The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-03
The Wreck Of the Oneida.

If the painful particulars of the loss of the
Oneida received since early yesterday morning
are true, there is no language too severe for
the expression of Indignation against the cold
blooded inhumanity and barbarity of Capt.
Frye of the steamer Bombay, in runnipg away
from the sinking vessel and drowning men.
We do not remember any parallel in modern
history for heartlessness. Letters from Yoko-
hama say that the guns which the officers of
the Bombay did not hear, were heard in the
city twenty miles away The Oneida went
down stern first in about twenty fathoms of
water, with twenty officers and fifty men. The
captain of the Bombay did not stop to rescue
those on board, nor did he upon his arrival
here report the accident or inform the authori-
ties. The first knowledge of the affair was the
next morning, when DR.. Stoddard, the sur
geon, and fifteen of the crew arrived on foot
Only two cutters were available, and the off
GERS almost to a man refused to take them
while man remained aboard. The discipline
was complete to the last. The sick were all be-
| ing puG into the boats, the officers remaining
| at their posts until the ship went down.
The only United States government vessel
| in Japan being the store ship, Minister belong
was obliged to accept from the English, French
and Russian men-of-war steam launches and
cutters, and in company with Col. Shepard,
Consul at YeddO, and Mr.. harrington, proceed
ed to the scene of the disaster, where all in hui
man power was and is still being done to res
cue the sufferers and recover the bodies of the
lost. Minister belong, on his own RESPONSE
bility, has chartered the gunboat Aroostook,
lately sold by the government to private par
ties, manned her with mixed crew of the
survivors from the Oneida, volunteer citizens
and engineers furnished by the Russian cor
vette and placed her under command of naval
officers and sent her with Col. Shepard to re-
present him to the scene of disaster while the
Minister himself is making thorough investi-
gstion by naval court of inquiry. Minister
De Long is entitled to great praise for his
prompt and earnest action.
The position of the Oneida was ascertained
by spar which at low tide rises four or five
feet above the water. No bodies heve yet been
found.
Had the Bombay sent her boats to the assist
ance of the Oneida all or nearly all would have
been saved. The feeling of indignation towards
Capt. Eyre is terrible. None but his company
and few Of his countrynen attempt to shield
him.
Continued investigation shows that the
Oneida, in a late typhoon, lost all but three of
her small boats. One of these was cut in two
by the collision, leaving but two boats to save
were when Lieut.. Commander reported the
vessel sinking 81 know it, but what can do?
l asked for more boats, and they we're not
allowed me- Thus, through the neglect of
somebody and the inhumanity of the Bombay's
officers battle SCARED and historic crew has
men as ever stood between her flag and their
enemies have been lost to their friends and to
their country.
The following is correct list of the officers
lost :-Commander E. P. Williams Lieut..
Commanders w. F. Stewart and A. w. Null
daur Paymaster T. L. Tullock, Jr. Masters
j. W. Corrie and Charles E. Brown Midship-
men w. Upler, G. X. Brown, Q. A. Copp, j.
z. Hnll, and G. X. Adams; Assistant Surgeon
rockingham Engineers T. B: Littig, H.
Barstow, G. N. G. Senter, and John Torrance;
Carpenter j. D. Penner Paymaster's Clerk
w: q. Thomas, and So men.
Oneida:-
Isaac ;: Yates, master; James Stoddart, sur
geon Nicholas Anderson, acting boatswain
W. w. Crowninshield, captains clerk; VIM
Henry Bennett, Michael Doyle, VIM. Britmev'
Charles Brown, Pat, Cunningham, F. j.
Connolly, Robert +. Dyer Henry Gerney,
John Green, James Huston, Wm Holtz, VIM.