Year: 1868

Admiral Bell's Death by Drowning-The Acci-


dent, and On1cers and Men Lost-Funeral


Ceremony and Place OF BuriaI-Sympathy Of


the British squadron-The Admirably Flag


saiuie:a and struck Forever.


UNITED STATES STEAMER ONEIDA,


HARBoR OF HloGo, Japan Jan. IA, 1858.


Iwrite to state that terrible and fatal occurrence
has taken place near here which has cast a drapery
of mourning and gloom over our entire feet. On
the morning OF the 11th instant Admiral Henry Hay
ward Bell, Of the flagship Hartford his nag lieuten-
ant, Lieutenant Commander Reed; his coxswain and
nine out OF a crew OF twelve men were drowned,
three only being rescued This sad event took place
In the harbor Of Osaca some twenty miles from here,
by the capsizing Of the Admiral's barge, at nine
O'Clock on the morning OF the 18th instant, when
on visit to the American Minister there, when she
was struck by the surf on the BAR turning her broad
side on, and before she could be righted she was
struck second time and capsized with all on board
Boats were Immediately put Off from the fleet, and
every effort made to reach and rescue them from the
surgng surf, but in vain.


The Admirals body, that OF his nag lieutenant and
four OF the crew were found and brought here on
beard the United States steamer Hartford, accom-
panied by the United States steamers Shenandoah
and Iroquois which vessels returned here on the
18th instant with nags all half-masted from Osaca
whittier they had gone three days before. The other
six bodies have been brought here since.


On the PRONUNCIATION OF this sad intelligence the
fags Of all the English feet, well our own were
half-masted. The funeral Is fixed for the 14th inst
M a are are 70 bvtv wear Grape % on e e arm
issued by Commodore Goldsborough, who assumes
command.


OF our fleet and those Of the English feet formed on
the United States steamer Hartford when the process
took place. and at eleven A. NJ they putO for shore,
when the Hartford commenced telling on thirteen
minute guns which was vas taken up IN rotation by the
quenty by the other vessels OF fleet In the order
OF the superiority or seniority Of their respective
guns from the English iron-cad frigate Ocean as
last mark OF respect to brave departed c0mradein-


On shore the funeral cortege formed at halfpast
eleven A. NJ, the English division on the left, the
American on the right strong detachment OF
Of respect to the departed by. saluting their
muflled drums The procession then slowly wended
IT'S way to the cemetery which is about half mile
following order:-The marines, with arms reversed,
led the way followed by the band Of the iron-clad
Which Which came the corpse Of the late ADMIRAL Which sl
was carried by the crew and followed by Commodore
Godsborough and the three survivors Of the melan-
choy accident. Next came the corpse OF the Flag Lieu
tenant, followed by number Of officers, and then
the bodies OF the ten seamen, carried two abreast
each coffin covered with the American ensign. These
were followed by a large body OF American and Eng
lish seamen marching four abreast, our men taking
the right of the line OF procession the English the
left Next followed the consular officers, followed
by a number OF American and English officers the
rear OF the procession being brought up by the for
eign residents and large concourse OF the native
population.


After the funeral services had been read through
by the chaplain the firing party advanced and dis
charged three rounds OF musketry the graves
which were then closed In on consecrated ground
This ground is to be fenced In and an appropriate
monument and inscription raised over this first and
sacred American settlement in the newly opened
port OF Hi0gO Japan At sunset OF the same evening
touching ceremony took place on board the Hart
ford, when the Admras flag was run up to the
mzzen, saluted with thirteen guns, and struck never
to be raised again.