New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-29
LATE STEAMBOAT ACCIDENTS
THE NARRAGANSErr INQUIRY.

THE NARRAGANSETI INQUIRY.
TESTIMONY OF PAssFNGERs-THE STRAPS OF LIFE
PRLstRyRRs BRCXEN-PLUGs OCT OF TIE BOATS
NO EFFORT MADE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE-cON-
DUCT OF The OFFICERS.
NEw-LONpoN, July 2S.-The Narragansett
inquiry was resumed a. 10 a. N. to-day
c. t. Co'trell, Of Westerly, r. L. passenger tetih-d
tina: he occupied stateroom with his son. who woke
him M iust II er the collision. The two went into the
5 ateroom nail. which filed with passengers. An
officer the boat present assuring them tnat theIo
was no danger As as waseyidentthat the steamer
was burning he aud bis son went out "u the Stapo"ru
size between the staefooms and The rail- at TINS tmo
he saw the fire break could the stouington'
but she drifted ont of sight, One OF the officers
the hurricane deck ard cut the ropes OF me
fa with an axe and aferward began to lower boat
He and his son got upon the raft which was launched
after considerable difficulty ami were saved
Dwight Rraman. Of Boston, testified tnat he was
n,seup,r on the Narraganse Beng fond OF boats, ne
soected tue steamer that He looked into The
pilo,-house ana saw two young at the wheel and
thought that they were pretty young 10
handle such steamer Ten minutes before
the collision he hard the NarragansetFs whistle
AID an answering whistle from Hn)ther oOat a
man dressed ID citizens clothes, whom he believed 10 oe
Johnson the detective, about among the passen-
ger, teliirg them that boat was all right The VIII
u,s Thought that Johnson told them there was no ne
ccssy Of putting life preservers Ii was nom elsl'
10 ten minutes after the collision that the smoke was
first uerceptinle aud the boat sank within fifteen or
twenty minutes after the cohs He saw none OF the
oei,ers or crew OF the steamer on the deck
While on the deck young man came up
to him, and wanted him TO adjust n NE
nre.etver for him. One OF the straps was gone
ue eit the steamer IN boat which was IN charge Of
rapaiu Young. They pulled around the ssrrn u thr
rnoard quarter with four persons III II MP to their
waists In the water, aud holding Oh 10 tho burning
I u fAN
Young boat Ihe pug was ont OF the boat from heh
these passengers were taken, ana she was uI,u "l.s
upon remainiug and saving the Otaer Ooals' anu nc
krd the captain 10 aDano nrr an 'olu u III .t 9o
Urrrny an tne time taptan Young bpal, tlle
a. i'r ~ The nofrop no ding in the plug. He
bought mis- tcket Of clerk on ne boat ana was not
a,Sed lCr ms y 'I h. aid mar he neyer bad Witnessed
| 10 act ON tue principle of " every man for himself.
Tn,nas b. Cuok OF Boston. u pas~,ng r the Nara
,tsetf s,iI ~ steppe ont Of MS stateidom al tine
time o the co and saw pas cngers funnluE AROUND
ana sbou,ipg AID some OF them cutting on lie
,rry, r. onc man was ing L. hem 10 keep cool
iuut fhcre was 10 d.usi. Hr returned To ms state
room aud put hf-pressIvrr He went up on on the
break out. g% M 3" - md an VA s.II
there. lie certain tnAt there Was no one
In the pi0. house al tAa' Tim whrI was ron yen 20
fifteen minutes aftr t~ c".~lo. M h,ncs - Sa
cap up strongly. He buckets. ana bryan 10 pour
wafer on the Dire. He was un De o snDdue tIT h.e
and nc wondered wny lac pumps Wete hoI ~ "U,h
Gmng TO the aIbOard side, he SAW boat which was
full OF passengers 1t was - not at tGS 'e mar ne
BOAT. r. gciuns down to the promenade deck
me- H. t5mped overboaTd and swan nifty feet away. He
| soon SAW "a boat heading toward him rs she came ~
v,rs m rr.,r of Mr. Wadron. ERIK OF the stonnCi on
lie was willing to swear that alter the fire Captain
de"T nor aid ne see aIy officer Of He
bought his tickct the per from passenger, ana
ibIt there were none. He aferward secured one thai
| was gwen up 10y another p-Is0n