The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-03-17
THE LOSS OF THE ONEIDA.


geon Of the Oneida, gives the following &C
count of the loss of that vessel
We left Yokohama at 5 P. NJ. on the 24th,
and at 6.45 were run into by the Bombay on
the starboard quarter, the whole of which
was carried away. She struck us full with
her sharp iron stem, and cut everything off
as with q chisel; the wheel, steering gear,
spanker boom and gaff and poop cabin were
all carried away, and in Is minutes she sunk
in IA fathoms of water, and out of personel
of 25 officers and $50 men, 8 officers and "a
men are left to tell the tale. The ward room
dinner was just finishing at the time of
the collision, and it seemed to me as if the
whole side OF the ship was coming bodily in
on the dinner table. We all rushed on deck,
and Immediately everything was in the great
est confusion. AS stepped over the hatch
combing saw large steamer Just leaving
us. He was hailed by our executive officer
and requested to stay by us, but as far as [
they could 60. | walked aft on the quarter
deck and saw that everything was smashed
to pieces | then looked over the quarter and
saw the extent of the damage.
AS l realized the position noticed that the
ward room boat, which hung at the port
quarter, was manned by 10 or u men |
jumped on the rail and asked if an officer
was in the boat. The men said no, and see
ing who was, said ''Jump in, DOCTOR" and
securing hold of me two OF three of them
dragged me into the boat. l at once took
charge, ordering a man at each fall to lower
when ordered. having first cut all the tasten-
ing with knives. We staid thus until within
three or four minutes Of the ships going
down. During this time the boatswain and
two or three men got into the boat, making
the whole number II. We were still hang
ing at the davits, when the ship began to
roll in that peculiar way which procedes
laundering, and the boat dashed against the
side of the ship, threatening to dash her to
pieces. looked on the deck and saw no one
abaft the mainmast, and gave the order to
lower away and hang by the falls. The fall
got jammed and had to be cut away with q
knife. Had we been three minutes longer
on the davits it would have been too late, rs
the vessel went down like a shot after start
ing, and the suction would have carried oul
| boat aGun with the wrncF
| AS the coxsWain cut the fall a Junk, was
seen close by under sail, We started for her
intending to bring her alongside if possible
and save life. Being under sail, however
and going free, she rapidly left us. In about
two or three minutes we gave it up, and or
turning to go back to the ship found that She
..'IN NiN"I l>S''i|u' W. pulACu W where we
thought she had been but seeing and hear
ing nothing, finally headed for shore, and
landed about $50 I at once went up to a
japanese house, engaged three guides, and
started for Yokohama, 25 or 30 miles distant.
We crossed five mountains on the way. and
had the most fatiguing tramp you can mag
inc: We arrived all safe at o'clock on the
25th, when spread the news, and sent down
assistance to the wreck. The vessel was
found yesterday, but no bodies as yet. The
English consular court is investigating the
matter
All Yokohama has been extremely kind to
the survivors. The feeling against the cap
tain of the Bombay for not stopping is in
tense, and if the court endeavors to white
wash him violence may be attempted. Nc
vessel that has ever been in the eastern
waters was SO popular as the Oneida. Even
the English officers say they would rather the
misfortune had happened to one of their own
vessels. Of - officers eating dinner at the
time of the collision, I am the only one left