The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-04-09
Loss of the Oneida.

Loss of the Oneida.
Some weeks ago the telegraph an
nounced the destruction, with loss of all
on board, of the t. S. steamer Oneida
Full particulars by mail give the the
following account of the sad catastrophe:
The Oneida, f. Z. Williams, Com
mandcr, sailed from Yokohama on the
9th Of January, and when twenty miles
out, was run into and sunk by the PENN
sular and Oriental Company's steamer
Boalbay, Capt. Arthur Willesly Eyre,
involving the drowning of twenty one
officers and ninety-five sailors and ina
rines. 1t appears like the Bombay ran
into the Oneida, striking her on the star
board quarter, carrying away her poep
deck, crushing the gig, and leaving a
boom gaff, part of IA sail of the Oneida
on, and running one Of her tilnbers en-
tirely through the bows of the Bombay
at the water line.
Three times the Oneida hailed the
Bombay with, 'Ship ahoy, stand by,
you'll cut US down. blew her whistle,
fired three guns, all of which the officers
of the Bombay say they did not hear,
though the guns were distinctly heard at
\ Yokohama, twenty miles away. The
Oneida went down stem first, in about
twelve minutes, in twenty fathoms of
water. But two cutters were available,
and the officers. almost to man, refused
to take to them while a man remained on
board. Discipline was complete to the
last, the sick being all put into the boats,
and the officers remaining at their posts
until the ship went down.
In late typhoon the Oneida lost all
but three of her small boats. One of
leaving but two cutters to save one hun
dred and seyenty-six men-the last words
of Captain Williams (when Lieut.. Com
mander duldaur reported the vessel sink
iug) being, Il know it; but what can [
do i! | asked for more boats, but they
were not allowed me - "Who did not
allow them p the country will ask. Thus.
through the negligence of somebody, and
the inhumanity of the Bombay officers, a
battle-scarred and historic ship, with 115
as brave men as ever stood between flag
and her enemies, have been lost to their
friends and their country.
The following is a correct list of the
officers lost and saved:
Lost-Commander E. p. Williams !;
Lieutenant Commanders w. Z. Stewart,
\. w. Muldaur; Paymaster L. S. Tul-
lock, Jr.; Masters Walter Sergeant, j.
K Pholan Ensigns J. I'll. Cowie, Chas.
Il. Crown Midshipmen w. Il. Uhler,
G. X. Bower, G. A. Copp, J. G. Hull,
e. G. Adams Assistant Surgeon Froth-
ingham; Engineers n. B. Lillig, H.
Barstow. C. w. c. Senter, John Tor
renee Carpenter j. d. Pinner; Pay
masters Clerk W. G. Thomas, and ninety
five men.
Saved-Master J. J. Yates Surgeon
Suddard Captains Clerk W. w. Crown
inshield Boats2ain n. Anderson, and
sky two men.
A yet none of the bodies have been
recovered. All, or nearly all, could have
been saved, had the Bombay sent her
boat to the assistance of the Oneida.
The feeling against Captain Eyre, of the
Bombay, at Yokohama, is intense and
bitter
The position of the Oneida was aseer-
tanned by spar, which at low tide rises
four or five feet out of water--a poor
monument to mark the last resting place
of one hundred and fifteen gallant sea
men who went down with the ship.
Commenting upon the above details
the S. L. Commercial Herald says:
There is abundance of proof to show
that Capt. Eyre was warned of his dan
gerous proximity, and of the fatal result:
that must attend continuance OF his
then course. There Is also abundant
evidence that signal guns of distress, tc
the number of seven, were fred immedi
ately after the collision, by the stricken
vessel, and that those signals were wholly
disrcgarded by Capt. Eyre, although sui
feiently distinct at Yokohama. twenty
miles distant There is no end of evi
dence to prove that Capt. Eyre ignored
the sinking ship and her drowning crew
but serenely pursued his voyage, with az
much equanimity as if he rejoiced In bis
deed. 1t is also in evidence that he
failed to make any report of the affair or
| his arrival at Yokohama, nor even any
allusion TO the matter, until the arriva
of Surgeon Suddard and fifteen sur
vivors from the destroyed vessel I'll,
seems, throughout, to have exhibited {
most apathetic nonchalaaee, if not al
absolute indifference, at having sunk a,
/ American war steamer, and buried he
gallant crew beneath the waves.
1t is certain that our government vii
insist upon most rigid investigation Q
this sad affair, which has caused the los
kof noble ship and the lives OF IL
still nofler men, such as the nation can
! not afford 10 lose,