The New York herald., 1870-03-28
Proceedings Of the Naval Court at
Yokohama.
Tho Testimony Of Captain Eyre and Of
Master Yates.
DECISION OF TIE BRITISH COURT.
The Collision Claimed to Have Been
Caused by Confusion Of Orders
.h on the Oneida.
Captain Eyre Not Wholly t. Blame, Even
for Rr snning Away.

We have received from Yokohama Japan, a, fcll
report or ;he proc ssdings or the Court OF Inquiry
held at the BrltE Consulate at that place on she
27tn OF January 20 investigate "tne circumstances
OF ana attendan uponn the recent fatal collision
OF Inc Enghsh steamer Bombay, belonging 10 the
fchlnsoar ano i0riental Steam Navigation Company,
and the Unite States war corvette Oneida.
THE COURT
The court consisted OF i've members, namely,
Jonn Frede rlc Lowder the British Consul, presi-
Gent; JONI Tklklar Commander Royal Navy and
DAVID Mo ore, Stat Commander Royal Navy, both on
duty on Soerd the British war steamer Ocean;
John iislnan, master Mariner in command OF
tie Br itish steamship Sultan, and wnnam Chap
man, masoer mariner, In command OF the British
snip ineScliG. Among those present attending upon
incl noesed,ngs were Sir Harry Parkes, the British
MINI ser TO Japan Captain Stanhope, Hon. Q. Il. De
Lon T. United Minister TO Japan, who appeared as
con Esel representing the survivors, OF the Oneida;
the United States Consul and Consulate attaches,
aD Ga.number OF American and Russian officers.
Ra'ere the proceedings began the President re-
Hessed that the representatives OF the press would
Abstain from publishing the testimony pending the
Investigation He also felt 1T his duty to request the
witnesses dives their minds all personal feel
1Eg, and to give their evidence calmly and dispas.
Hionately.
CAPTAIN EYRE PROTESTS.
Captain Eyre then demanded to know il any
iasyidence tha: he or any other person woula give
.oould hereafter be used in any proceeding against
0im, ana being informed that such evidence
could be 80 used he demanded that any specific
charge might be made in writing and that ne might
have the assistance or Mr.. Barnard as counsel. He
then formally protested against the Court entertain
Ing any charges against him, and also objected 10
It's jurisdiction debate then ensued between Mr..
Barnard. who was admitted as counsel for Captain
Eyre, and Minister DE Long ON the subject of the
powers Of the Court, the former insisting that it
could only inquire into the collision, and the latter
shat 1t possessed Ine power Of punishing Captain
Eyre If it ascertained that he was to blame for
the disaster.
The Court having decided what its powers were,
Captain Eyre was sworn and gave mis- evidence the
substance OF which has already been published.
THE STORY FROM A BOMBAY STANDPOINT.
The next witness examined on the second day was
Arthur Logon, chief officer OF the Bombay who de-
posed to the following effect
His ship at Six O'Clock was about a mile to the
northward OF the lighthouse; he heard the gong
sound on the forecaste twice and looking ahead saw
bright light halr mile OF Oh the port bow almost
the captain turned on the whistle and teegraphei
..port the helm" which was Kept aport till
the green light was lost sight of; the pilot then said,
.That Will do, sne's well clear now;n the captain
saId mo, keep the helm hard aport;'' suddenly the
other steamer neaded across their DOWg, the
engines were stopped and the helm starboarded to
try to pass under her stern, but the BOMBAY sud-
denly struck her between mlzen channels and quar-
ter gallery; she instantly glIded of, and he was
sent by the captain to sound the we'll at the same
time the order @ was given mnard "a aportn TO clear
II any water was beng made, and TO the forecastle,
where some pieces OF san were hanging over the
bows and sent the gunner on the bowsprit end to
see what was carried away: the only thing he could
then discover was The bobstay carried away; he
ported the captain she was making water in the
StOrerOOm but he could not tell how much TIL the
stores were cleared out but there did not seem 10
be much damage; the captain then standing
with the pilot and said, III they want assistance
they'll certainly show q rocket or two or fire gun;
what do you think had better dor you think she
back If you like, but don't see there's any occasion
for it you don't know what damage is done to your
had better go on;n Captain SAID, suppose she mad
met with any severe damage IS there anywhere
Piled Eyes, on the spit close here;"
Captain asked then .Coud she sink there ~ pilot
said No;' directly after that witness reported tnat
the cutwatef and head work were gone and spar
hanging under the bows and that sne was making
water fast in the fore compartment; the men were
clearing out the storeroom, pumping and balng
water on burning the Inaii signal blue light over
anchorng he lowered boat and went under the
bows, where he found the spar nad gone right
through, and that other plates mad started below
water; was about an hour after the collision they
found out the spar through the bows, when firing
the mail signal OF Treaty Point; the signal is gun
Two rockets and blue light; only reported 1t alter
they anchored, he could not leave the lore
castle before; at the time Of the COL
lison the Bombay was burning masthead
and two siae lights. all burning brightly;
he did not Distinguish any boats on board the otner
vessel; did not any sound or voice calling; he
was on the bridge till she cleared them and could
have heard II they had been hailed; he heard no
guns and saw no signals of any Kind from me other
Ship; ne IN position to have heard and II
there had been any; he was some ten minutes be-
low; when he came on deck he saw nothing OF the
other vessel the other vessel instantly cleared after
the collision; he did not see any lights on board the
other vessel at the time; ne did not see
through her port noes; the collision was just
touch; just bound and Craze, ana of she went
nying; he could not see her screw; hewent down be-
low immediately she had cleared them; 1t was dark
starlight night, with strong northeast wind, with
not much sea; the other vessel was about mile 0n
when first saw her; she was bearing about norm
halt west; almost Immediately after they saw the
masthead light they saw the side lights when tney
shut out the other vessels green light the two yes
sells must have been about four or five ships lengths
apart; when she hauled across them, OF course we
opened her green and shut out her red light; they
did not starboard helm until they saw that If
they did not do so tney must strike her right amid
ships; he could one on board the other vessel
no measures taken on the other side 10 avoid
the collision; when she hauled up to cross their bows
the vessel must have been about four ships lengths
on; II any order had tneh been giveE to lower all
tneir boats 1t would have taken SIX 10 seven ninutes
Ems would comprise boats that would carry the
Whole snps company; two boats are always Kept
ready 10 lover they could be 5otA IN The water in
TWO minutes would not take ten seconds to strike
blue lght, as they are always kept ready; this is
customary on board the r. and o. ships; he
did not see the other vessel cew up her sails.
TESTIMONY or THE BOMBAY PILOT.
The evidence given by Richard Connor the pilot
on board the Bombay, was TO the eject that ne was
on the starboard OF the vessel and went over to
the port side and steamers lig hit about four or
i've miles n0fthery he told the captain there was a
steamer coming down, ana the captain turned on
the whistle; the vessel was about half point on the
port bow; he sang out to the helmsman TO port the
helm; right away afterwards the captain sang out,
"hard portb the ship went OF about two points,
80 as TO shut In the green light when he spoke TO
the captains said his snpwas OIL FAR enough the cap
tam said 'Let her go little furthern just as that
time they saw the green light open out and the red
light shutin; they then abouta mile OF mile and
hail apart; the other ship was then heading right
across tue Bombay's bows; the captain rang bell
TO stop the engines and got hold OF the bridge and
said, MY Godl there's going TO be collison' wit
ness told him II could not be helped; they had done
all they could TO get out OF her way;
.she was wrong !; he thought 1t must be
q Japanese vessel seeing she was under
on board OF her; Immediately after that they came
fnrr iar Igaa on 1na sda of fns hridna