New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-10

down Our steam whistle was blowing fercely and the
guns being loaded to fire alarm notes for 1t was
certain that the ship in slukng condition. hau 80
been expected by Lieut.. Commander w. Muidaur The
most perfect discipline porvaded the crew. and no cry
was heard or alarm was manifested Taking a hurried
view. that could stay ahoat but snort uhe
and then climbed the main rigging. when the guns
were fred This minutes after tue collision
The officer Of deck then announced that the ship was
gong fast, aud ordered the crow to take 10 o
rigging Looking down. the water pouring down
the matches abaft the main mast. then took OH NY
coats and in few seconds the ship gave lurch ana
went down stern first akcn under should thHA'
about Is or 20 feet and. on up, found myself
near "a boat. for which struck out and Wheh nearly
exhausted was drawn on board Master Yates saw
many heads dottug water bat the sea soon swept
us away. and they we're lost to view Tho BOMBAY u'u
not stop send boats had she done So nearly every
man aboard would have been saved. She was struck
lust abat the mizzenmast, at an angie OF ao""' 'V
degrees and cut TO the waters edge. There were ~
lives saved by cutter which took us ashore "herc VIC
found shelter and fire at Japanese tca-house Inc noA
morning was taken the Bombay, ana rom theh'c
transferred to the Yangtzc in which arrived at 4oko
THE STATEMENT OF MASTER YATES.
The statement Of this officer Is, that when about TWO
miles of Saratoga Spit the lights OF the BOMBAY
she came right on and struck the Oneida on the star
board cangway cutting hole in us TO the waIers edge
and through which the whole interior Of the gunroom
was visible. she carried away our gig mnnacle-"heei
and ruddcr. instantly killing TWO men at the wheel AL
the officers who were deck rushed up Tor were
brought up some being sick, and sail was instantly
shortened II was evident to us all that the ship was
total wreck and that would 90 down in a few min
utes As the Bombay hauled away from the collision
Lieut. Commander Stewart shouted, "Shp ahoyi
ship ahoy Lay to; you have cut US 70 the
Water This was repeated three times but. as
she paid heed, our whistle was blown anu
three guns were fred The order was given TO
"lower away the boats" but the he-boat was only
available, the cutter was shipped IN cf'0e On
board the hfcbOat manned ana pushed away l'I'
Suddcr and Is men were saved in herr As the snip sunk
the cutter was got aoa and myself and 50 others were
saved in her As the ship was fast SINKING capt L l.
Williams who was on the bridge was asked TO get on
board he refused TO do So saying NO; shali stay
in my shiplf she goes down" Leut.Commander NluI-
dam walked M and touching his hat, said Sir, the
shin is going down" ~ it, said the Captain, "but
what can dol have repeatedly asked for boats but
could not get them" AT this moment the snip settled
the smokotack and forced the cutter IRON
the ships side. and she went down stern first hHuieu
Captains Clerk william +. CrOwnlnsheld on board ana
made great effort to Lieut. Commander Stewart,
bu he sunk just before reached him. saying as he went
down, "For Gods sake save me-" lie was quite III al tAe
time.
The remainder Of Mr. Yatess statement CORE
spends with that of Mr.. CrOwniBshicld, and all OF
those saved concur in these statements in every es
sential particular.
On the other side, the Captain of the Bombay
claims 10 have supposed that no serious damage had
been done the Oneida, his pilot and some of the
officers attempting to excuse themselves on the same
grounds They also assert that they did not hear
any signals of distress, though less than n mile
away but as a hundred persons, at least, in 1oko-
Rama IS miles distant, heard the guns distinctly,
this monStrous assertion is not credited by any can
did person. The steward of the Bombay. on arrival
at Yokohama went TO the International Hotel, and
there asserted that tic Oneida had been run into, and
hole en-, in her to the lraS edge so that he could see
the men carrying person oadeck and da' she must
soon hare cone do,cn Thus it viii be that il was
known on that ship that the Oneida seriously
damaged, and it leaves no room doubt that Capt.
Eyre has either been guilty Of gross cOwardce, or
grOsSer iuhumanity.
OFFICIAL INQUIRY.
On Thursday January 81 q court OF inquiry was
convened before the British Consul and four mari
time officers. At this court, up to the date of this
letter. no testimony has been taken except from the
officers of the Bombay, and they have far been
systematic and persistent in trying to shield them
selves from blame.
Minister De Long has appeared before that court.
and by his able crOss-queStionng and untiring zeal
in behalf of his dead-and every American here be
Hevcs mUrdercd-countTymen has exposed, in amass
of incohcrent and inconsistent testimony, most
wilful and deliberate series of fabricaons. Tonor-
row the adverse testimony will be presented. andtis
beyOndquestion that the allegation of gross inhuman
ity to harsher term will be fully and clearly
proven. The English Minister Sir Harry Parks,
who has so far attempted to vndicate the action of
Capt Eyre. seems to be lost in the bewildering
mass of contradictions in which bis witnesses have
involved themselves and the Court cannot but see
the lameness of tine defense BY the next mail yOu
may expect a digest of the entire evidence so that
your readers may Judge for themselves whether or
not over 100 brave have not been ruthlessly
murdered for whileit is cOnceded that according to
tie strict rules of the sea, the Bombay had the
equity of position when the collision occurred her
neglect to lay to and lower boats 10 our men
was equivalent to murder
COMMENTS. &C.
In Yokahoma three newspapers are published, all
controlled and edited by Englishmen, and as this
terrible disaster has evoked deep feeling that par
takes Of national character, these papers have
deavored as far as possible give the most favorable
aspect possible on the side of their accused country
man When the evidence of Capt. Eyre taken
they all desclaimed that his testimony put differ
ent face on the matter" not waiting to hear the
crushing testimony to follow, and apparently dis
crediting the statements of the So Americans saved.
This letter will go by the ship Benefactress, fast
sailing clipper which will reach San Francisco, 1T is
hoped by Feb 26, and as this is holiday week here
Japanese and Chinese New-Yearl no papers will be
issued until after the ship has left the reports
hitherto published are entirely untrustwOrthy, and
the conclusions drawn both false and untenable;
so any copied statements from these journals would
have the tendency to give q very erroneous impress.
sion TO the reader
MF.SIHFS TO RECOVER THE BODIES