where to find her, (because it appears from the evidence, that she did not head towards Saratoga Spit, the place where the pilot thought they would beach her in case of danger)-and it is clear they could not have found the injured vessel had she been afloat, without any lights to guide them, es- pecially in mid-channel, whither those on board directed the Onsida's course if they directed it at
all.
I am of opinion, on reading through the evidence given on both sides, that the result would have been the same viz., that the Bombay, with the start the Oneida had, could not have caught her up in time to have been of any use, or to have saved a solitary life. The Oneida herself ought to have taken in sail and blown off steam and stopped, or else made for the nearest land-Saratoga Spit With these precautions there might have been some chance of saving more, if not all of the Oneild's crew and officers; and the commander and his officers might then, by the Oneida's stopping, have seen that she really required immediate help; and so far, the evidence shows that it could not appear that any person took the command or lead in the Oneida, or even stopped her engines, which seem only to have stopped when the vessel filled with water and sank. There can be no possible doubt that if the Oneida's engines had been stopped and her sails clewed up by those on board as soon as they saw that a collision was inevitable, and thus to some extent, the force of the blow avoided, we should never have heard of this sad calamity.
Again it is admitted that no blue lights or rockets were burnt, and the steam-whistle always seoms to have been sounded continuously, even when the guns were fired; which were discharged to leeward, instead of the other direction in which the persons on board the Bombay might have a chance of hearing them.
Now, gentlemen, upon this point of not waiting, or going in search of the Oneida, I have to ask: Is it at all likely, that if Captain Eyre had known the Oneida had received her death wound, and had given it a single thought that there was any dan- ger whatever of loss of life on board of her, do you think for one moment that he would not have done all in his power to save every man ?
What are Captain Eyre's antecedents? Many years ago, he entered Her Majesty's Navy, and afterwards joined the Hon'ble East India Company's service, where he remained several years; since which time he has been employed as a careful and prudent commander in the P. & 0. Company's Bervice, with credit to himself, and to their satis- faction; having spent altogether 34 years at sea, and never before met with any kind of disaster. It is evident to your minds, I feel sure, gentlemen, that Captain Eyre had no idea of what nationality she was, until Lieut. Leventhorpe, of H. M. S. Ocean told him that she must be the vessel because no other had left. They could have met at that time and place; and the Pilot who was and is an American citizen, said he thought she was a Jupan ese from the way she went on in crossing the Bombay's bows. All the witnesses have declared that whatever they might have seen or fancied they saw, they never reported it to the Captain, who was in such a position on the bridge that he could not see the side of a vessel alongside and close, because of the boards which are used to reflect the side lights forward; and they agree in all their statements, except in a few unimportant trifles.
Had the Oneida been properly found in boats in good order, there can be no possible doubt that not a life need have been lost. Remember how short a time it took to put all the passengers and crew of the P. & 0. str. Singapore in hoats, and land them safely with provisions, and a large quantity of treasure, Yet the ship struck on a sunken rock,
and went down in less time than the survivors of the Oneida say she floated.
As to what is alleged that Captain Eyre is said to have stated that he had cut the whole quarter off of a "damned Yankee frigate," even if it were said at all by him, which I very much doubt, it was after Lieut. Leventhorpe had been on board to fetch some lady passengers; and had informed Captain Eyre, in reply to his enquiries as to what vessel had left Yokohama during the afternoon of that day, that the Oneida was the only one.
And what I should like you, gentlemen, to con- sider is, whether public opinion-or the proprietors of the P. & O. S. N. Co., would have justified, or have admonished and probably discharged Captain Eyre, if, without considering his own damaged state, he had turned round quickly, and followed under power of steam, with mails and passengera on board; and had on a dark night lost or endangered the lives of the persons on board of his own ship, by ruuning upon some invisible danger; or, if he went straight on the Oneida wreck, the topmasta of which are above water? For you must not forget that the Oneida would have at least a quarter of an hour's start, and there is no possibility that the Bombay could have reached her before she
sunk.
And now, with regard to Mr. De Long's sum- ming up, addressed to the gentlemen comprising this Court of Inquiry. With reference to the warn- ing he there gave, viz.: that your decision in this Inquiry would have a political influence upon In- ternational maritime interests in America and England. Such political introductions are un- called for; and the result of this investigation has no bearing upon, or is it likely to be affected by them, inasmuch as losses of this nature have from time to time heretofore happened, and will no doubt happen again; particularly if vessels of this class are left in the charge of negligent or indifferent junior officers, in intricate passages, and not fully and properly fitted with plenty of good sea-going boats.
Although Captain Byre and all of us deplore this lamentable accident, sympathising deeply with the unfortunate sufferers' friends both here and in America, nevertheless the blame should be deter- mined and rest only upon those to whom the blame is due; and there is a great deal of blame due to tho ill fated persons themselves for having no sys- tem or apparent order on board.
I regret that Mr. De Long should have intima- ted, in his summing up, his views that the Cap- tain of the Steamer Bombay ought to have made Neither a special report on arrival at Yokohama. Captain Eyre or any one else could know the facts of the case much sooner than he himself---which And I regret to was on the following morning. notice the vindictive, revengeful tone which per- colates and absorbs the language of Mr. De Long's address or demand for British justice. This is Bure to be had. But that this deplorable accident might have been avoided by the persons on board the Oneida, cannot be refuted; and although it is pain- ful to come to this conclusion, the persons lost, to a great extent, have themselves to blame.
I have now only to thank your Honour, and gentlemen the assessors, on the part of those I represent, for the patient hearing and attention you have given to the Inquiry; and for your courtesy and consideration, in permitting every report or statement, however exaggerated, to be brought be- fore you and thoroughly sifted; in order that Cap- tain Eyre may eventually be enabled to clear him- self from blame, and exculpated by public opinion; feeling convinced that whatever decision you may arrive at, will be imbued with the spirit of equity, and that you will do full justice to the issue you have to decide,
!
333
EX
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.