The Indianapolis journal., 1886-03-18
THE LOSS OF THE OREGON.
A Passenger Charges that the Recent Acct
dent Was the Result of CarelesSness.

BosToN, March 17-Mr. Frank Ordway, of the
frm Of Ordway g. Co., of this city, who was on
board the Oregon, very positively asserts that
the accident was the result of gross carelessness
There seems to him to be little excuse for it, for
had proper lookout been kept it would not have
happened. The morning was perfectly clear.
Mr. Ordway thinks the lookout and the officer in
charge had their attention taken up by hosting
the mail on deck. and left the ship unprotected
by proper watch.
A week ago a minister on the ship jumped
overheard. To two sailors who tried to prevent
him he said: "Good-by, boys. the ship is going
to sink, and may as well go now as any time"
Mr.. Ordway speaks with great plainness of the
pandemonium which he says prevailed on board
the steamer between the time of the collision
and the arrival of rescuing vessels, his "ccount
differing in marked degree from the narratives
of other passengers Mr. Ordway says 'It
was nearly two hours after the accident when
the flags and aignals were run Up, and the
signal gun was fred This was little pop"
which could not be heard half q mile away.
Rockets were also fred. The passengers grew
more and more excited, and after a steamer
answered our signals, but sailed away from US,
perfect pandemoEium prevailed There was no
order whatever, and it was every man for him
SELF Officers, crew, and passengers ran about
the deck swearing and cursine. Finally pilot
boat hove in sight. and came toward US. We
signaled, but those on the boat AS one told me
afterward, could not make out what was wanted.
as the signals were SO excitedly given. Had
they not noticed that the ship lay on the water
motionless, : they would have sailed away.
Through their glasses they saw that the passen-
little boat to find out what was the matter. The
boats had been got out, but there was disci-
pline in handling them. It would naturally be
supposed that the crew would have station at
such time, but there was absolutely no disci-
pline whatever. rush was made for the boats
by the men, petty officers, and fremen and
ssokers, who acted like pack of bowling wild
beasts. The women and children were utterly
disregarded."
Theories as to Cause of the Vessels Sinking.
NEW YORK March 17.-Various theories con-
tinue to be advanced as to the cause of the sink
ing of the steamer Oregon. To the question,
"Could a schooner sink the Oregonr experienced
searnen answer both yes and no. One says it
must have been a coaler without bowsprit or
spars, because the Oregon was not scratched
much above the water line. and no spars were
left floating It is suggested that dynamiters
might have done the deed, and that the Oregon
ran on the wreck of the steamer Hylton Castle.
One goes even SO far as to suggest that it was
the work of some submarine vessel of war, sim
liar to the Nautilus" described by Jules Verne
So far, about 140 of the 600 bags of mail have
been recovered Most OF the remaining bags
on deck and if the vessel is right side up, it
can be nearly all recovered by divers. Large
sums of money and securities are known to have
been in the registered pouches, and numerous
inagiries have already been received at the post
offscs about them from bankers The fact is
that the losses cannot be now estimated. The
Cunard company is compromising fast it
can with the immigrant passengers on the Ore
gon, by sending them to their destinations.
large, and will not be settled readily. One lady
is said to have lost $50. 900 worth of diamonds