The Portland daily press., 1870-03-02
LOSS OF THE ONEIDA.
One HaG7adT ed and IaUe2atu
LiVeS Lost.
ALI the Officers Lost but the Sur
geon and two Junior Officers.
THE NARRATIVE OF DEATH.

SAN FRANCISCO March 1.-The ship Bene-
factress, which arrived from Yokohama, Jap
an, to-day, brings fall particulars of the loss
of the American vessel of war Oneida, which
left Yokohama on the ed of January ON her
homeward voyage. The steamer left her an
chorage about 5 o clock in the afternoon and
the accident occurred at clock on the same
evening. AS the Oneida steamed out of the
harbor the crews of the various vessels and the
men at work in the forts gave cheers and wish
ed her happy voyage. On passing out of the
harbor her fires were banked and steam blown
off. While the officers were at dinner at about
7 o'clock, the lookout man shouted steamers
light ahead" and midshipman gave the or
der to port helm. Everything seemed quiet on
board the other steamer. This leads to the be-
lis that she had not observed the Oneida al
-agh her lights were burning BRIGHTLY The
steamer, which proved to be the Bombay, of
the Peninsular and Oriental line came right
on and struck the Oneida on the starboard,
abaft the gangway, about half way between
the main and mizzen rigging. A hole was cut
through her by which the whole interior of the
ship was rendered visible. Thel bnnacles,
wheel and rudder were carried away and two
men standing at the wheel were instantly kill
ed The Bombay did not stop after crushing
through the Oneida though the guns Of the
latter, which happened to be loaded, were al
most instantly fred to attract her attention
and bring her back.
Orders wers given to lower the boats, but
only one l!fe-5oat was available, the others
having been crushed. This life-boat was
manned by DR.. Stoddart, the boatswain and
fifteen of the crew. Five guns were fired, but
before the sixth could be discharged the Onei-
da sunk, it being within ten minutes after she
was struck. None of those saved saw man
or heard a voice on board the Bombay. They
report that when it became evident that there
was no hope of saving the ship, the officers
gathered around Capt. Williams, and he was
heard to say that if the ship went down he
would go down with her. The life boat was
obliged to leave the sinking ship to avoid being
swamped. After rowing about for awhile the
floating, not one of the 100 who went down,
| nnwllilngly set their head landward, about
hve miles distant. On landing the natives
kindly treated them, and obtained the assist
ance OF guides and they started to walk to Yo-
kohama, which they reached at daylight the
next morning.
The Bombay was Immediately ordered to
| the scene OF the wreck and succeeded in saving
| thirty-nine men who had got into the cutter,
which foated when the ship went down.
| Several other vessels, with Minister De Long
OH board, proceeded to the scene of the disas.
| ter during the day, but no more lives were saw
| ed.
| The Japanese government sent boats and
| apparatus to search for the wreck and if neces
sary to buoy the spot The passengers or
board the Bombay were quite surprised whe1
they heard of the calamity which had befaller
| the vessel they had struck, but declared
that they neither heard any request from the
Oneida to stay by them or minute guns fred
A naval court martial has been demanded by
the captain of the Bombay. The officers and
| men OF the Oneida numbered 176, only Sc o
whom, including DR.. Stoddard and two junior
| officers, survive the disaster.