Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-21
The Narragansett Investigation.

The Presidents Estimate of the Loss.
 Allen H. Thompson, the pilot of the Mar ragansett, testified yesterday morning, cor roborating Captain Young's testimony. He directly conficted with that of Finkel, the engineer of the Narragansett, who was a wit ness Saturday. Finkel said that just after he had been signa1led to stop the steamer, im- mediately preceding the collision, he was sig naled to Ego ahead and that he responded
 Samuel H. Walden, the wheelsman, testi- fed to Captain Young's being attentive to duty.
 President Babcock, of the line, was called He endorsed Captain Young as competent, trustworthy, experienced captain, and one of the oldest pilots on the line. When the cap- tains ask for extra pilots, wheelsmen or watchmen I honor the acquisition, and allow them to select their men, such confidence have I in their judgment. We do not carry one pilot because it is more expensive to carry two, but because, in my opinion, boat is just safe with one as with two pilots. Our pilots are on duty eight and half hours, and the ''run'' is not long enough to fatigue them beyond their capacity for duty. do not believe that had two pilots
 
 avoided the collision. It is rule that cap tains shall be in the pilot house during rough weather. l have been criticised because I did not attend to the wants of the passengers rescued by the steamer City of New York as soon as they arrived at New York on the morn ing after the disaster. I did not know there had been any loss of life until Il o'clock that morning. When learned it at once gave orders for clothing to be sent to the sufferers who had arrived at New York, and otherwise cared for them.
 The damage to the Stonington has been repaired at cost of $6, 900, with $2, 900 more added for dockage. Some freight, chiefly fish, was thrown over to light her. It was probably worth $2, 500 or $3, ,0OO We could not put the Narragansett back into her condition on the day before the disaster for less than $500 OOO We valued the boat and her furniture at $250,000. Probably nobody would pay $50, GOO for her to-day. She was rebuilt last winter at a cost of $2O, GOO, and eighteen months ago received new boilers the third set since she was built. The freight on the Narragansett was worth about $8O, OCO or $1OO,OOO when shipped Only about $20, GOO worth has been saved
 So far as l know, twenty-six bodies have been recovered from the wreck and four per sons are missing. The passenger list of the Narragansett was recovered two weeks after the disaster. It Is now illegible I think 1t contained less than 300 names.
 think gas the best illuminator for steam CTS and far less dangerous than lamps. I know of but one instance of it's having been extinguished by a rough sea. I have not in structed my captains to leave port regardless of the weather, nor have I instructed them to take all passengers that were offered in ex- cess of the limit of law. trust great deal to their good sense and judgment.
 Asked what he considered the most effec- tive means of saving life in marine disasters he answered that ifeboats and life rafts were excellent, and the ordinary life preservers worthless. In some respects the cork jackets are far preferable, he thinks, to the life pre- servers.