The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-11
LOSS OF THE ONEIDA
Further Details j~0W H3'. CToUs,-
inshieZI and Master Yates.
The British Captain ExuIls in bis
Barbarous Act.
Unsurpassed Heroisna of the
american Officers.
DYING ATE THE PosTOFDUTY
A THRILLING NARRATIVE
Statement Of Capt. Eyre Of The BOMBAY
before the Court of Enqusry.

NEW YORK, March 1O.-A Yokohama letter
Vt Feb. lst says that the loss of life by the
Oneida disaster was the result of inhuman
cowardice. The steamer Yangtze, owned by
Walsh, Hall & Co., Americans, was most
promptly put in trim, and in forty min utes
mad their fires up and got ready to steam down
the harbor to endeavor to save the survivors.
The letter states that in the meantime the cap
tain of the steamship Idaho and the captain OF
the Russian corvette who had been rowing
wildly about the harbor in the hopes to aid any
OF the Survivors, We're taken on board the
Yangtze, three boats filled with gallant Rus
sian and American sailors to search the beach
were taken in tow, and at o clock we steamed
down the bay, followed by the English sloop
OF war Sylvia, while the French steam launch
and an English tug boat were skirtipg the
shores seeking for survivors. When the Y ang-
TIE arrived within two or three miles of the
place of the collision we met the Bombay re-
turning. She was slackened and signal made
tor her to stop, which she partly complied
with, answering our hail with the reply that
she had thrty-nine more survivors aboard and
that no more were 10 be found anywhere in
the bay near the scene of the disaster. We
then lowered our boats and started to bring
them OFT to the Yangtze, but the captain of the
Bombay put on steam and with our boats
bearing the American cOlors at the bow en-
route to his ship to rescue the men he left us
and started for Yokohama. The Bombay was
ordered by Capt. Stanhope. senior officer Of the
English fleet, to return and search for the men
the captain had left to drown, and after the
order had been twice repeated, the last time
with threat that Capt. Eyre should return or
he would make him, that ship had gone ahead.
This was very insulting, for every American
and Russian on the Yangtze felt that to our
ship belonged the rescue OF the men. Minister
belong Immediately gave orders to the cap
tain OF the Yangtze to put on every pound of
steam and overhaul the insolent and defiant
Bomoa The order was promptly obeyed and
the captain of the mail steamer seeing that we
meant mischief, concluded to take a prudent
course and to lie to until Capt. Millen of the
Idaho went alongside and there found the can
tain's clerk, VIM. H. Crowninshield, and if
teen men of the Oneida, who, with twenty
three more who had gone to Yokohama over
land, had been saved in boat launched lust
before the Oneida went down. Those men
were transferred to the deck of the Yangtze.
After further search, that resulted only in
disappointment, the PROV Of the Yangtze was
turned towards Yokohama, and we reluctant
~ left the spot where we knew were sleeping
los good loyal Americans, the seaman from
whom we parted but few brief hours before.
All the survivors were sent on board the Idaho.
The clerk, CrownDshield, says: about ten
minutes after the collision the officer of the
deck announced that the ship was going down
fast and ordered the men to take to the rig
glnS' Aookiug uoWo, saw the wafer pouring
down the matches ablft the manmast. i then
took off my coat. and in few minutes the ship
gave lurch and went down stern first. I
was taken under l should say about Is or 20
feet, and on coming up found myself near a
boat, for which struck out, and when nearly
exhausted was drawn on board by Master
Yates. saw many heads dotting the water,
but the sea soon swept US away and they were
lost to view. The Bombay did not stop or
SEND us boats. Had she done SO nearly every
man aboard would have been saved.
Master Yates states that when the Bombay
struck the Oneida she carried away our gig,
pinnacle, wheel and rudder, instantly killing
two men at the wheel. 1t was evident to us
all that tie ship was total wreck and that
she would 90 down in few minutes. AS the
Bombay hauled away from the collision Lieut.
Commander Stewart shouted, "Ship ahoy, ship
ahoy; lay to; you've cut us to the water" This
was repeated three times, hut she paid no heed.
Our whistle was blown and three guns were
fired. The order was given to lower away the
boats, but the lie boat was only available as
the cutter was shipped in the cradle on board.
The life boat was manned and pushed away.
AS the ship sunk the cutter was got ahoat and
myself and ~ others were saved in her. AS
the ship was fast sinking, Capt. Williams, who
was on tie bridge, was asked to get on board
but he refused, saying, mo; I shall stay in my
ship, if she goes down." Lieut.. Commander
Muldane walked up, and touching his hat
Ii. L
it" said the captain, "but what can do? /
have repeatedly Ssked for more boats, bur
could not get then-,- AT this moment the shin
settled, the smoke stack came over aud ioroed
the cutter from the ships side, and she went
down stern first 1 hauled the captain's clerk
on board and made great effort to save Lieut.
Commander Stewart, but he sank just before ]
reached him, saying as he went down, " Fol
Gods sake save me-" He was quite ill at the
time.
TIo1 o@y e.,
the Bombay, on arrival at Yokohama, went to
the International Hotel and there asserted thai
the Oneida had been run into and hole cut in
her to the waters edge, so that he could see the
men Carrying some person on deck, aud that
she must soon have gone down.
Active measures have been taken by Minister
De Long, Consul Shepard, Capt. MulIn and
other officials to recover the bodies of the
drowned and give them proper burial, and to
secure such effects of the wreck as may be
found. The American steamer Aroostook has
been placed at their disposal.
In the court of inquiry on the afternoon OF
Feb. LIST the following testimony was given:-
Lieut.. Clemens, of Her British Majesty's snip
Ocean, having been sworn, said Upon the
arrival of the Bombay went on board for our
locked mail, and in conversation with Captain
Arthur Wellesley Eyre, he (Eyre) said,
have tonight cut the whole quarter off id
Yankee irigate, and I served her bloody well
right, for met her as came up running GU,
with her helm astarboard." Either the sur
geon in the presence of the captain, or Capt
Eyre in the presence of the surgeon, said bel
sides were SO badly stove that as she drifted
past US We could see into the officers cabin.
The newspapers published in Yokohama are
controlled by Englishmen, aud they timidly
endeavor to whitewash the conduct of Captain
Eyre.
Ensign Adams was crushed to death while
endeavoring to fire the fourth gun as sigma
of distress. The ship giving lurch, the CUR
slipped down the hatchway, carrying the brave
ensign With it, and crushing him as the vessel
went under water. Ensign Copp, after having
carried all the sick on deck, returned below to
his post He was hailed by shipmate to come
on deck, as the ship was sinking He respond
ed, No, am stationed here, and I cannot
come until relieved" The ship went under a
moment after.
Efforts are being mad. to save the fine
machinery and battery of the Oneida.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN EYRE OF THE bonn.
BAY.
The japan Maa of Jan. 10Th coltaips full
report OF the first days examination before
the Court of inquiry at Yokohama into the
collision between the United States corvette
Oneida and the British steamer Bombay The
Court was composed of John. e. Lowler, Brit
ish Consul, President, Arthur Tinklar, r. N.
Staff Commander Moore, of H. NJ. S. Ocean
Gilfillam, of British steamer Sultan, and Chap
man, of British harque Rocklff.
After Master Yates was sworn, Capt. Eyre
expressed wish to read protest, but the
Court objected, and in reply to question by
Capt. Eyre, informed him that any evidence
given at this examination could, and would be
if requisite, used against him in subsequent
proceedings.
Mr. Barnard then took up the case Of CAPT
Eyre and formally objected to the jurisdiction
OF the Court to do anything further than to in
qure into the causes OF the collision, and de-
MED their competency to examine into any
matters resulting from that collision. HI
affirmed that this was ? erely Court of In
quiry. The Court replied that it was organ
lzed under the shipping act OF 1854, and was q
Naval Court of Inquiry.
Mr.. DeLong, the American Minister, denied
that the inquiry was called by any person un
connected with the Bombay, and said thai
Capt. Eyre could not object to the Courts iur
isdictiop. He had come into the Court on the
thorough understanding that it was competent
and that the evidence taken would be recorded
and used, if necessary, in subsequent proceed
ings He demanded that justIce should be
done. and announced his intention, hen these
proceedings were ended, to prosecute Eyre in
Her Majesty's Courts on any charge that the
evidence would show, even to the most helm
ols charge of murder. (Sepsation in Court.
He asked for the arrest Of Eyre, and said he
would prefer written charge against him.
After some further discussion, Mr.. belong
consenting, the Court granted Mr.. Barnard's
request that the officers of the Bombay should
be examined first. The following is the
TESTIMONY OF ARTHUR WELLESLEY EYRE.
L command the steamer Bombay; was in
command ON the Oath of January, about 6.15
p. M. saw light half point on my port bow
it was bright light; shortly after wards we
made out two side lights, green and red; or
dered the helm to be ported, and kept on port
ing till shut the green light in; turned the
steam whistle on myself; in shutting Oft the