323
signals. They certainly did not think on board that the Oneida had been dangerously injured. They seemed to think on board that it was simply a question of repairs. They did not say anything about any man on board the Oneida haring heen injured. I went down into the saloon with Captain Eyre. I was talking with lady passengers, who told me that the shock was like a slight grazing, like ran- ning on a rock easily. The ladies were Lady Parkes and Miss Binns. Lady Parkes told me she was in the saloon; and that when she felt the collision, she had run out. She said she had run outside the saloon; thinking that if they had struck on a rock, she would have a better chance for a boat, She did not say anything about having seen the other réssel. The other lady did not say anything to me. I was talking to Lady Parkes. Captain Eyre told me that he did not seem to have sustained much damage, because his an- chors were hanging at his bows all right. Afterwards he told me they had found a spar through the stem. The im- pression I had was, that he bad discovered it while I was on board. I did not hear anything about what quantity of water the Bombay had made. Mr. Henderson, the midship- man, was present on deck while I was talking to the Cap
tain,
To Mr. DE LONG-It was chiefly from the way in which I was told that I thought that the Oneida her not sustained much damage. I did not go on board again that night. I believe Mr. Fanshawe and Mr. Gough both went on board the next morning.
(Signed) THOMAS H. LEVENTHORPE, HGH GEORGE GOCGE, Sworn, states:-I am a sub. lieutenant on board H. M. §. Ocean. I was officer of the watch when a boat came alongside on the morning of the 25th ultime with the Doctor of the Oneida, at about a quarter past five o'clock on that morning. An officer who told me he was the Doctor of the Oneida came on board and said: "that about seven o'clock the night before the Oneida had been run into by a steamer and that he bad reason to believe that she bad since sunk. He told me that he had got away in a boat with some sixteen men, and chased a junk to try and get her to come back to their relief that he could not catch the junk and turned to go back to the ship but couldn't see her anywhere; he then pulled for the shore and walked to Yokohama, took a native boat and cance on board the Occan. I reported it to Captain Tiaklar, who told me to have some other officer called and to send to the Sylvia to get up steun at once. Meantime, an officer came from the Idaho and told me just what the Oneida's doctor had previously related to me. Captain Tinkler told me to ask him to take me on board the Bombay, and that I was to request the Captain of the Bombay, as he was the only ship in the harbour with steam up, to go down to where the accident took place and see what he could do. I went on board and asked for the Captain; when he came out of his cabin, I gave hire Captain Tinkler's request; be replied, "I can't; I've got a hole in my bows." I asked him if that was hie answer, and be sent for his chief officer; he asked the chief officer bow much water there was in the bold or compartment? and the officer answered about nine feet: the Captain then said: "do you hear that?" I said yes, and that I wanted He then said, "no, I can't." I then an answer, yes or no. weat away.
To Mr. DE LONG.--I did not go from the Ocean to the Agent's house.
To Mr. BARNABD--All I remember Captain Eyre saving is, po, I can't." when he heard there were nine feet of water in the hold.
(Signed)
HUGH E. GOUGH.
ARTHUR DALRYMPLE FANSHAWE, SWOrn. atates.-I am a Lieutenant of H. M. 8. Ocean. I went on board the Bom bay at about 20 minutes past seven on the morning of the 25th ultimo, in accordance with orders from my command- ing officer, to entreat the Captain of the Bombay to go out at once, to the assistance of the Oneida, and to represent to him that he was the only ship in the anchorage with steam up; which message I delivered to the Captain of the Bom- day on arriving on board. His reply was, "will you tell ·
your commanding officer that I have 9 feet of water in my foremost compartment, and 18 inches in my second com- partment; and that I should not have gone out had I not received a message from my agent; but that now I am get- ting underweigh to go out immediately." Giving me to understand that the reason why he should not have gone out was on account of his having 9 fect of water, or was on account of his ship not being fit to go. I then left the Bom- bay; and noticed when about a hundred yards from her, that she was already under weigh.
(Signed) ARTHUR D, FANSHAWE.
The answers to the questions addressed to the gentlemen who were asked to examine the bows of the Bombay, were read and marked Nos. 1, 2, and 3.
ALFRED STEELE PERKINS, SWorn, states.--I am the doc- tor of the Bombay. To my knowledge I have not said that I could see into the saloons of the vessel, into which the Bombay ran. I could not see into the Oneida's saloon, I saw her passing us after the collision. I merely saw the dark mass of a ship and the glimmer of a light, as far as I could judge. I saw no person or persons on board the Onei- breach in the Oneida. I only saw a light or glimmering, und da. I saw no portion of her interior through a hole or gould not see where it came from.
To Mr. DE LONG, I have seen Lieut. Clernents before. I had a conversation with him but whether on the 24th or 25th, I cannot say. I cannot state what I said to him, having no distinct recollection of what I said. I certainly did not say to him that after the collision I could see the lights in the other vessel's cabins; nor did I hear Captain Eyre make such a statement. The other vessel passed so quickly, that I really could not describe what I saw, fur- ther than that I saw the glimmer of a light at the side of the ship. I would see no distinct outline of the hole through which the light came, as she passed by us so quickly. I did not hear the other vessel's whistle. I did not hear the report of any gun from her. I did not see the flash of any gra. 1 heard a bail from her deck. I heard from her
steamer ahoy" once only. I fancied I saw something in the sea floating by the side of our ship; but I cannot swear to it; it was too indistinct to form any opinion of its size. I was standing just outside the saloon door near the break of the poop.
I did not communicate to Captain Eyre, or to any of the officers of the Bombay what I had seen. I did not see anything like a man; a table, or anything else through the light on the other ship. I did not hear any order to shorten sail on board the other vessel. I cannot say how long the other ship remained in sight. I was in I then ran out and the saloon at the time of the collision. looked over the side, then I went into the saloon again. went up on the poop and it was then that I heard the hail. She was then, I should say, 20 or 30 yards astern of us: but I could not judge the distance. I should say she re- inained within my sight from 2 to 3 minutes after I went up to the poop.
I
To Mr. BARNARD.-1 rever heard Captain Byre say to any one he could see into the cabin or saloon of the other vessel.
TO THE COURT.--The effect of the collision upon me in the saloon was nothing. I was sitting down and scarcely felt the shock; the vessel did not seem to stagger after the shock, from what I felt. I thought she had run into some junk or fishing boat. I thought so become of the slightness of the shock. There were some ladies in the cabin, at the time of the collision. They appeared to be rather startled, but not very rauch fright ened, and Captain Eyre came down from the bridge, after the collision a little before we got into harbour to speak to the ladies. I did not take note of what he said to them. Those in the cabin jumped up and made toward the door after the collision; only the two ladies and I were in the cabin at the time of the collision. After the collison the ladies resumed the game they were playing, either backgammon or something, I dont know what.
(Signed)
ALFRED STEELE PERKINS.
Adjourned till 9 A.M. to-morrow,
SIXTH DAY,
WEDNESDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY, 1870.
Proceedings resumed at 9 AM, on Wednesday, the 2nd February, 3870.
Capt. ETRE, allowed to say a few words before the next witness was examined, states that he was worried and anxions at the time the officers of the Occan came on board; and be exceedingly regrets, if he made use of any discour teous expressions. Mutual apologies for any show of fool- ing were then exchanged between Capt. Eyro and Mr. De Long; the latter gentleman stating that he was not infla enced by any feeling of revenge in the conduct of this in- quiry.
GEORGE WILLS, sworn, states.I reside at the Interna- tional Hotel. I was in the ban-room of that hotel on the evening of the 24th of last month. Captain Hütz and Mr. Curtis and I were sitting at the stove. I saw Mr. Hamer- ton, the 3rd offloor of the Bombay, standing at the bar, at about 10 or 11 yards distant from us. I am an English. mau. I did not bear Mr. Hamerton make any statement relative to the collision. I heard the steward say, some- thing, I cannot exactly remember what. I know the conversa. tion occurred; but I heard the chief steward say he had been below washing his face, when he felt a kind of a shock. Ho said he hardly stopped to wipe his face, but ran on deck where be met the oarpenter, and inquire of him what was the matter. The carpenter informed him there had been a collision, and that a hole had been made in the other ship, large enough to look into the cabin, Mr. Curtis was eitting at the stove and remarked "oh, there is a job for the carpenters there." The stoward then walked toward the bar were Mr. Hamerton was. As he was walking to- ward the bar, Captain Hiltz called out to him, "did you not stop?" Mr. Hamerton auswered "no." Captain Hiltz then said, "why not?" Mr. Hamerton made answer, “T cannot say, that's where the mistake is," or words to that effect. Afterwards I heard some conversation going on, a to whether the ship's hull was of pine or oak; that is all I heard.
(Signed)
GEORGE WILLS.
JAMES CAVANAGH, sworn, states.--Botween 6 and 7 P.M. on the 24th ultimu, I was at Kanousaki. This is to the best of my knowledge about threa miles from the bony on Sara- toga spit. On that night I heard the report of four guns. I heard them one after another. I thought there was a minute between each. I thought the mail steamer was ou the spit perhaps. I have been a pilot about ten years in Japan. I have never piloted any mail steamers into the harbour. Steamers generally steer mid-channel after pasa. ing Kanonsaki, except you want to make the buoy. N. by W. half W. will fetch the buoy on the starboard side. This course will make the buoy about fifty yards on the star- board side. This would be the couras by day or night. rounding, the usual course is from half a mile to a mile from Kanonsaki; steering this course, a ship would be, ay about 20 yards from the buoy, when the buoy would be abeam, unless there was a strong ebb-tide, in which case a steamer would be set more to the westward.
The deep water channel between Saratoga spit and Kanonsaki is about one mile and a half wide. You osa run very close to Perry's Island; there are from 39 to 40 fatboms of water ologe into Kanonsaki. If in coming up the channel, I saw a steamer's mast-head and green lights, I should put my holm starboard in order to give her a clear berth.
Mr. DE LONG here read two paragraphs from the U. S. Navy regulations in regard to passing at sea.
To Me, BARNARD.-1 I saw three lights half a point on my part bow, I shoald port my helm. I should put it either "hard a port "or" hard a starboard," to keep clear of her. If I saw a red light on my starboard bow, both ships would give way. It wodd be my duty to give way as well as the duty of the other vessel. I have taken ships up and down the channel, both before and after the light-house was erected. In piloting a vessel in or out, I never look at the chart. I should not take bearings of the light by the chart. The light-house is of use ou a dark night to show vessels the way in. I am not aware that in navigating a channel it is customary to keep to the starboard side of such chan nel. If it were two steamore, it would not make any dif ference to me which side of the channel I went. If in round- ing Kanonsaki, I saw another steamer coming down trom the harbour, I should think it my duty to port my helm so as to give her a wider berth. In going down Yedo bay, it is usual to steer for Perry's Island until you spasSaratoga spit. In proceeding from Kanonsaki to Saratoga spit, I should judge my distance from the spit by the lights at Yokoska. On a dark night, I think I could judge my distance from Yokus- ka lights sufficiently well to give the Saratoga spit a close berth without taking the bearings of the light-horse. I should judge Saratoga spit to be clear to the North when Perry's Island bore W. S. W. In going out of the harbour, if I saw a steamer's lights, I should imagine that she was coming end on or nearly end on. I don't know what the other vessel would do. I should port my own helm, or else starboard it,
To the COURT.--I was on sbore when I heard the guns. I did not carry a watch. I think it was about 40 or 45 minutes past six that I heard those guns; that was about the time as nearly as I could guess. The clock in the light. konee had stopped. I should think it to be now 3 past 10 or 11 o'clock (N. B. It was seven minutes past ten.) I saw the mast heat light and the port light of the mail boat from Kanonsski. I should think it was about five minutes past six when I saw her about three-quarters of a mile off Ka- nonsaki. I did not soe the lights of any ships coming down the chaquel. I was in a house when the first gun fired ; and by the time I had my boots on, the fourth gun bad fired. A friend of mine saw the flash of the fourth gau; and I immediately thought that the mail boat had gone on to the spit. I saw no rockets fred nor blue lights burned. I had not my boat with me. I could have got a Japanese fishing boat. I thought I would wait till daylight to go and see what it was, as there were only two Japanese in a small boat; and I could not see the musthand lights of the steamer when I heard the gun. I imagined that the ship hon which they were fired was in danger. I did think it worth while to go to her; but did not wish to force the Ju panese to go off to her. I did offer them ten boos to tako me off to the ship from which the guns had fired. They did not ask me any fixed anm, for which they would take me off. I think it was three boos that I paid the boatman for taking me from the Plymouth rocks to the light-house. Had they taken me on board the mail steamer, I should have given them five boos. I offered them ten boos to take me where the guns were fired from. I stopped at the light- house because the bost would not take me farther on that
EX