Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-16
Capt. Nye's Statement.
HAS MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO
TINES REPORTER:

There was dense fog around us, so thick
that il was impossible to see a light 100
yards away. In clear weather our lights are
visible seven miles. We were heading to the
west, going, should say, about half speed.
We passed within $50 yards of CornfieM
Light, but could not see it the fog was so
thick. We knew its position by the sound of
the bell. 1t was between three and four
miles west of Conrfield Light-ship, and about
four miles from the Connecticut shore where
we struck. Our whistles were blowing twice
a minute, with emphasis] yes, Sir, twice
minute, and we could hear those of the Mar
raganset doing the same"
"How could you have run into her if her
whistles were blowing at that rate?"
81 can't answer that l don't Pretend to
know what the Narraganset did. l only
know what our boat was doing. could hear
her whistles distinctly, however, blowing at
least twice a minute, passengers of the Mar
ragansett say positively that her whistles
sounded only at long intervals. from 10 to IL
minutes.l We didn't see the Narragansett's
lights until we were, say, 200 to 800 feet
from her. Whether she was steering to port
or starboard | can't say. l was in the Wheel
house with our pilot. Sheffield. l rang the
bell to back the engines instantly, and or
dered the helm to he put hard to port. 1t is
the rule in such cases to port the helm. and
each ship is expected to follow it unless
something extraordinary happens. OF course
a man must use his judgment, and there are
exceptions to the rule. 1t is generally fol-
lowed, however, and is among the rules
posted up in every wheel-house in every
steamer and ferry-boat in these waters. Well
we ported our helm, but before we could
stop our Roadway, the Narragansetts bow
swung in our way and we struck. gave
in$ant orders to have the boats lowered, for
I did not know the extent of our damages
and feared We might be in a sinking condi-
| ton. Our men got out the three boats, which
are gone from those davits, [pointing to the
empty lavits, and think fourth one after
ward"
SLOW long before your first boat was in
the watcr?''
II should say about 10 minutes. Our
crews are like those of all the other Sound
boats-picked up along shore. A few Of
| them are sailors, but most of them are long
shoremen, who know little enough about
boats or seamanship. They are hired BY the
mates, and come and go constantly: if they
know enough to run a truck or handle bale
| Of goods it is considered sufficient. did
the best that any Captain could with such
material: the men worked patiently and will
| ingly. and were not demoralized NV officers
were in their places and worked zealously. l
remained on the steamer because l had
enough to look after here, and sent nv first
officer, Mr.. Brainerd, in charge of the boats
We lightened the steamer forward BY throw
ing over a portion Of the cargo, tubs Of fish,
&C., and found that the leak was not gaining.
so that we were safe at all events. A mans
duty i to look out for his own ship in such a
case first. Meantime our boats had been AT
work picking up the Narragansett's people
from the life-rafts, mattresses, and other de-
bris on which they were floating. The City
Of New York aided U.S."
show was the excitement on board the
Stonington?"
"The passengers were in perfect panic
Wild with fear, and the men much worse than
the women. gave orders rs soon a. the
boats struck to have life-preservers furnished
to all the passengers, and there wasn't man
or woman on board that didn't get one and
buckle it on ~ though the boat were going
down in ten seconds. / believe some of
them wore them to church to-day under their
clothing. Not man on board the Stoning-
ton was lost or hurt. After We struck the
Narraganeett we sheered off to keep out of
the reach of the, flames. should say we
were q quarter of . mile distant BY the
light Of the fire we could see the heads of
the people swimming in the water between
us and the burning vessel. The water vas
thick with them, and our boats and those of
the City of New York were plying about.
picking them up. didn't see any Of the
Nafrag1nsett's boats among them. Our
whole crew numbers IS. Of whom about %
are deck-hands and supposed to be capable