EIGHTH DAY,
FRIDAY, 4TH FEBRUARY, 1870.
327
Proceedings resumed 9 A.M. Friday 4th February, 1870. WILLIAM, W. CROWNINSHIELD, sworn, states: I was Captain's clerk, and on board the Oneida on the 24th Jan- uary, at the time of her collision with the Bombay. I was asleep in the Captain's cabin, on the starboard transom, at the time of the collision. I found myself lying on the cabin floor, recovering from being stunned. As soon as I realized where I was, I saw that the cabin was a wreck, and the stern was knocked out. I crawled out through the stern, and climbed on to the spar deck. The companion ladder leading from the cabin to the deck was gone, and I climbed over broken timber and débris. I looked down the Captain's hatch, (the skylight was gone) to see if Captain Williams was there; and finding be was not I went forward on to the bridge, and reported to the navigating officer who was on the bridge the extent of the damage. I went down on deck from the bridge, spoke to two or three of the officers, walked aft, and then found that the ship had commenced to settle at the stern. I went into the main rigging and remained there five minutes. When the water had reached the hatches abaft the mainmast aud was pouring down below, I threw off my coats, and presently the ship sank so that the water reached me. I pushed my- self away from the rigging and was carried down in the vortex. When I came to the surface again I found the ship had disappeared, but that there was a boat within 20 feet of me. I swam to the boat, and was taken on board, and landed with the rest of those in Mr. Yates' boat.
To Mr. DE LONG.The starboard quarter was gone the whole length of the cabin which was 25 feet long, and the stern was demolished, cut down to the water's edge. The poop was carried away. To a person looking from the out- side, there would be a clear hole six feet high and ten feet long. There was a large arm chair, cane chair, two common chairs, a bureau, a sideboard and a table in the Captain's
cabin. The table had a red cover on it. There was a hanging lamp directly over the table, and also candles. I didn't notice whether the wheel had been carried away or not. I did not notice whether the propeller was revolving. The engines were going, but my impression was, that the propeller and rudder were both gone. The poop cabin had bodily been swept away. I saw Captain Williams after getting on deck. I saw him on the quarter deck, going to- wards the bridge: and I reported to him, also, the extent of the damage. I heard him give orders, and I think one of them was, to set topgallant sails." The other orders I don't remember. Mr. Muldaur repeated the Captain's or- ders. He was on the bridge with the Captain conducting the steering of the ship. They were trying to steer the ship with canvas; but afterwards the water reached the main batobes, and he said to the Captain Captain; this ship will sink; it's of no use, you had better take to the rig- ging" and directly after making that remark, he jumped into the main rigging with me. but heard his voice about the vessel. I did not hear any- I did not see Mr. Stewart, one hail from either of the ships. Our whistle was blow ing from the time I got on deck, until the ship sunk. While I was in the rigging there were three guns fired. not notice who was engaged in firing those guns. I saw I did Mr. Paymaster Tulloch. I spoke to him on the quarter deck, shortly after I came out of the Cabin. After the vessel had sink, I saw nothing of any of the officers. Mr. Tulloch was merely standing there. I asked him, what was the cause of the wreck and he told me we had been run into by a steamer. As near as I can judge the Oneida went down by the stern first; and after arriving at an
angle of 45 degrees. She must have pitched down at that angle. I don't know where Captain Williams was at the moment of collision. When I went to sleep he was in his cabin. Five minutes after I got out of the cabin, the water came in at the stern. The spar deck was put under water, by the flow. I should say it was about ten to twelve minutes after I awaked that the vessel sunk. I have been at see 22 years. I held a commission during the late war, as Volunteer Lieutenent in the U, S. Navy.
To Mr. BARNARD.-I did feel the ship roll, but I have no rolled slowly. I have no idea to which side she rolled first. idea how many times she rolled before settling down. She I should say the first gun I heard was fired five minutes after I awaked. Between the first and second guns, a walked to the bridge. I did not see the Bombay at any minute elapsed-it may have been more. Captain Williamas time.
TO THE COURT.-The light was burning in the cabin when I looked down to see if the Captain was there. There cabin the water was not coming into the cabin itself. was a messenger boy down in the cabin; no one else. I looked down directly I had got on deck. When I left the The cabin tiller was always shipped at sea. the Captain. I heard three guns. Two were fired on the I lived with starboard side, and I cannot say where the other was fired from. Captain Williams was on deck when the ship left the anchorage. I do not know whether he had been on deck while the officers were at dinner. I do not know when the Captain left the cabin. I didn't see the doctor's boat leave the ship. I was in the starboard main rigging. did not notice at the time whether the rudder head was think, before the ship sunk. When I came on deck, the gone.
The last gun was fired 4 or 5 minutes, I should doctor's boat was at the daviis. I did not see that boat
anywhere except at the davits. When I came to the sur face, I saw a great many heads. I have been on the Oneida since the 16th of last April. Since that time I have messed and lived with the Captain. While I was on the rigging. the Kanonsaki light bore almost on our starboard beam; and I should judge that the ship was heading almost for the spit.
I did not notice anyone else in the cabin with me when I awoke from my swoon. I was not carried on deck. Captain Williams had been on shore sick, for two or three weeks before the vessel sailed. I heard no orders given to take to the boats, or cut away spars, to prepare for wreck in any way. I did not notice any spars floating about, when I came to the surface. ly I had been hauled into her.
I was in the water about three minutes, I think. The boat left almost direct-
WILLIAM W. CROWNINSHIELDS. nick, sworn, states I am a Russian. I am a Lieutenant SERGE ISTOMIN, Lieutenant of H. 1. R. M. ship Fzad- in the Russian Navy. On the evening of the 24th January last, at about 10 minutes to 7, I was on the deck of the low, and heard the sound as of a gan, but I am Vzadnick, in this harbour. At about 7 o'clock I was be not aware if it was a gun, so that I didn't pay tinctly a gun. To this gun I paid attention, as I thought any attention to it. At 10 minutes past 7 I heard dis- it was the mail coming, By and by, I heard another gun; but so uncertain was I about the sound, and knowing that these guns may be from any man of war. I did not speak to any one about it.
To Mr. BARNARD.-I cannot swear that those guns were not from Yado. I do not know that I, being in harbour,
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