Year: 1870

IHE boston transcript or March 10th
is permitted to copy the following inter
esting extracts from letter written to his
sister by Mr.. w. w. Crownshield, the
clerk of Captain Williams of the United
States steamer Oneida:


YOKOHAMA, Japan, January, &c, 1870.


The Oneida is no more but thank
Heaven am one Of the survivors of an
awful catastrophe We started two days
ago with our ship for Hong Kong, and IN
two hours our good vessel was at the bot
tom-haying been run into by an English
steamer belonging to the Peninsula and
Oriental Company. All are drowned but
Or. Saddards, Mr.. Yates, the boatswain,
ntty-two men and myself


My escape was most miraculous. At
the time of the collision / was asleep in
tpes cabin, on the transom, at about ten
minutes to in the evening. The steamer
struck us near the fOrepart Of the cabin.
found myself on the floor, just coming
to from being stunned, and on opening
my eyes saw the whole stern was cut off
and all exposed to the starlight.


had sense enough to climb out of the
stern sover the spar-deck, and to look
down into the cabin to see if Captain
Williams was there, but could not see
him seized cap within reach and put
it on with the strap under my chin.
had on thick suit, overcoat and boots /;
went to the quarter deck, met Paymas-
ter Tullock, and inquired how the dis.
aster happened; met Captain Williams
and told him how serious the damage
was; he was going on the bridge; spoke
to one or two more officers, and finding
the ship was sinking, went into the main
rigging, and in five minutes our good ship
commenced to sink rapidly; was ten
feet above the rail; when she had sunk
so as to have the water reach me, push
ed myself as far away from the ship as
could, but the vortex carried me down,
and it was long time ere came to the
surface. When I did / ssw nothing of the
ship, but many heads above water
saw one of our boats near by me, and had
just strength enough to reach her. I was
pulled on board exhausted, and found
MIR. Yates with thirty-seven of the crew
on board. We steered for the nearest
land, four miles away as well as | could
Judge. was nearly frozen, and soon had
d chill; but after while we came near
the beach, and made a landing in the
surf, where | was just able to get ashore,
ed Japanese village, and found shelter
and rest for the night, twenty-eight miles
from Yokohama


My heart is too full to tell you more of
myself, although all had went down in the
ship. Captain Williams acted as braVely
as he has always done. He would not
leave his post on the bridge, although he
was almost pulled away, and when urged
by Mr. Yates, replied, "I go down with
my ship" A petty officer urging him to
go, he grasped the iron rail and said, "No,
this is my place, and here / remain" God
bless him the country and the world have
lost noble officer, who died rather than
leave what he considered his post of duty.
This heroic conduct was followed by
every officer and man on board the ship !;
not soul who had station left it, but
faced death in such o manner that
makes me feel proud we were Americans,
and were it not for you all at home, could
wish was locked in their arms. Thu olgh
all that have passed during my life,
nothing has made such an impression
upon me. | can see each and every face
OF those who have gone, and they all
loved each other SO much They were
proud of their country, and took such in
terest in its prosperity! In that devoted
band there were many thoughts, but only
one heart.


The Oneida was the favorite ship of the
station. Could you see what the popular
feeling was here from every one, you
would think that all loved the ship and
her officers better than | did. We left the
port under the most favorable auspices,
the ship homeward bound. All the men
of-war cheered us, the merchant ships
dipped their flags, telling us of their good
wishes for safe and pleasant passage
home. But in one hour we were facing
death as only Americans can do, for not a
murmup not a cry was heard when the
good ship Oneida was sinking, and every
one knew that meant death. Through all
my experience during the war, saw
nothing to compare with it. But / can
not write more-my heart is too full.
Shall | ever get over itS is what / ask
myself.