The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-18
Investigating the Narragansett Dis
uslar

sPoStois' peChWite Blu uhrNey' hon. 1. NJ,
Wallis, at the opening of the proceedings,
stated that he appeared as counsel for the
Stonington Steamboat company, but he was
Informed by the inspectors that no counsel
would he allowed to take part in the nvest-
cation, or to examine any witness. The first
witness examined was William Smith Young,
who stated he had been master and
pilot for twenty years, and at the time of the
collision between the Stonington and the
NarraGansett, was master of the latter, and
had license as such. The trip on which
the collision occurred WAS the first and only
trip on which he had commanded the Maria
gansett He was pilot on board the steamer
at the time of the collision. He handed in n
written statement, which, after some discus
sion, was received by the inspectors, and
which is in substance as follows: 1.-The Mar
ragansett left New York at 500 p. m. con-
suited with the pilot, Mr.. Thompson, as to
what course he should steer, as the night was
very foggy. asked at ll,2O what he thought
of the fog. He told me and said
at is about time for the
boats" when in about eight minutes sighted
bright light bearing two and half points
on our starbosrd bow from my position as |
stood looking out Of the front window on
the starboard side of the pilot,hoase, l at
once gave the steamer turn. gave two
short blasts in quick succession and put the
helm hard to starboard. At the same time |
heart one faint blast from the approaching
steamer. Then signals from the other boat
were given, 50 confusedly that | could not
tell if they were meant as such-one two
or three blasts. We rang "slow" and to
sop, sounding two bells three times at intor-
walls distinguishable; then rang to black"
and gave three blasts twice. We also heard
three blasts from the other boat
which proved to be the Stonington.
Immediately she came in collision with US,
striking between the forward gangway and
starboard paddle,box. From the time of
sighting the Stonnington to the time of the
collision two or three boats were swamped
in lowering, After telling the boat-watch to
leave and assist to lower the forward port
boat, returned and went to see if the for
ward starhoard boat was being lowered, and
in going stepped across gap made by the
collision with the Stonington. | assisted in
lowering the forward starboard boat, took in
all the passengers that were on the
hurricane deck forward of the wheel,
pushed off and took in all |
found in the water between the wreck
and the steamer Stonington. After land
ing my boat load on the Stonington, | re-
turned, picking up several persons on my
way back to the Narragansett. When l
arrived there | found u large number of
passengers on the promenade deck, the
NarrsgaDsett this time being aground in
five fathoms The tide running very strong
by the stern, made it difficult to hold the
life boat up to it. | took on board the
ladies and children first, all that l thought
was safe. / told the crowd to keep cool,
that another boat was coming behind us.
They said all right, for the boat had not
settled for some time. started for
the Stonincton. Returning to the
wreck" he says, al made
q thorough sesch all around in the water in
the vincity of the wreck. We neither found
or heard any one answer to our shouts then
returned aud made fast TO the wreck, and in
company with my officers ard their crews re-
NAMED there through the night" The cap
tain also said "One of the ladies, whom |
afterward learned was Mrs. Dix, chung to the
bulwarks around promenade deck TO keep
other passengers from overturning the boat,
and showed me her hand burned until scared,
Then, we helped man out of this boat
into mine, he said, pointing TO her, she is
the bravest woman living. She has held this
boat to the wreck and has saved us alp
which her honest hands showed" While
giving orders from the starboard
side near the pilot-house, on the
hurricane deck where | remained the
greater part of the time, knowing that my
officers would come here first to find me for
orders, without loss of time. Until left to
launch the boat, no one was on the starboard
side forward of the wheel house--during
which time passengers came to me and asked
assistance in putting on life preservers, which
they quickly gave, tying some around them,
and all this time / had on my rough weather
clothes, changed at Stratford, with nothing
to be recognized but my regulation cap, with |
gilt buttons on each side. The other officers
were in like condition, several in .
their shirt sleeves answering my
call for their watch below in the quickest |
manner. This doubtless led to the report |
that no officers were seen at the boats or
helping passengers or heard giving orders.
My officers and crew, as far as l know, heard |
and obeyed all orders promptly and worked
as quickly as possible under the circum-
stances to save our passengers from those
most powerful elements, fire and water. Had
it not been for the fire would have run the
Narragansett ON Corn6eld shoals, where she
would not have sunk below her main deck"
At the close of Captain Young's direct |
statement he was closely questioned by the |
inspectors, and at the end of the morning
session his examination had not been con-
Guided. AT the opening of the evening SEES. /
sion it was reported he had been attacked |
with fever and ague, to which he is subject,
and would be unable to appear, His exam |
nation will be concluded on Monday. The
second witness was George Finckle, acting
chief engineer of the Narragansett at the !
time of the collision. He made long, ram
bling statement, with many repetitions, which |
is substantially as follows "The chief engi |
neer of the Narragensett was absent in |
Hartford, attending United States court as
witness The engineer employed in his |
stead was taken sick before leaving the city, /
and incapactated for duty. He sent word |
to Finckle to this effect but few minutes
before the steamer left on her fatal trip, and
Finckle told the captain there was not time
to secure the services of new engineer, so
he demanded that Finckle should act as chief
engineer, although he had no right to do so,
as he had been licensed rs assistant only two