Year: 1870

The following are extracts from letter of
Surgeon James suddards of the Oneida to his
father, the Rev. William suddards, d. d., of
this city, who has kindly furnished II to the New
York Associated Press for publication. The
better is dated at Yokohama, Jan. Biz


We left Yokohama at p. NJ on Gath, and
at Gas were run into by the Bombay on the
starboard quarter the whole of which was car
ried away. She struck us full with her sharp
iron stern and cut everything off as with a
chisel The wheel, steering gear, spanker
boom and gaff and poop cabin were all carried
away. and in fifteen minutes the Oneida sank In
fourteen fathoms water, and out of a personnel
of 25 officers and $50 men, officers and 81 men
are left to tell the tale.


The ward-room dinner was just finishing at
the moment of collision. 1t seemed to me as II
the whole side of the ship was coming bodily in
on the dinner table. We all rushed on deck i'm
mediately. Everything, of course, was in the
greatest confusion. AS stepped over the hatch
combing saw large steamer just clearing us.
She was hailed by our executive officer and re-
ouested to lay by us, but as far as / could judge
she steamed away as fast as she could go.


walked aft on the quarterback and eaw that
everything was smashed to pieces. l then
looked over the quarter and saw the extent of
the damage. / believed then that the ship
would 90 down in two minutes, and rapidly con-
cluded that every one must look out for himself.
AsI realized the position 1 noticed that the
ward-room boat, which hung at the port quarter,
was manned by twelve or fourteen men.


Jumped on the rail and asked If an officer
was in the boat. The men said no, and seeing
who was they said, Jump in, Doctor" and
seizing hold of me two or three of them dragged
me into the boat. at once took charge, order
ing a man at each fall to lower when ordered,
having Rrst cut all the fastenings with knives.
We staid there until within three or four min
utes of the ship going down. During this time
the boatswain and two or three men got into the
boat, making the whole number seventeen.


We were still hanging at the davits when the
ship began to roll in that peculiar way which
precedes laundering, and the boat was dashed
against the side of the ship, threatening to dash
her in pieces. / looked on deck, saw no one
abaft the malnmast, and gave orders to lower
away and hang by the falls.


The after fall got jammed, and had to be cut
with q knife Had we been three minutes longer
at the davits it would have been too late, as she
went down like shot after darting, and the
suction would have carried our boat down with
the wreck ! may mention here that when the
boat was brought up to the Idaho, she nearly
sank alongside, and on examination 1t was found
that seven knees were broken on the star
board side, and one of the planks knocked
an inch out of place. This must have been done
by striking the side of the ship, and convinces
me that we could not have saved any more in
our boat, as she would have filled and gone
down with q heavier load. AS the coxswain
cut the fall junk was seen close by under sail.
We started for her, intending to bring her
alongside If possible and save life. Being under
sail, however, and going free, she rapidly
left us, and in about two or three minutes
we gave it up, and, turning to go back to the
ship, found that she had disappeared. We
pulled to where we thought she had been, but
seeing and hearing nothing finally headed for
shore, and landed about $50. l at once went
up to Japanese house, engaged three guides,
and started off for Yokohama, twenty-five to
thirty miles distant. We crossed FIVE mountains
on our way, and had the most fatiguing tramp
you can imagine.


We arrived however, all safe at o'clock, on
the morning of the 25th, when / spread the
news and sent down assistance to the wreck.
The vessel was found yesterday, but no bodies
as yet. The English Consular Court is investi-
eating the matter. All the officers of the Bonn
bay have been examined our turn will come to-
morrow. Mr.. DeLong, the American Minister,
is conducting the proceedings on our behalf.
You will know the result by the next Pacific
mail, due in San Francisco March II. landed
on shore in an undress uniform, without cap,
and only saved my watch by having 1t on. = =


have been very much shattered by the oc-
currenee and subsequent fatigue, but am now
much better and begin to feel like myself. All
Yokohama has been extremely kind Invitations
TO stay at private houses pouring in from all
quarters. The feeling against the captain OF the
Bombay for not stopping is intense, and If the
court attempt to whitewash him violence may
be attempted.


No vessel that has ever been In the eastern
waters was SO popular as the Oneida. Even the
English officers say they would much rather the
misfortune had happened to one of their own
vessels. OF the twelve officers eating dinner al
the time of the collision, am the only one left


u fAH r.lr.