The Portland daily press., 1870-04-26
per annuns, IN adtance.
DAILY PRESS.
Tuesday Morning, April 26, 1870.
The Oneida.

Forty mine of the survivors of this Inflated
vessel have arrived at San Francisco, and
from their statements published in the papers
we take the following interesting items:
There was no response from the other ship
no check or change in her course. The ill
fated Oneida was settling rapidly by the stern
and while the brave gunners were trying to
charge their piece for the fourth time they
stood over their knees in water, and could
only load the gun without firing it, Instant
ly on the occurrence of the collision the order
was given to clew sails, and get out head sails
to steer by, as the steering apparatus was
gone. Inc men obeyed this order, also, as If
they were not confronted by the prospect of
instant death. When it became apparent
that the Bombay would not stop, and that
the Oneida could float but moment longer,
despair seized all hearts-but no panic fol-
lowed.
THE HEROIC CAPTAIN.
The navigating officer, Mr.. Muldeau, called
out to Captain Williams who stood on the
bridge, Capt. Williams, the ship will 60 down
IN three minutes by the stern. You had bet
ter go in the boat" But he responded "save
yourself and all you can never mind me
This is my place; will stay here" Then,
| thinking that possibly the ship might be in
| sounding, he called to the men forward and
all over the decks, "All hands lay out in the
| riggingp Instantly, says one informant,
every part of the rigging was black with the
helpless birds, pirched and clung In it and on
the yards, hoping to thereby lift themselves
above the profound abyss of waters which
seemed already yawning beneath them. The
third gun had been fired, the water followed
the powder into the chamber for the fourth
discharge, the gunners stood knee deep in the
sea, they could not fire again, the last signal
was given but one. The Oneipa trembled as
II conscious of her doom she shook, settled
by the stern, her Prov pointed a second sky
wards, and then the fated ship plunged like
shot downward. As the surging waters part
ed to receive and engulph her, one concerted,
piercing shrek from every line and mast and
spar went up to heaven, and all was silent.
The Oneida had given her last signal tor help.
THE SURVIVORS.
The story of the rescue of the few fortunate
survivors is well known. The Oneida's gig
was smashed in the collision, and in a ty-
phoon short time before she had lost her
three boats. Some forty-two men made their
way ashore in one boat, and considered their
escape almost miraculous. Had the ship been
able to have gone one hundred yards further
she would have been in water suficiently
shallow to leave a great portion OF her rig
ging above the surface and many more lives
would have been saved. She sank in abOnt
twenty fathoms and the water is deepest
Sstern.
TO THE SCENE OF THE DIsAsTER-DIvERs
AT WORK.
After the facts became fully known Minis
ter De Long and other officials, W ith volun-
teers from the survivors, repaired to the
scene of the disaster to look for bodies of the
dead. The accounts of their operations have
been published. However, we are now in
formed that party of divers afterward went
to the place. SOundings were taken and the
position of the wreck determined. 1t was
found that men in boats could reach down
and grasp the lightning rod on the fore-top-
gallant-yard truck. AT low water and ON
clear day, portions of her rigging could be dis
tinctly seen. Divers descended and went
through the vessel. They found the immense
opening in the hull, but could find no bodies
in the wreck. They brought cutlass and
glove box up. The water was extremely
cold. 1t was thought there was possibility
OF raising the vessel, and bids for such an en-
terprise and for her sale were talked Of.
RECOVERY OF BODIES.
The Japanese are too suspicious. Shortly
after the disaster, some of these people fish
ing near the place found number OF bodies
in their nets and threw them into the sea
again. When reward was offered for their
recovery, the fishermen overcame their scu-
PIES BY them the body of Ensign c. E.
Brown was recovered about the 22d Of March.
1t was identified by his sleeve buttons which
bore his name.
ANOTHER INVESTIGATION.
After the first investigation, which was
generally pronounced partial and unfair, and
which resulted in the complete exculpation
of the Captain of the Bombay from all re-
sponsibility or blame, there was another one
held by Naval Board. They examined all
the witnesses who could be procured, and the
results of their deliberations are on their way
to Washington, having reached here to-day.
The documents are sealed, but it is known
that the conclusions arrived at are very diff
ferent from the others. The officers and men
of the Oneida are relieved from all blame, and
the Captain of the Bombay is held responsi-
BILE for his misconduct before and after the
collision. The Secretary of the Navs had al
ready arrived at similar conclusion.