New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-28
THE NARRAGANsETT INQUIRY.


THE NARRAGANSETT INQUIRY
TESTIMONY OF TWO PAssEYGERs-THE OFFICERS
CHARGED WITH NOTWITHSTANDING
TAIN YOUNG AGAIN on THE SANDSTONE CON
TRAJECTORY TESTIMONY.
NEwLoNDoY, Conn, July 27.-Thc investi-
CATION OF the NarTagansett disaster resumed this
forenoon before the Board Of Local INSPECTORS Daniel
F. LarkiD. proprietor of the Larln House at Watch
HILL testified that he passenger the steamer
Narragansett June IL. At the time Of the collision
he was sitting the after promenade deck. He was
lust on the point of putting his watch in his pocket as
the collision occurred. 1t then 11:45; but he did
not know as correct He heard the Narragansett
whistling one whistle frequently after the fog shut
down. He heard only whistle and that fog
whistle from StOnugtOn PRIOR TO the collision and
that hut a very time before the crash came. This
Was answered with two whistles Of the Narragansett
He went through the saloon and out on the forward
deck When he reached there the bows Of the two ats
we're not more than feet apart. immediately after
be got forward the Narrdgansett began listing to port
lie then went up on the hurricane deck and met the
second mate at the forward port boa. He assisted the
second mate in lowering her. When she was lowered
the second mate told him he wanted him to get into aud
help take care OF her. This he did The bow Waterman
went and got three women and two children and
put them the boat Before the boat lett the steamer
there probably forty her, and more were picked
up afterward from the water. He stood about in the
middle OF the boat, and two OF the hands from the
steamer pulled her away about northwest course.
AT the time they LETT the Narragansett the stoning
ton was not more than 100 to 125 yards away. They
did not pull toward the Sonington, their impression
then was that she in q sinking condition. 1t was
two hours before they reached the City OF New
York and of the were opposed 20 land
ing on the steamer and only after much
sion they consented let the boat TO her. Their
boat lay alongside the City OF New-York some time
the deckhands IN the boat could pull some but they
pulled like landsmen He counted the number landed
from this boat the City of New-York, and made it
nfty-two. Other persons made 1t hftyour. The boat
was not moro two inches out OF water audshIps.
He did not see Captain Young on the hurricane deck,
but heard him giving orders TO that fepreservers
distributed 10 the passeuger' The fire broke out
before they got the boat which he aided IN lower
ing Most OF the people who got into the boat were
dressed and quite a number orr them bad life-pre
servers. He passengers trying TO put on fe-pre
servers who did not understand how to do IT, The sa
loon deck probably eight feet out OF water
when the boat was lowered There probably ten
twelve mattresses made in the forward of the
saloon. and these occupied. There were also pas
seugers the floor without mattresses He Jaw no
mattresses on the floor in the lower cabin. Probably
seven minutes occupied in lowering the boat
There difficulty In getting off the cover, and both
boat and tackle were In excellent condition.
THE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH INCOMPETENCE.
william +. Holloway, Of Wexford, Il. l.. testified
that he was passenger on tho Narragansett on the
night of tho collision. He formerly mate OF the
Meus There fog until AFTER 10 o'clock In
company with three other men, he tho forward
uutil about IL O'clock and then they went into the
smokingroom. At 11:40 he took out his watch, aud
said he guessed he would 60 TO bed lie had not then
heard any whistle for some time looking OF the
window, sad II Is us tnlck rs mud" Then he heard
three short whistles which were followed immediately
by three Before the echo had died away the col
where there many passengers In great state OF
ycrsatlon with him and while they were talking he
saw boat fire. The witness finally jumped
overheard aud swan away from the boat quite dis
tauce then turned around and swan back 10 within
twenty feet of the steamer there he discovered lad
der fifteen feet long, which be got hold OF, and after
pushing It away thirty feet got ON 1t: alter few min
the passengers In tho water came around him and
he had difficulty ia keeping them away from the ladder
After beng In the water for nearly an hour boat
him he swan and succeeded IN getting in her;
found that there was nobody IN charge VINO understood
the management OF boat there five six IN her AT
the time, and she afterward picked up good many
VINO were landed ON the city OF New-York
probably whised once TWO three minutes after the
log came up For half au hour previous 10 the collision
she had not whistled. He noticed at least mat
resses made up In the main saloon. all OF them occu-
Pied and there was quite number OF passengers asleep
could have heard any orders given from the
pilot house. He heard none gwen In his opinion there
had at least $50 passengers on board that night and be
told the clerk that he thought there we're 400 lie Friday
witness commented severely on the failure OF the
officers do anything TO allay the excitement among
the passengers and said chat one officer in uniform
could have accomplished great deal VI good in that
way The drirt OF his testimony 10 the effect that
the officers incompetent aud unequal TO the
emergency.
H. G. Donnison the agent OF the stopington Steamboat
seventy people therefrom the wreck the morning Of
12h. and 10 the bringing OF bodies. The living
supplied with clothing and 10 their destina-
tlos The dead identified aud provided tor the
undertakers and sent TO their homes.
ONLY ONE ENGINEER.
Captain Young. OF the Narragansett was recalled. He
that the distance from stratford TO Cofned by the
United States Survey 33is lilies in thick weather
the running time would from hours Al minutes TO
hours ~ minutes There would not be than five
minutes difference between fair and thick weather he
remembered conversation with Mr.. Finckle before
leaving NewYork the OF the engineer he
thought he heard fact from outsider between
aud O'Clock the afternoon he afterward contra
diced ME previous statement by saying that he asked
Mr.. Flucklc who he was going 10 have 10 down with
him. and Fnckle said he thought IL was TOO late 70 Eet
anybody asked II he did consider i dangerous
boat with only engineer he replied that
he did think much about II al the time he only
temporarily captain and be did consider that had
much 70 say about The matter lie had through the
sound pilot for twenty-five years He admitted
York he had reported that there only engineer
mad an assistant procured but said that when the
state OF things occurred before leaving NewYork
did not procure an asssrAnt engineer because ho
considered Il Mr.. Finekies duty 20 do that He under
stood that oers and assstana IN the engine room
A.at .lA and - a. 80.