The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-03-04
THE ONEIDA HORROR.
RIendish ReckIessness Of a British
Captnin.

Last nights dispatches from Yoka-
homa, via San Francisco, give details OF
the sinking of the Oneida, as follows:
At half past six o'clock in the after
noon of January oath, the United States
steamer Oneida, homeward bound, col
lided with the British steamer Bombay,
Captain Wellsby Frye, the Bombay,
striking the Oneida on the starboard
quarter, carrying away the poop. deck,
cutting off her wheel house, and run.
ming one Of her timbers entirely through
the bows of the OReida.
The Oneida hailed the Bombay with
"Ship q hoy! Stand by. You have
cut us down. She then blew her whistle
and fred her guns, all of which the off,
GERS of the Bombay did not hear,
though the guns were distinctly heard
at this port, twent miles away.
The Oneida went down stern first, in
about twenty fathoms of water, with
twenty officers and fifty-five men. The
Captain of the Bombay did not stop to
receive those on board, nor did he upon
his arrival report the accident, or inform
the authorities. The first known of il
was by the arrival on foot next morning
of Doctor Stoddart, Surgeon, with fit
teen of the crew. There were but two
cutters available, take to them while
the men remained aboard. Discipline
was complete to the last. The sick be-
ing put into boats the officers remain
ing at their posts until the ship went
down. The only United States Govern
ment vessel in Japan, being the store
ship, Minister belong was obliged Il
accept from the English, French anC
Russian man.Of-war steamers, steam
launches cutters, etc and in compan!
with Colonel Shepard Consul at Ycddo
and Mr.. Harrington, proceeded TO thu
scene of the disaster, where all in human
power was and is being done TO rescue
the sufferers and recover the bodies o
the lost. belong o. bis ownl,sporsibil
ity, chartered the gUnJoGs lately S)!'
by the United States government 4
private parties, manned her with a mix
cd crow of the survivors Of tho OnCid?
volunteer eitiZeas and engineers fur
nished by Russian corvette, whC
placed her under command If nava
officers and sent Consul Shepard to 70
present him, while he, with great cGer'
gy, was making thorough investisa
ton by naval court of iuquiry. Th'
position of the Oneida to-day is ascer
tanned by a spar, which, at low tide
rises four or five feet above the water
No bodies have yet been found. Had
the Bombay sent her boats to the assist
ance of the Oneida, al, or nearly all
might have been saved The Keeling OF
indignation toward Captain Frye is
terrible, but none of his Company, and
but few of his countrymen, attempt Il
shield him.
The following additional facts by in
yestigation show a terrible responsible
ity on the part of the commander of thu
Bombay. The Oneida had but three
small boats, one of these being cut in
two BY the collision, leaving but two
boats to save l79 men. The last words
Captain Williams said when Lieutenant
Commander Muldrum reported the yes
sci sinking being: 81 know it, but
what can lido, l asked for boats and
they were not allowed me-" Thus
through negligence, somebody, and the
inhumanity of the Bombay's officers, 9
battle-scarred and historic ship, with al
brave officers and men as ever stood
between her flag and her enemies, have
been lost to their friends and to thei
country.