saw the mast head light we saw the side lights. When we shut out the other vessel's green light the two vessels must have been about four of five ship's lengths apart. When she hanled across us of course we opened her green and shut We did not starboard our beln antil we out her red light. saw that if we did not do so we must strike her right amid ships. I could see no one on board the other vessel. Saw no measures taken on the other side to avoid the collision. When she hauled up to cross our bows the vessel must have been about four ship's lengths off. If any order had then been given to lower all our boats it would have taken six to seven minutes. This would comprise bouls that would carry the whole ship's company. Two boats are always kept ready to lower. They could be both in the water in two minutes. It would not take ten seconds to strike a blue light as they are always kept ready. This is customary on I did not see the other vessel clew board P. & O. ships. up her sails.
To Mr. DE LONG. When we passed Kanonsoki our course was, I think N. N. W.; but I cannot say exactly. After passing that light her course was altered to North true. Ous course was not altered after that to my knowledge until the belm was ported for the steamer's light. There was an able Seameu aud a lascar on the lookout before we reached Kanon- saki light; afterwards a gunner was put on. When first seen When we the Oneida bore half a point on our port bow, first saw the Oncida the Kanonsaki light bore South by East of us, and was about three miles oft. When we were abeau of that light it must have been a mile or half a mile from us. We saw the Oneida's side lights simultane- ously. She at no time bore on our starboard bow till after the collision. After the collision I saw no lights on the Oneida through her stern. Did not hear the Oneida's whistle. Pon't know at what time our whistle stopped. I cannot recollect. The shock of the collision was very slight. Our engines were stopped before the collision, and remained stopped ten minutes I should think. We ported our helm directly we saw the Oneida's lights. I heard no crash as of cutting timbers and so on; it was just a touch and off; still it was such a touch that I deemed it prudent to go helow and see the condition of the vessel. I went below first and then on to the forecastle, and then to the bridge and reported to the Captain. All this was within the ten minutes and while the engines were still stopped. During that ten minutes I found the other ship's boom, gaff, and piece of her sail. Her boom was under our bow.
Mr. BARNARD here wished it to be placed on record that he "objected to the constitution of this Court as at "present formed, because, there had been no complaint made "by Captain Ryre, or by any of the officers, crew or persons on bourd or interested in the British Steam ship Bombay "and because the interest of the owners of the ship or of the cargo, do not require it, and no person or persons what- "ever interested in the ship or the contents thereof, have "made such a complaint as would warrant and give juris "diction to any naval court under this or any other act or acts of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, or any of her pre- "decessors; and 2nd, we object to any American citizen "being allowed to ask any questions, or cross-examine a "witness upon any questions relating to a British ship or "British property. We have no objection to any American "gentleman watching the case and suggesting any ques- "tious in writing through the Court."
The COURT informed Mr. Barnard that this was a Court of inquiry and not of strict law; and that Mr. De Long had been conducting the proceedings on behalf of the survivors of the Oneida by and with the consent of the Court; in fact, both Mr. Barnard and Mr. De Tong appear by per mission. The Court is much obliged to Mr. Barnard and Mr. De Long for the valiable assistance they are giving on this occasion.
Examination continued.-This discovery of the boom, gaff, and sail, was waade during the ten minutes, while the engines were stopped, but I did not report this at that time. I only reported the bobstay having been carried away. I only reported the damage done to our own vessel. Directly afterwards I reported that the piece of sail was on board. I cannot say how much time clapsed between the two reports, but I think it was while I was on the bridge making the first report. The boom was up and down the round of the bows of the Bombay. It had caught in the fluke of her starboard anchor. The gaff was on the star board bowsprit shroud, extending from there to the oathead. The piece of sail was over the top-mast stay and hanging over the bows, No light was at that time put over the bow. We lowered a light over the bow about twenty minutes I should think after the collision, but I cannot say exactly how long a time elapsed. We then discovered that the cutwater, figurehead, and head rails were gone. Cannot say how long it was before we made our mail signals that I fuspected the bows. On passing the light ship we fired a gun, two rockets and a blue light. The Tiptree responded with a rocket. Don't recollect hearing a gun from the light ship. It did not occur to me after seeing the gaff, sail, &c., that the injury done to the Oneida might have been a serious one. It did not occur to me that it might have injured her screw or steering apparatus. I made no suggestions to the Captain that it would be better to stop
I formed
and see what injury bad been done to the Oneida. No one else did so to my knowledge. I found a spar through our bow, but it was sometine after. The spar is about two feet long and eight inches in diameter, and penetrates right through our bow. It must have passed through a inch plate on each side of the vessel. If we had caught the Onoidu's sail over our bowsprit we could have carried away her boom and gaff. A spanker boom is attached sometimes with jaws and sometimes with a goose-neck. A goose-neck is usually about an inch and a half in diameter. The boom has no other fastenings to the mast. the judgment that our bowsprit must have caught her sail and thus carried away the fastening of her boom; we have After I had no jibboom. We had a wooden bowsprit. seen exactly the state of our vessel, I thought we must have taken her top work away. It did not occur to me to think whether the other vessel was injured or not. I was very busy with my work on board and gave my whole attention to what I was about. I reported to Captain Eyre what I had discovered at once. This was after we had anchored and when I had gone round in a boat and inspected the I believe we re- bows. We anchored at about 7.50 P.M. mained at anchor till daylight the following day. I did not see the Oneida for a moment after the vessel bad cleared.
TO ME, BARNARD. A houging spar would easily knock a hole in a vessel's side if the vessel were going at eight knots. When masts are cut away there is danger of their forcing their way through a ship's side by the action of the water. If a boom projected say lo feet over the Oneida's stern we might have carried it away without touching her It is possible that the spar might have forced its way bull. through the bows after the collision as the ship was going at eight knots. The penetration having taken place at the water line makes it appear more probable that the spar Considering that might have been forced in by the water,
the spanker boom is far above the water line I should think that to enter another vessel at the water line, it must have been worked into her side by the force of the water. On the night of our arrival I did not know of the damage done to the Oneida. The acoldent to the Oneida was first re- ported on board us at 6 a.a. on the following morning.
TO THE COURT. I was on the bridge when the lights of the Oneida were first reported, At the time of the collision I was on the top of the bridge ladder. There is a telegraph for signalising from the bridge to the engine room. The Captain worked the telegraph that night, I felt the Bom- bay stop when she did. The vibrations of the engines ceased. The engines were not going ahead when I returned and re- ported to the Captain, I don't know if the spar through our bow is the Onside's spanker boom. When the vessels collided the Oneida's head was not quite at right angles with our stern. It is customary to note the time of making the mail signals. If is the fourth officer's duty to note the time. There was headway on the Bombay at the time we starboarded our helm. There was sufficient way on her to sion before. I don't know of any code of signals to be used make her feel her helin. I have never experienced a colli-
in cases of collision at night. On a dark night such as that of the 24th a steamer's light could be seen a mile and a half off. I did not look out for a steamer until I heard the gong sounded. The Oneida's lights were burning brightly.. The leak is on the port side of the Bombay,
(Signed) ARTHUR COLE LOGGIN,
Adjourned to 1:30 PM,
RICHARD CONNOR, sworn, states, I am an American. I was born in New York State, I have never been in England, I am a pilot and possess a pilot schooner. I am in partnership with another pilot. I was on the look out for vessels on the 24th. I boarded the P. & O. Str. Bombay at about 11 A.M. on the 24th instant, I was about 8 miles to the North of Rock Island when I boarded her. I am a part owner of my vessel. No European was ou board my vessel when I board- ed the Bombay. The Captain asked me if I was a pilot, when I said I was. My vessel is a schooner of about 36 tons. My main sail is marked No. 1. I carried a flag, red and white, the usual pilot flag. My vessel is registered as a pilot schooner at the UT. S, Consulate, she is a new vessel, She was registered about the 18th of last mouth. The 23rd is the first time we went out as pilots with this schooner. I bave been a pilot in these waters about 9 months. I have piloted at least thirty vessels into this harbour, I have no certificate as a pilot. There are no licenses here granted to pilots. Ihave no certificate from vessels Thave taken in, Never met with an accident as a pilot. I think myself thoroughly competent to pilot a vessel into this port in any weather. I boarded the Bombay about 11 o'clock; nothing occurred until shortly after 6 o'clock. At that time we were about three miles to the North of Kanonaaki when the gong was struck on the forecastle by the lookout. It was struck twice to signify that there was something on the port bow. The lookout was to strike the gang once if there was anything on the starboard bow, twice for the port baw and three times for a vessel right ahead. These signals were described to me by the second officer, I was on the starboard side of the bridge. I went over to the port side and I saw the steami- ere lights, I should say about 4 or 5 miles distant. I told the Captain it was a steamer coming down. The Cap-
tain turned on the whistle. The vessel was about half a point on our port bow. I sung out to the helmsman to port the helm, and immediately after the Captain sung out "hard a port" The ship went off about two points, so as to shut off his green light. Then I spoke to the Captain and said the ship was off far enough; the Captain said "Let her go a little further." Justas that time we saw the Oneida'e green light open out and her red light shut in. The two vessels were I should say about a mile or a mile and a half distant at that time. That brought the Ouside heading right across our bows. The Captain stopped the engines by ringing a bell. The Captain than took hold of the railing of the bridge, and said "my God there is going to be a col- lision." I told him that "it could not be helped; that we had done all we could to getont of his way; that he was in the wrong." I then said I thought it was a Japanese hy the way she acted,” There was nothing then said till we came toge ther. I was on the starboard side of the bridge when she struck. I heard no voices, or any one say a word on board the Oneida. I sung out and asked them what they meant? The chief officer was on the bridge and started to go down the ladder just as the collision occurred. After the ship struck her she swung off. Just before we collided the Cap- tain song ont "hard a starboard," and then when she was dropping down clear of us be sang out hard a port" to clear the ships stern and her boats. It was a very little time after we collided that she was out of sight, She had all her canvass set and there was a strong north east wind blowing. She went out of sight in no time. The Captain asked me "in case the ship came to grief if there was any place for her to go to." I told him "I thought there was no danger of that, bat if there was, the spit was close to him and he could run on that, or that he would drift on shore at Kanonsaki." The Captain said "surely if there is any danger they will fire a gun or send up a rocket.” We were both looking in the direction of the Oneida for signals at the time. The Chief officer came onthebridge, and the Cap- tain asked him what damage had been done. He replied, that he could see nothing, but that the bobstay was gone, and part of the vessel's sail was foul of the Bombay's bows so that he could not see all of the damage. I asked the chief officer if he had a light. He then left the bridge and went forward again. The Captain and myself were standing on the bridge looking aft the whole time. He asked me if I saw any signal" I told him "No." He said "they can- not be very badly damaged or she would give a signal." The chief officer came on the bridge again and said there was a spar drove right through the ship's bows and that she was making water very fast. The Captain said to me "what would you do?" I told him that I thought that if the other ship was in danger she would make a signal and if she did not it was better for him to go on to Yokobama as soon as possible." The bell was rung to "go ahead slow." Shortly afterwards it was "full speed." The chief officer was forward at this time, and coming aft, he said there was eight feet of water in the hold. I asked him where the spar went through her bow, and he said it was at the water line. When the mate first reported that the spar was driven through the ship's bows. the master asked me whether I could beach her there. I told him I could but I thought that if we could get to Yokohama it would be much better. That was all till we got to Yokohama, except that we now and then looked aft to see if we could see any signal. Shortly after we caine to an anchor a man-of-war's boat came alongside. The officer in charge of the boat came on deck. The Captain asked him what steamer that was that had gone down the bay! The officer said it was the Oneida, The Captain told him that he had had a collision and that his bow was all stove in. That was all.
To Me. BARNARD-When we first saw the vessel abend, the Captain said, "port is the rule of the road." There is a system of telegraphy between the Bombay's bridge and the engine roon. The engines were stopped immediately the Captalu rang the boll. I noticed the Oneida's lights; they were burning brightly. I do not know if she was under steam. When she was alongside of us, I saw the fan going as if astern, and I thought by the appearance of the foam made by the water that she must be backing. I saw her screw going causing the foam. She was under full sail with a fair wind nearly aft, but a little on the port quarter. Her sails were full Her screw might have been going round, although she had not steam up, if the screw was disconnected. If the vessel had been steaming astern her sails would have stopped her going astern. Before the collision occurred, when we first made the ship's lights, the Bombay's whistle was sounded. At the time of the collision I was in a position to have heard anything that might have been called out from the other vessel. I was certainly within 40 feet. The ship's etern was right abreast of the Bombay's bridge after the collision and when she was dropping clear I was near enough and might have seeen a shadow of people on board the Oneida, but could not have said whether it was a man or what it was. After the collision I saw the reflection of lights that seemed to come from the Oneida. 1 could not tell exactly where they came from, but it was somewhere on the ship's poop. I could not say what sort of a light it was. There was not much time to look for anything. After the collision I heard no report of any gun. I looked for
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but did not see any flash, or blue light, or rocket, there was not even the Eght of a Japanese boat in sight. I did not see any injury done to the other vessel, nor did I see any of her spars until the mate told me there was what he thought to be a spanker boom and a gaff on board the Bombay. If I had thought hat here was the slightest risk to a single life I should have thought it my duty to report the fact to the Captain and request him to stop. Had I been in the position of Captain Hyre I should have felt it my duty to go on as he did. I do not believe that Captain Byre had any idea of the extent of the injury sustained by the Oneida from the way he spoke. I think he believed his own vessel was damaged most. I personally had no doubt, as I saw no siguals from the other ship, That was the reason I recommended the Captain to go on, The Bombay must have been going all of eight knots be- fore she was eased down. We had a strong wind and tide against us. The tide must have been about two and a half knots. The wind was a full sail breeze; heating up with a deep vessel we could carry top-gallant sails. I do not Bink she conld carry royals. A ship before the wind could have carried anything. The Oneida had her topsails, her topgallant sails, foresail and spanker set. Did not no- tice any smoke from the Oneida. It was not over two minutes, it might bave been three, during which I saw the Oneida after the collision. I did not see the other vessel clew up her sails, she must have been about a cable's length from us when I last saw her. I could not say at what speed she was going then. I did not see any mea- sures taken by the Oneida to get clear of us, except that she had all sails set as she came across our bows. First when I saw the Oneida, I thought she was the French mail. Then when I saw the sails set I thought she must be a Japanese vessel. I thought the vessel must have been a Japanese because she crossed our bows,
To Mr. De LONG.When the Kanonsaki light was abeam heading N.N.W. by the compass. I continued on that we were about a mile and a half distaut from it; we were course until the light bore south by east. We were bead- ing north half' west when we first sighted the Oneida. Wo light was abeam and when we sighted the Oneida. The had changed our course between the time when Kanonsaki reason was that I thought that we were far enough to the westward to clear the spit. When we first sighted the Oneida the Kanonsaki light bore about S. by B. or 8. 8. E. At this time the Saratoga apit buoy bore from us about a mile or a mile and a half distant, E. by N. according to my judgment. It is not customary for a steamer coming up the harbour after passing Kanonsaki, to keep to the westward in order to save distance. We just barely edge round the spit. When the buoy was abeam of the Bombay we were about three to four miles from Webster's island. I saw the three lights of the Oneida; after porting the helm, standing on still, we shut in his green light. After a little his red light was shut in; then I knew that the Oneida bad her helm a starboard, and was crossing our bows. Notwithstanding this we kept our helm aport. I don't suppose it was over a minute after the Oneida's red light appeared that the Captain gave the order to starboard; it may have been more, but it was a very short tirae. 1 have repeated all the conversation that occurred as nearly as I can recollect it. I have not stated to any one ashore that I advised the Captain of the Bombay to put back after the collision. Just before the collision the Captain said, my God, there will be a collision," I said, it could not he helped, we had done all we could to get out of his way." At the time of the collision. I should think that the Bombay must have been going about six knots, as the engines had not been eased down more than two minutes. This is my opinion only. I knew the Bombay was an iron vessel and had rather a sharp bow. I saw nothing to make me think that the Oneida was an iron vessel, as I could not see her hall. I saw her top work which was of wood. When the vessels sollided, the Bombay must have struck the Ongida's star: board quarter. I know that to be the weak point of a vessel, but I did not think that she had sustained any in- jury as she made no sigual. The shock was very light, and the vessels came into collision in a glancing way. I thought our bowsprit had caught in her spanker brails and carried away her gallery. It did not occur to me that the blow might have damaged her steering apparatus,
i should say it was seven or eight minutes, it might have been ten minutes between the time of the collision and the engines being turned ahead again. I correct myself, I mean that it might have been five minutes, and that it might have been ten minutes from the time the engines were stopped until they were turned ahead again. It was before we started our engines that the first officer made a report to the Captain that the bobstay was gone; that some boom was up and down the rigging, and another one alongside the bowsprit, and that part of her sail was hanging over our bows. He said all he could see was that the bobstay was gone, as the sail was hanging over the bows. The whole of what I have now said, was made as one report. The Chief officer made a second report to the Captain. Some eight or ten minutes may have elapsed between the first and second reports made by the chief officer to the Captain. The second report was this: there is a spar broken through the bows of the vessel at the water-line,
EX