New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-21


cock testified to the pecuniary loss to the COM
pany. Watchmen and Others were on the stand.
THE TESTIMONY.
PILOTS THOMPSON AND SHEFFIELD. ASSISTANT EN-
GINEER HAsBRoOE, wHEELsMAN BALDWIN
PRESIDENT BABcoCK AND OTHERS EXAMINED.
NEw-LONDON, Conn.,, July 2O.-The Nara
gansett inyestiga non resumed at 10 to-day
The first witness Allen H. Thompson, who testified
that he was q pilot by occupation, holding a United
license in that capacity and the pilot Of the
Narragansett ON the night OF the collision.
"Weleft New-York" the witness said, % at 500 M;
we did not blow any fog signals until reaching New
Haven. the fog light and vessels could
easily be seen mile away. We left new
Haven at 10 o'clock. and at 1920 saw and
heard steamer approaching about three points on our
port bow. which called the Title, Of NewLondon.
She nearly a mile away when We sighted her.
From this time 1t began TO hicken and we blew the fog
whistles at intervals not exceeding a minute The
warning, fog blast Is about ten seconds in duration,
and the single blast about five seconds. With Hood
tide, general time from Stratford to Cornhe'd Is
about two hours and forty minutes there probably
would be from five TO minutes difference.
IN running time between these two points n foggy
and clear weather At 1120 the captain asked me the
time, and replied that II about time 10 meet the
boats. We then blowing our fog signal at intervals
OF less than minute. At 1126 we sighted bright
light about and half points the starbOard how.
We gave blasts and ordered the wheel hard star
board. l think these blasts answered. We then
gave two blasts but could not understand the
answer We slowed AMI stopped After steam
ing and stopping gave two blasts, and then
rung to back. and hooked on ard gave
three whistles twice. The two whistles indicated that
had put the wheel to the tlrbOard and would pass
the approaching boat on the right hand The collision
occurred within twenty thirty seconds after we
sounded the three whistles.
" I don't know whether my bells were heard in the
enginerooms or not" continued the witness. gave
70 bells 10 go ahead before The collision. After the
collision the Captain said: Let Eer 90 ahead wide open
and call the mates teen rang the bell twice and
sent the wheesman the engne-room to what the
trouble was. He back and said
he could not get 10 the engine-room.
Coon after that reported that she making
water then sounded the signal for assistance, four
blasts and continued sound long there was
steam"
The witness then detailed at considerable length the
part he took lowering the boats and saving passen-
gers. His testimony these points was substantially
the same previously given by Captain Young, OF
the Narraganse.t and statement appesred tie
be committed to memory.
In answer to inquiries By the Inspector the witness
said
Irang the boil FIVE times before tho cOllIsion-four
call bells ard Jingle and AN positive that dill not
q; any before the collision ring the bell 10 go ahead
have known the gas ghs on the NarragaSet To 20 ont
in rough weather, aud I have often experienced diff
Guilty his account III the po,-house. The bow watch
man reported AL vessels taat we met tnat nsnt Inc
COLLATION. occurred at ll:30, as near as can nix ~ ana
first sighted the Stonlng.on from one minute ana
hall minute and tireequarters before the collision
We wer, headed north northeast
Washington \. HasbrOok of Hoboken, testified that
he was engineer the Stonngon on the night
Of the collision. and in bed when the collision oc
cured. lie said:
Icot nm Immediately and went 70 III, ene1ne-room
utp--a H.
ma king water forward. l found that she making
water forward IL was half an hour after the collision
before the got to the pumps At the time Of the
collision Mr. smith, the cneIenGineer, was In charge Of
the engine.
WHFELsIAN BALDWIN'S EVIDENCE.
Samuel II. Baldwin, of Pawtucket. r. L. the wheels
man on the Narragansett the time OF the collision,
testified that he was always on duty from dock 10
dock and took his orders from tie pilot in charge. He
further said:
The weather on the night Of the collision was
fopgy after reaching Srarord, and the fog whistle
was blown intervals Of about half minute. Captain
Young was the piiothOuse after reaching sirauord
| thought he awake aJ the time. His window was
no the greater part OF tie time until the s,onngtou
was sighted. Mr. Thompson was standing at the
middle window, which was down all the time. did not
hear the bow watch report any lights On discovering
the stonnglon lght two short blasts were gwen, and
were given atcrwarJ. The two whistles were blown
several times and after that three Whistles The Eelm
a. blrl .tnrDoard sighting the Stouington's light
ara was kept TIE Narragansctt steers well. eau
put the wheel hard over IN minute and can hold the
the wheel that night The collision occurred nmedi-
atelv after the three whistles sounded After the
co istou I went ont and assisted in lowering
the st,rboard boat aft wheel The boat began burn
% in aboit tcn ninurs aftrr the collision there wa,
one boat left the deck Of the Narraglnsett.
PRESIDENT BABCOCK's TESTIMONY.
David g. Babcock, OF Brooklyn. testified that he was
the president manager Of the Providence and Son
inpton Steamship Company. In 1874 he elected
president OF the Neptune Line and in the Spring OF
1873 IL was consolidated with the SOnington Line. He
OH ba nta nd nil had
in the employ Of the line from the beginning He further
testified:
Whenever It has been necessary take an extra
pilot wheelsman Waterman the appointment has
heen made at the suggestion OF the captain Up this
son two pilots been carried the boats. The
reduction TO not on account Of expense It
W. s,dercd that he boats were Just as safe with
one pilot with two The pilot Is on duty only eight
hours and half Captain Young WAS one or the oldest
captains in the employ OF the company and one OF the
oldest pilots the Sound De was considered perfectly
competent 10 take charge or the steaner MY hrst In
formation that the Nargansett had been burned and
that there had been loss OF life was derived from Cap
about II o'clock tho day ofier the collision. on
that rescued passengers were at Pier 80
orders were promptly given TO supply thom with ne
cessary clothing. Some OF them we're sent to hotels
nroyided to those who desired It, The damage to the
Sionington $4,000, including dOckage o! $4,000
some freight thrown overheard from the 5tonrg
rom probably OF the value of 90 800 mostly dry gOods
and fish, IL IL difficult TO estimate the loss on The
Narragansett-probqby 10 mako her rs good she
before would cost Of least 100000. she was
considered as worth 70 the COMPANY dt least 10000
rebuilt last winter at an expense OF
nrincipally on the hull. Her boilers about q
wear ago TIE third boilers she has had. The only
comnlant ever made to the gas going out the
sonngtOn was year ago last Fal, and this
in n heavy gale when the course OF the steamer
suddenly changed. The Narragnn freight, which
was say ed and charge OF Johnson & Higgins.
"a nrobablv worth about 100000. The entire value
of the freight was probably from $4,000 to 100000
So far as l. known twentysix bodies have been
cred and there three four others missing IL Is
safe 10 saw that loss OF life did not exceed
thirty The passenger list was recovered after having
been under water for some time and was In such con-
una he
nnmher of passengers something under 800. In
-tructons have been given 10 the captains that
hev we're 10 90 through no matter what the weather
nor nave any instructions been gwen them 10 take
board more passengers than were allowed by the Ger
thcates.
Tho witness gave his opinion that the duties of
the engineers were more orerous than those OF the