New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-23
TILE LOST STEAMER.
THE NARRAGANsETT INQUIRY.

| THE NARRAGANSETT INQUIRY.
TESTIMONY OF TuE PASSENGER cLHRK-How THE
| LIST OF PASSENGERS Is GENERALLY MADE OUT
| TESTIMONY IN FAVOR or THE GREW.
NEw-L LONDON, Conn. July 22.-Ihe iirst
witness I'm the Narraganset inquiry to-day was william
Kiersted col0redl waiter on the Narraganset lie sa
the rooms under his care, he was certain, were Tuy
provided with fepreservers-two In each roOnal or
which were in good During the three years of
his service the Narraganset he had never seen any
epreservers of order in the rooms in his charge
When he left the hall to 90 hurrcanedeck there
were from fifteen twenty lfepreservers left on tho
floor He was positive that when he called the passen-
gers he received response from every stateroom that
was locked.
Peter p johnson, pantry-man the Nara gansett'
was the second witness lie testified that there WERE IN
his opinion from fifteen 10 twenty passengers In the
forward cabin that night; and he was conf lent that
there mattresses on the hOOr as there Were
plenty OF spare berths
Jane Johnson the stewardess OF the Naragansett at
the time testified that IN sateroom there was a
fepreserver to each berth. and there also one at
the OF each OF the open berths After leaving the
cabin OF the officers, who assisted her to
boat on the port side in which she left the steamer.
Abraham Banks, OF Catsnl, n. Y testified that he
was tho steward of Narragansett He had Ave
staon-bells board the steamer but cOud not tell
what duties they assigned to the stewards department
In his opinion. there from 100 TO 125 extra lfe
preserveIs the statcroom hail. and about hirtyve
the after cabin. There good many passengers on
the promenade deck and all OF them, he certain,
were provided with lifepreseryers
John Herman OF testified in part follows
was passenger clerk the Narragansett on June H.
and had been ON her in that capacity since Spring
Previous to that had been passenger clerk of the Sto
ington two seasons the practice Is TO take tie names
Of messengers who come aboard as nearly as may be-
have considered the representative OF the
captain In taking the list OF and never knew
that the law required the names be taken. / have
In the Of sta 'eroOms cannot get the nam
all occupants without gong to the room ana ms
do not do. do take The names when taking NJ the
tickets when the passengers leave the boat ! might
have 400 passengers aboard and have only 300 $50
names my list. | am not always sure 10 have tine
names OF those who have mattresses made no for them
II Is mpractcable TO keep perfect list. On the night
of the collision should say we had not to exceed 800
passengers.
The witness here exhibited copy of the pass niger
list Of June H. and said that the original list in
New-York, aud not perfect when recovered. He
ordered to produce the original.
After explaining the manner in which the copy was
made up the witness continued as follows:
We may have had hfty passengers more than the lis t
shows After make mp NY list at nlgnt leaYe IL IN
folio on my desk. turned In ABOUT ii O'Clock on
the night Of the collision There Is safe IN my Office
counted my money that night before retiring made
mnch cash had on hafM before leaving New-York 4
large part OF cash il in the shape of tickets, which
turned III 10 me, and for which issue now tickets
The cashier had made return To me that night.
On the arrival Of the City OF NowYork in New-YOrk
the Narragan-et's passengers who went ashore took
100 The passenger-list was recovered by the
! Coast Wreckmg Company, think ABOUT n week after
INC b0a r. mav nave been recovered on the tuesday
alter the collision The safe also recovered and
| There was between $500 and 800
The NaTagansert Investigation was resumed ut
o'clock D. M and the examination OF Herman con-
Guided lie testified that "a general rule II a person
bought two or more tickets with sateroOm the pas
senger list would show only name entered against
the statero0m, and that the number OF passengers on
any trip could only be determined by the record Of the
number OF tickets sod occasionally when ne knew that
sateroom was occupied by TWO or more passengers ne
entered tho Of both OF all OF them opposite the
number OF the room he thought that there might have
been about wcnysX names ObhteTated on tue original
passeu ger list which would make the entire number
called for by the passenger list made M by him NOT
To exceed ~ or flA} tfSe Ie's lhan Tue number oi
passengers aSccrtaed To have been on the steamer on
the Of the collision contained III he list OF the
sayel iOst and missing No further points OF import
| ancc WIRE brought out,
gansett, testified tnat the men behaved
! vel and without any excitement. Al tue
passengers rescued by him, lie positive, had lie
preservcrs he rescued cork mattresses. and
40 cork mattresses IN the wafer although he knew there
were some the steamer during ne time lie had been
The Narrasansett lnce April u the Doats had been
general drill the boats received instructions
his superior officers az any time n 10 exercising
ihe crew I'm the boats there were three liferats
board aud the thrd launched before the two he
! Uankerson Yauderveer testified that he considered
that the custom to keep the gates III the bulk
| heads shut
solomon Gale was the next witness ana was affirmed
! instead of sworn. lie testified tnat his vile
was carried on board the NeW-IOrK, AMI he IN board
the StoDingon he aferward went aboard OF the Now
York; tnat steamer the ladies whO were rescued
were dvcsted OF all Their clothing, and wrapped only in
blankets and sheets his wife remained IN StatCrOOm
with tvo other ladies untl o'clock The day with
ont any clothing and NJ clothing or relief OF any KIND
was furnished her other passenger, 80 far rs he
| knew Ly the officers OF the St0nugtOn Line; he
! compelled waIktwclye miles TO uepaew's house IN
| order 10 &c; clothing for his vile.
The list of the lost on the Narragansett, made up
under the direction Of the officers OF the steamboat com
! pany, was laid IN by Clerk Klcrnan Of the Narra8an
| sctt.
AT $3.50 D. No. further witnesses being present, the
investigation was adjourned until Friday at 10 Il.