The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-19

xAnS--Ax UNKNOWN fVAbEh VI fns N"N
pAoANsEr1's PASSENGERS, CRUSHED OF
srlrNrsREp rinBRRs, DISAPPEAR BsNkAIh
4ux wAves-pEYnCrIvE LIfE'FRsskRVh"S'
new York Tines.l
Mr.. David d. Dana, brother OF Cnaries
A. Dana. was on the Stonington on tue
nirnl OF the disaster. he gives some stsr',
lipa testimony In regard TO the crowoe1
condjt,on of the boats aud the estimated
number Of the lost. Mr.. Dans Is m!nlne
engineer. and resides at No. 2S9 east n s
feen,h street. He says that both the Sso-
n.noton and Nsrragsnsett were crowaeu 10
their utmost capacity. On the iormeI ese'y
sfateroom was taken some bytwo peIsonsE
every berth wss occupied, ana tne lounges ~
rho saloons we're packed Win passengers
sitting bolt upright and trying 70 sicep.
Mattresses were spread on the noofs y, .uo
psssage-ways and Ia every DINER avs'lsv's
place, and these also were CROWDED VIII
sleepers. Rescued passengers com,ug i,om
the Narragansett assured him tnat tme .a' nc
boat was little, II any, less crowded ,nSn .ne
Stouiugtou. Mr.. ii. +. Richarus, Oh .Ios'
deuce, and others OF the saved assvlsc~ pu.
lively that every stateroom 20 ,no h,wo
nerscrs ali. the berths taken, and also .no
r,.,,resses snresd upon the floors. Ths
sa,rv,nv canscity OF the two boats as hxeo
no law was 700 passengers each, and Mr..
n,na Ia confident that this number was
nesrIy. II not quite, equalled by the Stoning-
tnr and that these on board OF the Nara
ysnsett could not have numbered less tnan
Sp,. r'or these reasons, he believes that tue
dcatb.roll will, in the end, be nearer lou
,h.n IN In this be comedies with the peo-
r,Is of Ssoniuptou and Saybrook ana the
sns.;mony. published In the Times OF Iues-
Jav- ~ Engineer William II. NewcomDe'
~ Eastport. Me-, and the Narragsnsetts
Mr.. Dana also gives some important in
formation relative 10 the alleged signaling
be,v cen the two boats prior TO the collision.
He was seated ia the saloon, talking with
gentleman who hsd Just returned from
Paris. and who was filed with a morbid
apprehepsion OF accidents. Mr.. Dana
lauphingIy assured him that he need have
no fear on that score. as he (Mr. Dana) had
PASSED safely through two smash-ups
already without receiving scratch, ano
had, In fact, been remarkably lucky on tnat
score. He had scarcely spoken when ne
heard two strange whistles from out OF Tue
fog. They were short, sharp, ana quick, ana
were repeated half dozen times 10 rspio
succession. From the engine-room OF Inc
StopiEgton came a single stroke OF the gong
the signal to shut Of steam. followed after
The lapse Of few seconds by another dow
on the gong-the signal to go ahead. Al,
this time there was heard the continual
screeching OF the strangers whistles, moi
IN the detached form OF signals, but rapld
succession of screeches, IS though lmpior-
ing the other boat 10 get out OF the way
Then from the Stonington's englne-room
came two distinct blows on the gong-the
signal TO reverse the engines, followed
almost Immediately by the tlng-a-liDg'a'ling
of the smaller bell-signifying TO the engl-
neer 10 put on all steam to reverse MS en-
eines. MIR. Dana says that the wnisthDg
and signalling occupied minute and ball,
during which the boats drew rapidly nearer
10 each other.
The Stopington struck the Earragansett
ON the starboard side, Just ahead OF the
wheel. tearing away double tier OF state
rooms and precipitating dozen or more
unhanpy occupants into the water. The
,brieks and yells OF these people, many OF
whom were fora and crushed by the spin
tiers. were the first sounds beard after Inc
recoil. A German, who had previously
been wrecked in the Schiller, caught hold
of the prov of the Stonington as 1t pro-
truded into his room, and was car
rjed clear OF the debris. The man,
who had nothing on but bis night
shirt, was the first person saved
from the sinking vessel. Mr.. Dana says
that there is not particle OF doubt IN his
mind that the officers OF the Narragansett
had lost their reckoning In the log, and
were heading nortbward in the belief that
they were OF the entrance to Stonipgton
hurbor, whereas they were twenty miles or
more 10 the westward. He says that on no
other theory can there be explained the
startling fact that the Narragansetts head
was turned to the north, and that she was
struck on the starboard side.
Concerning the alleged discipline OF the
Stopington's crew Mr.. Dana IS very EN-
phatic. 1t was fully 20 minutes by the
watch before the first boat was sent 10 tue
burning vessel, and the officers could only
be GOT 10 do this through the repeated re-
quests and even threats Of the passengers.
.. saw the first boat lowered" adced MI.
Dana. "whicb, 1 see by the papers,
man named Vandeveer Claims to have
commanded. / can swear. that II was
manned entirely by passengers, with the
exception OF one drunken deck-hand'
who tumbled overheard and had 10
be fished out. The boat was commanded
by one OF the passengers, real sea-
CAPTAIN, who had been begging the
captain Of the Stonington TO put
ont a boat, and let MIN nave charge
OF IL. The latter finally consented, and
told him be might 90. When the boat
struck the water IL was discovered that the
Mug was gone, and she began filing rapid
iy. One OF the passengers stuffed his hand.
kerchief in the hole, while another whitfield
= niece of wood into the form OF plug and
fitted il. All this went on while the
wrctched people ia the water were drown.
ing ard filing the air with their agonized
H. cries OF sbeIp.'" Mr.. Damn says that The
last OF the rescued were not brought aboard
the Stoningtou until nearly O'Clock, hav'
ing been in the water since f1:25, or upward
OF three hours.
Fresh testimony Is being added daily tt
the overwhelming evidence that inrg'
share Of the lfe-preservcrs were IN an unn
cspdition. Miss Carrie Horton and his
Uucklpg, Of No. 40 Tompkins Place, Brook
Iyn. state that they both had preserver
which had no strings attached, and were
therefore, positively useless. AsgO0d dea
az comment has been elected by the fac
that Messrs. Hovey and Beckwitb, the Gov
eminent inspectors who are to inquire int'
the responsibility Of the disaster. are TIT
same officers who certified to the adequacy
and thorough order OF the Narragansetr
boats and life.saying apparatus. Many
the passengers assert that the inspector
themselves ought to be investigated first.
The Pay OF Census BnuBeratOrs'
WASHINGTON, june l7.-The Secretary o
the Inferior to-day rendered a decision