The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-02
PRICE TWO CENTS.
THE LOSS OF THE ONEIDA.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PER-
SONS 90 TO THE BOTTOM.


Full Particulars Of tho Disaster-CsaIIsut
Conduct Of Captain Willamette Benz
sny Leaves the sinking ship TO her Fate
List Of the Saved.
SAN FRANcrsco, March 1.-The ship Benefao
tress arrived from Yokohams, Japan, to-day Shs
brings full particulars OF the loss OF the United
States steamer Oneida, which len Yokohama on the
I'D OF January, bomoward bound. The steamer
len ber anchorage about ave o'clock 10 the ater.
noon. and the accident occurred at seven the same
evening. The United States Minister visited her IL
the forenoon and received the usual salute and the
guns wore reloaded with the expectation OF replying
TO salute from q Russian runboat TO Mr. Dclong,
The salute, however, was not given, and the guns
mained loaded.
As the Oneida steamed not OF the harbor. the
Of the various vessels and mon at work In the
port gave cheers, and wished tllom happy voyage
On passing out OF tho harbor her lres were ex,in-
guished and steam blown on. While the ofncers
nt dinner at about seven o'clock, the lookout
man shouted: Steamer lights ahead" and mid
shipmAn gave the order to port helm. Everything
was quiet on board tho othsr steamer. This leads
TO the belief that she had not observed the Oneida
although her ligl,ts were burning bright
The steamer, which proved TO he the Bombay, OF
the Penensular and Oriental line, came ri 'ht on
and struck the Oneida on the starboard. abaf the
snngway, about halfway between the main and md
whole interior OF the slip was visible. The Dinna-
Gle, wheel, and rudder were carried away, and two
men standing al the wheel we're instantly killed.
The Bombay did not stop amer crushing through
the Oneida, though the guns OF the latter, which
happened to be loaded, were almost Instantly fired
70 attract her attention and bring her back.
Orders wore given to lower tho boats but only
one lifeboet was available, the others ha,ing been
crushed. The Hfeboat was manned bv DIR. Stoldart,
the boa swain, and fifteen OF tie crew. Five guns
nrel, but before the sixth could be discharged
the Oneida 'unk-wiIhin ten minutes after sho was
struck.
None Of those saved saw or heard a voice
on board the Bombay They report that when II be-
came evident that there was no hope OF saving the
ship the officers gathered around Capt Williams and
he was heard 70 say u the slip went down he wonld
go with her. Tie feboat was Obliged to leave the
sinking ship to avoid being sw1mped.
| After pulling about Sor while the crew OF the
lieboat seeing none OF the crew floating not gne OF
| 160 who went down, unvillingv bent their boats
head landward about Eve miles distant. On landing
the natives kindly treated them, and tev obtained
| the assistance OF guide and started 10 walk 70
Yokohama, which they reached ut daylight tho NEXT
The Bombay was Immediately ordered To the
scene Of tile wreck, and succeoled In saving thirty
nine men who bad got into a cutter which noated
when the ehip went down. Several other ves1els--
| one with Minister Delong ON board-procceded to
the scene Of tho disaster during the day bu, no
more lives were saved. The Jspanese Government
sent boats and apparatus to search for the wreck.
and II necessary TO buoy the spot. The passengers
thcv heard the calamity that had befaien the vessel
they had struck, but declare they neither heard any
request from the Oneida to stay By them, nor min:
ute gnns Cred. A naval court has boon demandod
| b. the captain OF the Bombay.
The position Of tie Oreija was to-day ascerained
bv -par. which at low tide rises four FIVE feot
above tie water. No bodies have yet been found.
| Three times the Oneida hailed the Bombay with
ship Ahoy,"" Stand by " You've cut Us down."
blew her whistle, and fred her guns, all OF which
| the officers OF the Bombay cay they did not hear,
though the gun. distinctly heard ut this port
| twenty miles away
The feeling Of indignation towards Capt. Frye 10
| terrible. None but his COMPANY aud few OF hts
| countrvmen attempt to shield him.
The Oneida in late typhoon lost all but three Of
her small boats One OF tl'ese was cnt into BY the
| collision. leaving bat two boats TO save lIg men.
Tie officers OF the Felan Brotherhood last even
ing decided. In view OF the shooting of Mr.. Meehan,
to adjourn the meetings OF their Congress TO Cica-
go, whore It l. to be held April H. 1870. This
| the matter that kept them up 40 late on Monday
| night, and which resulted In the shooting.
The officers and men OF the Oneida numbered 178,
| ?niy % Of whom, including DR. stcddart and two
| junior officers, surviving the diqaster.
| The last words Capt Williams said were. WHOM
| Lieut.. Commander Williams rerorted the vessel
| sinking; 4" know II: but what can dor 7 ask Cd
for moro boats, and they were allowed me-" THUS
| through the negligence OF somobody nnd the inhu.
manty OF the Bompay's officers, battle Scared ana
historic ship has been sunk, and as brave Of
officers and men a. ever stood between her 1,g nnd
be- enemies have been lost TO their tionds and 10
| their country.