The Portland daily press., 1880-06-16
THE NARRAGANSETT DISASTER.
What w. D. Buck Says About 1t.

Mr.. W. d. Buck arrived from New York
yesterday noon and gives his version of the sad
disaster to the Narragansett, on which steam
er he was passenger. 1t does not differ from
other accounts.
de says he had several friends aboard and
they retired about 10 o'clock while he sat up
to read in the upper saloon. Nearly all the
passengers were in bed and all but few of the
lights were extinguished. The whistle of the
steamer continued to sound at regular inter-
walls, and Mr.. Buck asked waiter the reason
for this. The man said he guessed it was fog
gy outside Hardly were the words out of his
mouth when a tremendous shock was felt.
Everything was thrown from its place and the
men were thrown violently down. Mr.. Buck
says that few minutes before he had looked
at his watch and he remembers that it was
then quarter before twelve o'clock. People
were thrown from their berths and in a mo-
ment screams and oaths were heard on every
slde The lights went out and everybody was
cropping in the darkness. Men and women
cried for life preservers and some succeeded
in reaching these articles of safety. Many
strove to obtain them but were unable to do SO.
1t was very foggy, but Mr.. Buck says that
looking out of the windows he could just dis
tlngulsh the name Stonington on the side of
the other steamer which was slowly floating
away. The boat Immediately began to settle
and 1t became apparent that she was in sink
ing condition. Twenty minutes of the widest
confusion followed, and but few were in any
condition to battle with the waves Then it
was shouted that the steamer was on fire and
the sea began to be lighted up by the flames of
the burning vessel. AS soon as the people on
board comprehended that the steamer was
really on fire the horrors that ensued were
enough to drive one mad. When the women
saw the flames they seized their children and
sprang into the water where many were seen
to drown. People became insane and rushed
frantlcally from one place to another seeking
an opportunity to escape. Two young men
who thought all hope of rescue past deliber-
ately drew their revolvers and shot themselves
dead on the deck of the steamer. Many no.
tlced the suicides but in the horrible excite
ment thought nothing about them, only cast
ing casual glance at the unfortunate men
and then turning their attention to their own
escape. People stepped over their bodies and
did not even glance at them. Mr.. Buck says
that he and his friends were among the last to
leave the burning steamer They were on the
deck m st of the time. They finally succeed
ed in launching raft constructed of boards
and life preservers. They jumped from the
boat to the raft. One of them fell into the
water, but his friends succeeded in rescuing
him. There were in all twenty-five of them
who escaped on the raft. After floating about
for some time they were picked up by the
steamer City of New York. AS the Narragan-
sett went down the water was filed with peo-
pie struggling for their lives, and piles of bag
gage and masses of the cargo.
HENRI f. DURoY's NARRATIVE.
Henri E. Duroy, a seaman, of French de-
SCENT whose family reside at 14S Lincoln
street in this city, was on the Inflated Nara
gansett. He was among the saved and was
carried back to New York. He was found at
Earle's hotel by a reporter, TO whom he told
the following story:
1 am seaman on the United States flag shin
tennessee, which is lying at the foot of Twen-
ty-third street, North river. I had a twenty
four hours leave of absence, but had not seen
my wife and family up in Maine for two years
and must confess that was taking French
leave on the steamer Narragansett for Boston
had retired to my berth below and was asleep
when about midnight a terrific noise awoke
me. AT first 1 thought we had struck a rock.
There was great confusion and screaming, but
in the midst of all the noise I could hear the
officers crying out that it was all right; that
| rushed on deck and found smoke pouring
into the cabin. Then I rushed below for nv
clothes and met a lady greatly excited. She
asked me to help her. She was dressed and
ready to go. led her on deck. She cir, bed
up on my shoulder and made her way to the
deck above level with paddle boxes while
the water dashed over the rail. Just then
another lady appeared with child. I
helped them both up and we reached the
hurricane deck Meanwhile the fire had been
raging amidships, and good deal of smoke
was pouring into the upper cabins. There were
but few passengers and some officers. They
asked me to help launch raft. We toppled
it over. Then they went away in a small boat
and left me to look after the ladies', one of
whom was from Kansas. We all jumped off
and toated away. Within As minutes the
steamer was burned to the waters edge. The
tire OF the steamer was very hot and the scene
was appalling. Innumerable forms were too
plainly visible by the livid glare upon the
waters. Other RATS came along and managed
to save several lives. We drifted away some
two miles with about Is persons on our raft. A
small boat came from the steamer City of New
York and took us off, with those on the other
RATS While we were drifting around saw sew
eral small boats picking up the passengers who
were struggling in the water. The most pitt
full sight was an old gray haired lady clinging
to the gunwale of small boat begging and en-
treating the crew to pull her in. They refused
and she was about to drop off when we got near
enough to shame them so they at last relented
and took her in. The water was so cold that
strong man tainted as soon as taken from it,
While the Waterman on the Narragansett was
telling the people that there was no danger
strapped half dozen life preservers on pas
sengers who could not swim; but never wore
one in my life and hid not care to be bothered
with any.