab
ri window, over the stern to the poop
deck. and thence gained the quarter
5ssk and bridge previous to the YES
rs sinking. This seems to render
conclusive that the Bombay did
net 90 entirely Y e the Oneida, but
utst have backed away from her be-
f,-e continuing on her needless course:
YOKOHAMA, Japan, January %, 1870.
The Oneida is no more! but thank
H 5aven I am one of the survivors OF
an awful catastrophe. We started
trO days ago with u ship for Hong
long. and in two hours our good YES
sel was at the bottom-having been
r1n into by an English steamer be-
longing to the Peninsula and Oriental
Company. All are drowned but DIR.
Saddards, Mr.. Yates, the Doatswain,
ffty-twO men and myself.
Nv escape was most miraculous.
At the time of the collision / was
asleep ia the cabin, on the transom, at
about ten minutes to seven In the
evening. The steamer struck US in
ths fore part of the cabin. i found
myself on the floor, just coming to
from being stunned, and on opening
my eyes | saw the whole stern was cut
of, and all exposed to the starlight.
had sense enough to climb out of
the stern over to the spar deck, and
40 look down into tho cabin to see it
Captain Williams was there, but could
not see MIN; | seized a cap within
reach and put it on with the strap IN
der nv chin. l had on a thick suit,
oTercoat and boots; l went to the
u~uarter-deck, met Paymaster Tullock,
ind inquired how the disaster hap
peued; L met Captain Williams, and
hid him how serious the damage was;
he was going on the bridge; / spoke
10 one or two more officers, and find
ing the ship was sinking l went into
the main rigging, aud In five minutes
our good ship commenced to sink
rapidly; | was ten feet above the rail
when she had sunk so as to have the
water reach me, / pushed myself as
lar away from the ship as ] could, but
the vortex carried me down, and it
vas a long time ere | came to the sur
Ice. When / did l saw nothing of
The ship, but many heads above the
water. [ saw one of our boats near
by me, and had just strength enough
.o reach her. / was pulled on board
Exhausted, and found Mr.. Yates with
thirty-seven Of the crew on board.
We steered for the nearest land, four
niles way as we'll as / could judge.
i vas nearly frozen, and soon had a
chill; but after a while we came near
the beach, and made a landing In the
surf, where 1 was just able to get
ashore, being very stiff with the cold.
We reached q Japanese village, and
found ahelter and rest for the night,
tWenty-eight miles from Yokohama.
NV heart is too full to tell you moro
of myself, although all | had went
down in the ship. Captain Williams
neted as bravely as he has always done.
lie would not leave his post On the
bridge. although he was almost pulled
way, and when urged by Mr.. Yates,
replied, II 90 down with my ship"
IA petty officer urging him to go, he
rrasped the iron rail and said. mo,
Y. III rs -uN UA0GGa AAtA AGA0 a -
"a bless him. The country and the
world have lost a noble officer, who
ed rather than leave what he con-
1ered a post of duty. This heroic
fanduet was followed by every officer
ID man on board the ship; not a
MI who had a station left it, but
ced death in such a name that
axes me feel proud we are Americans
- - - e. non all NJ home
eouldwish / was locked in their arms.
through all that / have passed during
my life, nothing has made such an
Impression upon me. L can see each
md every face ofthOse who have gone,
nd they all loved each other so much
The were proud of their country, and
ok such interest In It's prosperity
In that devoted band there were
many thoughts, but only one heart;
The Oneida was the favorlte shll
- the station. Gould you see whaI
lie popular feeling was here from
very one, you would think that al
owed the ship and her officers bette
nan l did. We left the port unde
ne most favorable auspices, the shII
fomeWard bound. All the men OF
ar cheered US, the merchant ship
tipped their flags, telling US OF thel
}0d wishes for a safe and pleasan
lssage home. But in n hour W
ere facing death as only American
u do, for not a murmur, not a or,
IS heard when the good ship Oneldi
zhioh had done her duty during tn
arl, was sinking, and every on
aew that meant death. Through a.
s. experience during the war, l sa'
49, A. n~rrNmwn NTH Ruk
X not write more-my heart Is to
.lI. Shall l ever get over it, Is VIII;
ask myself.
MONDAY, January 81, 1870.
Tho investigation drags slow.
ing. Last evening they found I'll
sip and have marked the spot. Th
IDS al the masts are visible SON
Of or two at low water. No bodlC
cen found yet; but il is hard
ue Tor any to appear, the water az
alther being so cold. In q day {
c re shall have the melancho.
lty Of identifying them, as all Japa
&c fishermen have orders, undt
nllty Of death, to bring all effec
go0 TO Yokohama w. w. O..
8E RUSSIANS AND AMERICANS D,
OUNCE THE CAPTAIN OF H BOZ
BAY rs A DELIBERATE MURDERE
Yhe following is an extract from
svate letter, dated Yokohama, ia
., written by o distinguish
d. who was formerly a resident
ew York:
i nave been waiting for the Chi
come in to answer your letters, b
- Is two days behind time, and
"a Wait no longer.
You will hear of the dreadi
reck of the United States mani
AR Oneida. run into aud sunk on t