Talk:USS Oneida (1861)

Controversy over collision
I have added some extra detail on the collision and subsequent loss of this ship. The controversy over the actions of Captain Eyre (of Bombay) after the collision is a significant part of the story. At the time, there was a particularly unpleasant nationalistic blame game - the actions of Captain Eyre conveniently directed public feeling over the loss of life away from the failings on the Oneida, from poor watchkeeping to not having an appropriate number of ship's boats.

I doubt the accuracy of the remark about Japanese fishing boats rescuing those that were saved. Other accounts suggest these men got away in the two serviceable ship's boats - this gives further relevance to the failure to obtain replacement boats after their loss, suggesting that many more men could have been saved if officialdom had not blocked the purchase of appropriate equipment.

I've also corrected the name of the P&O ship - it was just "Bombay", not "City of Bombay"ThoughtIdRetired (talk) 23:04, 8 June 2014 (UTC)