New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-02
THE DISASTER AT SEA.

BOMBAY-NO ATTEMPT ON HIP PART TO
RESCUE THE ONEIDAS CREW - HEROIC
SPEECH OF CAPT. WILLIAMS.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE Loss.
SAN Francisco, March 1.-The ship Benefactress
arrived from Yokohama, Japan, to-day. She brings
full particulars of the loss of the United states
,teamer Oneida which left Yokohama on the &d OF
January homeward bound The steamer left her
anchorage abOut o'clock IN the afternoon and the
accident occurred at the same evening The United
States Minister visited her in the forenoon and re-
ceivcd the usual salute and the guns were reloaded
with the expectation of replying to salute from
q Russian gunboat to Mr.. Dclong. The salute how
ever was not given. and the guns remained loaded
As the Oneida steamed out of the harbor the crews
Of the various vessels and the men Mt work IN the
port gave cheers and wished her a happy voyage.
On passing out Of the harbor her fires were banked
and steam blown OIL.
While the officers were at dinner, nj about Z
o'clock the lookout man shouted, Steamer lights
ahead " and a midshipman gave the order To port
helm, Everything seemed quiet on board the other
steamer. This leads TO the belief that she had not
observed the Oneida although her lights were burn
nag brightly. The steamer, which proved to be the
Bombay of tho Peninsular and Oriental line, came
night on and struck the Oneida on the starboard
ahaft the gangway, about half way between the
main and mizzen rigging. a hole was cut. through
which the whole interior of the ship was visible
The pinnacle. wheel, and ruddcr were carried away
and two men standing at the wheel were instantly
klled.
The Bombay did not stop after crashing through
she Oneida, though the guns of the latter which
hapgencd TO DO loaded almost instantly fired TO
attract her attention and bring her back.
Orders were given to lower the boats, but only one
life boat was available, the others having been
prnshed The life-boat was manned by DIR. Stoddart.
nj NJ the llNp
were fred but before the sixth could be discharged
tho Oneids sunk, within ten minutes after she was
struck,
None of those saved saw man OF heard voice on
board the Bombay. They report that when 1T became
evident that there was no hope of saving the ship,
the officers gathered around Capt Williams, and was
hesad to say if the ship went down he would go with
her The lifeboat was obliged 10 leave the sinking
ship TO avoid being swamped.
After pulling about for while the crew OF the
hfe boat seeing none of the crew floating, not one OF
all the lG0 who went down, unwillingly bent their
boats head TO landward, about five miles distant
On landing the natives kindly treated them, and
they obtained tho assistance of guide and started
10 walk to Yokohama, which they reached at day
light the next morning. The Bombay immedi-
ately ordered TO the scene of the wreck, and sue
teesled in saving 90 men. who had got into cutter
which noated when the ship went down. Several
other vessels, one with Minister DcLong on board,
proceeded to the of the disaster during the day.
but no more lives were saved.
The japanese Government sent boats and appa-
ratus 10 search for the wreck. and If necessary TO
buoy the spot The passeng gers on board the Bombay
were quite surprised when they heard the calamity
hal bofaen the vessel they had struck, but declare
they neither heard any request from the Oneida to
.tay by Them OF minute guns fired. Naval Court
has been demanded by the Captain of the Bombay.
The officers and men of the Oneida numbered l'6
only SO of whom, including DR.. Stoddart and two
Junior officers, surviving the disaster
The following is a list of the saved;
Isaac J. Yates Master; James Stoddart surgeon Hico
las Anderson, acting bOatswain W W. Crawihsh,TIu
raptons clerk; William Anderson Thomas BieHy; Mn
Britney, Charles Brown, Pat Cunningham, 4. >. Con
Houston liian Halt, William Henry, John Jones
Isaac Jones, James Jordan George w hauhiDdn
Ses% k ahe joan James Ae AcDona G' Edward
BulveIl. Philip Mcdonald, Michael MoIiae, michael
Postley. Charles Regau Edward Rellley, william p IL
Roach John Rus Albert Rneer J se6eTseR bT
ham Stolhof. Patrick FehaD, Thomas speers; JOIN
Edward Tate, William Tryol Henry Nell ChiIsuaH
Wager, and I'VE Chinese boys.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
YOKOHAMA. Jan. 81, via San Francisco, March l.
The most terrible accident and horrible exhibition
Of inhumanity known in the, East occurred about %
"A. The United States steamer Oneida, homewsrd
hound. collided with tie British Peninsular and
Oriental iron mail steamer Bombay, Capt Arthur
Wellsby Eyre. The Bombay struck the Oneida on
her starboard quarter. carrying away her poop-deck
emitting of her whole stern, and running ono OF hei
Lmbers entirely through the bows OF the Bombay at
the water lines.
Three times the Oneida hailed the Bombay with
Shin ahoy0 Stand by You've cut us down
blew her whistle. and fred her guns. all of which the
efoers of the Bombay they did not hear, though
the guns we're distinctly heard at this port 20 miles
aWav The Oneida went down stern first IN about
40 fathoms of water with 20 officers and 20 men
The captain of the Bombay did not stop 10 rescue
those on board nor did he upon his arrival here. re-
oort the accident or inform the authorities. The first
known of the affair was the next morning. when DR.
gtOddard the surgeon with - OF the crew, arrived
en foot But two cutters were available, and the
officers almost to n man, refused TO take them while
man remained aboard.
Discipline was complete TO the last The sick
were all being put into the boats, the officers re-
manning at their posts until the ship went down.
Tbe only United States Government vessel in Japan
being the sto1eship Minister Delong was obliged to
accept from the English French, and Russian men
of war steamers, steam launches, cutters. &c; ana
IN company with Col. Shepard, Consul at feddo'
and Nj. harrington proceeded 70 the scene OF the
disaster, where all IN human power was and IS still
being done 10 rescue the sufferers and recover the
bodies of the lost
Minister belong, on his own responsibility has
chartered the gunboat Aroostock lately sold by the
United States Government TO private parties manned
her with mixed crew Of the survivors OF the Oneida,
volunteer citizens, and engineers furnished by the
and, Il l.