The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-10
Loss of lhe ONEIDA,

Letter from Surgeon Suddard. "A Tnrsllino
Narratire Of the Disaster and Escape of the
SURVIVORS.
The following are interesting extracts from
private letter from Surgeon Suddard of the
Oneida to bis father in Philadelphia, dated
Yokohama, Jan S1st:-
We left Yokohama at PM. on the Oath. and
at As were run into by the Bombay on the star.
board quarter, the whole OF which was carried
away. She struck US full with her sharp iron
stem, and cut everything off as with a chisel;
the wheel, steering gear, spanker boom, and
gait and poop cabin were all carried away, and
in Is minutes she sunk in IA fathoms of water.
and out of a personnel OF % officers and 15O
men officers and 81 men are lett 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 greatest confusion. AS stepped over the
hatch combing saw large steamer Just leav-
ing US. He was hailed by our executive officer
and requested to stay by US, but as tar as I
could go. walked ait on the quarter deck
and saw that everything was smashed to pieces
1 then looked over the quarter and saw the
extent of the damage. l believed then that
the ship would go down in two minutes and
rapidly concluded that everyone must look out
for himself. AS 1 realized the position noticed
that tie ward room boat, which hung at the
port quarter, was manned by 10 or II men.
jumped on the rail and asked if an officer was
in the boat. The men said no, and, seeing who
was, said Jump in, doctor" and securing
bold of me two or 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 fastening with knives.
We slaid 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
H. We were still hanging at the davits, when
the ship began to roll il that peculiar way
which precedes fonndering, and the boat was
dashed against the side of the ship, threaten
ing 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 damned and had to be cut
away with knife. Had we been three minutes
longer on the davits it would have been too
late, as the vessel went down like shot after
starring, and the suction would have carried
our boat down with the wreck. may mention
here that when the boat was brought up to the
Idaho she nearly sank alongside, and on exa-
mination it was found that seven places were
broken in her starboard Side and one of the
planks was knocked an inch out OF place. This
must have been done by striking the side of
the ship, and convinces me that we could not
have saved any more in our boat, as she would
have filled and gone down with heavier load.
<AS tut COAsWaIu CUT tu6 Idll JUNK was seen
close by under sail. We started for her, intend
ing TO bring her alongside it possible, and save
lie. Being under sail, however, and going
free. she rapidly left us In about two or three
minutes we gave it up, and on turning to 60
back to the ship found that she had disap-
peared. We pulled to where we thought she |
had been, hut seeing and hearing nothing
finally headed for shore, and landed about 8. 80.
at once went up to Japanese house, engaged
three guides, and started for Yokohama. 25 or
80 miles distant. We crossed five mountains |
on the way. and had the mos. fatleuing tramp |
YOU can imagine. We arrived all safe at 4 |
O clock on the morning of the 25th, when I |
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 inves igating the matter. All the |
officers of the Bombay have been examined
our turn will come to morrow. Mr.. De Long,
American minister, is conducting the proceed
ngs on our behalf; you will know the result
BY the next Pacific mail, due at San Francisco
March 17th. l landed on the shore in undress
inform, without cap, and only saved my
watch by having it on. have been very much
by the occurrence and the subse-
luent fatigue: but am now much better, and
,egin to feel like myself. All Yokohama has
,een extremely kind to the survivors The
ceiling against the captain of the Bombay for
rot stopping is intense, and if the court endea-
'ors to whitewash him violence may be at
empted. No vessel that has ever been in the
astern waters was so popular as the Oneida
even the English officers say they would
ather the misfortune had happened to one of
heir own vessels. OF - officers eating dinner
It the time of the collision, I am the only one
eft.