Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-22
the nARRAaAnsEr1 DISASTER
Doings of the Court Of lnvesti-
cation, at New London.
TESTIMONY OF SEVERAL Off.
GERS OF THE VESSEL.

Walker testified that he was master of the
Narraganse,t until the DAY before the COLI
sion. He considered that the tenth of June
the Narragansett was in perfect order in all
her equipments. Boats, davits and cranes
were examined weekly. Her inspection GER
titcate allowed her to carry a few short of
GOO passengers. Carried only one pilot since
February. Saw no necessity of more than
one. as in bad weather he was always in the
pilo,-house himself.
Geo. Brainerd testified thar he had held
mates license since lsio. and had been chief
mate five years on the steamer Stonington.
Was on her the night of tie collision. Was
in his room on the port side of the hurricane
deck when the collision occurred. Went be-
low Ia see what damage was done. Found
he could not reach it below, and went outside
and partially repaired the damage with can
vass; afterwards assisted in lowering the
boat, having told the captain il was safe To
do SO, and believing the Narragansett needed
them more than the StoningtOn. No RATS
were lowered. lie had the hiring and dis
charging of the deck hands. After assisting
at the boats he returned In the bow and
directed the repairs of the deck lie denied
he called officer Morey 10 assist him in max
ing repairs. He found Morey there in the
boat upon his return after short absence L.
another part OF the steamer. He did not
consider Mercy rendered him any valuable
assistance after the steamers cleared each
other subsequent TO the collision.
John 4. Smith. engineer of the steamer
Stonington, testified When abreast of Corn
field near rs | could Judge, slowed and
stopped on meeting the Boston Next signals
were just prior 10 the collision. and 10 slow,
stop and 20 back, there being an interval of
two seconds between each. While announc-
ing the last signal he got two more bells,
which were to stop backing and so ahead.
The collision occurred just as he was answer
ing the last signal. The last bell he got that
night was the signal which was to 60 ahead,
strongly. After the collision he received no
signal and did not work the engine until the
boats started to return to Stonirgton. Did
not make more than half turn back and not
more than four or five turns ahead, jus,
previous TO the collision. Had frequently
known mistakes made in ringing bells from
the pilot house, but had no reason to believe
any was made on the night of the collision
He spoke through the tube To the captain
after the collision, telling him about the boat
making no more water than usual but re-
ceived no response; went to the pilot house
and was told by the captain to look out for
his engines. When he went ahead just be-
fore the collision, the Stonington probably
went one and one-half her length.
Samuel Waldron, passenger clerk of the
Stonington, next testified, chiefly rs to his
instrumentality in rescuing passengers, and TO
the number of passengers on the Stonington.
The passengers he picked up. he thinks, all
but about half a dozen, had lite-preservers,
and these half dozen were swimming. and
had left them off purposely. Some of those
rescued had on two preservers and some
three.
At the afternoon session, Charles +. Chap
pell, second pilot on steamer City of New
York, detailed the passing OF the City of
Boston and the Hartford boat. Did not see
the Cornicld Light, but got the bell all right.
After passing the light ship heard one whis
tie, then three, and soon after four. Then
saw a reflection, which made think Of a
steamer on FIRE. Then headed up to the
Stonington and her captain sad he had cot
lided with the Narragansett. and that those Of
her passengers who were not burned were
overheard. The steward and two walters
assisted witness in manning the after
port boat Picked up Il boat load and put
them on the Stonngton. All whom he picked
up had life preservers. Took n second trip,
but did not find any more persons in the
water. Heard no complaint from anybody as
to lack of life preservers.
Eaton Nichols first officer of City of New
York, testified in detail as to the lowering of
the boats and picking up - passengers.
After that the New York went alongside the
Stonington, and took such of the pass
as wished to go. All rescued passengers had
life preservers on, and many of them had
chairs. One man had life preseryer, trunk.
box, and four chairs; he was jew peddler.
The New York carried 90 deck hands, some
of whom are sailors. Ii was the custom on
our steamer to practice the men in the boats
frequently. The boats on the New York
would carry - to 30 each, in an cmergency
and the life RATS - each.
James +. Murphy, second esar1 on the
CITY of New York, testified Assisted in tax
ing up tickets at the gangway on arrival of
the boat at New York, on the morning after
the collision. There were 33S tickets taken
up from passengers from the Stonington and
80 from passengers of the Narragansett.
There were quite number of others from the
Stonngton steamer who had no tickets, AS
near as could estimate, about 100. Every
thing was done for the rescued passengers on
the New York that could be.
Wadron, clerk of the Stonington, testified
Took 3}s passengers at StOnington Murphy 5
te ytimony shows 33s tickets received from the
passengers of that boat. The discrepancy
NAV be occasioned by the fact that some
tickets were issued on other dates than June
IL. Waldron's estimate was made from the
number of tickets reported as sold, 81.
Adjourned till Thursday.