The New York herald., 1870-05-03
THE ONEIDA DISASTER.
Decision Of the American Naval Court at YoRo-
hama-The Whole Cause Of the Disaster
Chargeabls to the Guilty Careless
ness Of Captain Eyre.

The following Is the opinion OF the United States
Naval Court consisting OF Captain Rome, Lieuten-
ant Commander Mullin and Paymasrer Lyons con-
vened at Yokohama 10 investigate the collision be-
tween the bombay and Oneida. 1t was received by
the Navy Department to-day and forwarded TO
Congress-
The svidsncs in the being In the possession Of the
Sour me member after mature and studous consdsra
r.a, &e United State. eor'st.s oasids, ses aaa.T
e her Hon. Wy i s'sss
ward sSi Snip distance ssS .iso: made SAIL and under
low steam shaped her south EAST quarter east
sue steamed running speed o. is ies. than
seven knots per che arrived the ycn o. ssraos
saggns the westward from this course ana hauled up
sa;sasor could e, scl who after being
y sS pS5p%P,, Ss \. s %
not go to eastward by Of danger Of getting
About This time the English Pennsuar and Oriental steam.
s P and "a d sqse m G
aSS s ns or I 1 mile. ana Scsrpg shsa ea a9py
sssd ses ,s.v and ,aro.ra ,s q l BOMBAY
ward OF kanon sak light, and her course narrowly
Oneida and she passing clear giving berth
that sr ,sr rrpsnE IN 9" twenty rapidly
points oI on the stsrboard bow Of the Oneida and while
ss ss the
direction Of her green light and struck her At rboard mzlen
.9Sara as quarter .. angle iSsyys
comSO he cabin TO her
rnddcrhead down the waters edge that the Oneida had
ss s 'ass s" sa 'Saass'
Water in aSoa, Twelve % to fifteen mnSes after Carrying
down with her some one hundred and fifteen of her
the mo- time he su se eonss ,s saw
,he green light of the bombay and that her own lights were
i also appears tia; officers acted cooness
tation; but that when the bombay was
S pGn on s S.r re or pa three
helm hard apor and went directly al the oneda when the
and was In that pSstsa and the ship was rapidly pSyin:
On ID p shn sn s Be ss s ase the
headed northeast by north TO northeast also shown
SN.1a! ssysrsl times calling to her to BY Is
Sa%Ssy within yard. q the sss as
four big fred from the Oneida as signals Of dis
tres. with full service charge Of pounds OF powder
that al the moment OF collision the Bombay
Su. Crushing
throngh the quarter OF the Oneida rendng breach wide
hcash space from fifteen to twenty fee, or more and yet
s s oa and nr sa Of
az her In five to minutes and anchored safely Yo
Tss NOR Of asked Ike or
OF amer are es m The
her ouiesr: from all and blame for This horrible disaster
% the es @ e 3
" Sn ssfSs with deep
ha, .he Oneida IDA had lost her g by the that the
and that during typhoon previous she had
los. her two and moa ssrvceAbe boats thus leaving
save her people Had the Oneida replaced her boats
gone to sea with full complement Of them It is morally
The Bombay the other hand either grossly ienor
Ant or wifuy reckless After rounding KanomSaki Light 70
The e.rtward Of t. then passing % az .how her mast
Oneida se hnd to stand far TO the
ae Oneid: was SHOWN to De nor could she have passed
collision At night. as she seems to have endeavored
Spit he or ssned
channel for hi. the distance
and half nautical miles Moreover the an on the
ae wey. very M As1 and steep 0o while on the
shallow without landmark at night to be seen TO guide
t''ea mus. sssa 0a'''. an e,Sn aS
knowledge line due south by east, quar-
ss: 70 q .s 4
north S west. half west alter rounding light which
s lsss dss with ss ss ssa a sss
y he wRsis sossn s ss . .es and .n,
& due 10 the Bombay whose commanding ocer to be be-
.s,rsss 1Ss .ss
which kept blowing until the Oneida sank and finally i,
our heavy signal guns fro Oneida although they
were distinctly heard In Yokohama, at distance Of over
speak q IL as unparalleled in cruelty:
Finally from the evidence addueed which has been accu
IRON the Inspection of the known positions
fau total loss to the govern
mcnt OF the United States of the Oneida with
the Osers ana command Of the English steamship BON
bay