The Republican journal., 1870-03-17
The pilot told me the spit wa.

at risk in this The pilot told re the spit was
close at hand and there was no danger. 1t had not
occurred to me to stop and communicate with the
Oneida When | saw the spar run through my
bows weighed the damage the other ship might
have sustained, and it occurred to me that l had
done no more than taken IA spar from the deck. |
thought the spar was from the quarter. cannot
account for it striking me on the water line !
should say struck the Oneida abatt the mizzen
rigging.
The following are the statements of Will
lam w. Crowninshield, Captain Williams
clerk, and Master Yates of the Oneida -
STATEMENT OF MIR. CRowNINsHMLD.
We left Yokohama at about 4 80 O'Clock p. NJ. on
Monday Jan. "A, bound for Hong Kong en- route
for New York. AT six O'Clock we We're well into
the channel, and, with fair wind and tide, conclu-
ded to sacken steam, which we accordingly did,
and then all hands, except those in charge of the
deck, went below for supper. | had lain down en-
the starboard transom below decks with my cloth
ing and heavy overcoat on, and fell asleep. was
awakened-l do not know how soon-by a sudden
shock, and upon recovering consciousness, was
aware that had been stunned, as was covered
With the debris OF the Wreck-Wood, broken spars,
sails. etc. AS crawled out from the mass of mat
ter. could see the sea asten and the stars shining,
and then it flashed upon my mind that our ship had
come into collision with some other vessel. found
myself badly bruised, but crawed out in the stern
and up the splintered sides to the spardeck then
went forward, and, meeting several officers aske
er I afterwards learned that it was the English
mail steamer Bombay)had run into our starboard-
quarter, and cut us down. Our steam whistle was
blowing tiercely, and the guns We're being loaded to
fire alarm notes, for it was certain that the ship
was in a sinking condition; it had so been expect
ed by Lieut. Commander W. Mudaur. The most
perfect discipline pervaded the crew, and no cry
was heard or alarm was manifested. Taking
hurried view, saw that we could stay afoat but
short time, and then climbed into the main rig
gng. when the guns We're fired. This was about 10
minutes after the collision. The officer of the deck
then announced that the ship was going down fast.
and ordered the crew to take to the rigging. Look
ing down. saw the water pouring down the hatch
abatt the mainmast. then took off my coats.
and in few seconds the ship gave a urch and
went down stern first. was taken under. should
think, about 10 or 30 feet, and coming up.
found myself near boat, for Which struck out,
and when nearly exhausted was drawn on board
by Master Iatcs. | saw many heads doting the
water, brt the sea soon swept us away, and they
were lost to view. The Bombay did not stop or
send us boats; had she done so, nearly every man
aboard would have been saved. She was struck
Just abatt the miZZen-mast. at an angle of about
thirty degrees, and cut to the waters edge. There
were thirty-nine lives saved by the cutter which
took us ashore, where we found shelter and fire at
japanese tea-housc. The next morning I was
taken on the Bombay, and from thence transferred
to the Yangtze, i'll which arrived at Yokohama.
STATEMENT OF MASTER YATES.
The statement Of this officer is, that when about
two miles off Saratoga Spit, saw the lights of the
ON tb sarhoarJ anga W. ntna o l ie to
the waters edge, and through which the whole in
"i .e gun WAS ss a ne earrea
killing two men at the wheel All the officers who
were not on deck rushed up Tor were brought up,
It was evident 10 us all that the shin waS tat
wreck, and that she would go down in few min
S;nn iatnnamt rn,yn"'14l ,iul u.
ship ahoy ship ahoy Lay to; you have cut US
but. as She pad no heed. our Whistle was blown