The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-03-19

It il seldom We read story Of such infinite
pathos - the narrative OF the los of the Oneida
as given in cur San Francisco despatch Of YES.
terday. 1t supplies al that was lacking tn li M
the skeleton rumor that had reached us two DAYS
before, from the other side. The rumor came
round tho world from the east; the details came
round the world from the west and confirm our
worst forsbodings. The good ship had demo her
duty in three years cruise on the China sta.
ton, and had just left Yokohama, "homsward
bound" with all the brave. American hearts of
her officers and crew softensd like wax by the
magic OF those joyous words. Twenty miles
from Yokohama had been made, and all was we'll,
when, - the shadows of the evening were closing
round the vessel, the great steamer that had
bean deserted ahead bearing down on them struck
her ON her starboard quarter, and passed of into
ed, and lying helpless wreck ON the ocean. The
hailiag shouts and the reports of the guns from
the crippled vessel failed to recall the steamer to
the rescue Of the imperilled crew from the mis-.
chief abe had inflicted. A hasty inspection
revealed the of the three boats only which
she was allowed to have but two were service
able. Two small boats to one hundred and sew.
enty-nine men presented the real horror Of the
situation. But they met it like men. A few.
very few, could be .aved in the Two boats; all
the rest must perish. Who should DO the few,
question, at that supreme moment But there
was no rush of demoralized towards for the boats
no indiscriminate scramble for the beggarly
sixteen chances for life that remained. The
authority Of tho officers might have secured the
prizes for themselves; but they were too brave
and true to their men, to the service and to their
country on the other side of the world to save
themselves and leave the men to perish. They
would perish with the men. Their authority
was exerted, indeed, but it was only to maintain
discipline that all might meet death with do.
cency. The brave Captain Williams set the
example, and every officer and man left aboard,
after the boats had pushed off, initiated it; aud
when the few short moments, which the rising
waters had allotted to the wounded ship had ex-
pired, there was lurch, a plunge-and all was
over. The officers and crew had gone down
with their beloved ship and the mournful trage-
dy WAS ended. 1t was a repetition of the famous
sinking of the British ship Birkenhead, with her
crew msrshaled on deck, and going down with a
present arms" at fate their guns could not
resist.
1t is proud sad piece of history, which
touches the hearts, and brings water to the eyes
of the countrymsn of that gallant crew. Their
death was victory over death itself-a spectacle
of moral grandeur, which only heroic race
could exhibit and worth more to their country,
and to the service, than dozen triumphs won in
the passion and splendor of battle. We weep
like children over their fate, but are proud that
they met it with such hale aud placid heroism.
We feel as though we would give all the ships
in the navy to have saved them; and vet we
would hardly be willing to have saved them at
the sacrifice of their great example.-St. Louis
Republican.