The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-19
The yerraean.ctt disaster.

\ The Narragansctt Disaster.
INVESTIGATION INTO TUE CAUSE OF THE COLI
LIsI0N captain YoUyG's TESTIMONY.
New LONDON, COM, July 1.-THE in.
vestigation OF the Narragansett disaster
was begun in this city to-day before the
local inspectors, Beckwith and Horey. Hon.
Il. Nj. Waller stated at the opening OF the
proceedings that he appeared as counsel for
the Stonington Steamboat Company, but
was informed by the inspectors that no
counsel would be allowed to take part in
The investigation or 10 examine witnesses.
Tie first witness examined was William
Smith Young, who stated he bad been
master and pilot for twenty years, and at
the time OF the collision between the
StoniDgton and Narragansett was master OF
the latter. aud held license as such. The
trip on which the collision occurred was
the FIRST and only one in which he had COM
handed the Narragansett. He was only q
pilot on board the steamer at the time OF
the collision. He handed in a written state
ment to the inspectors, and which is i'm
substance as follows:
The Narracansett left New York at 500
=. N. l consulted with the pilot, MIR.
| Thompson, what course we should steer, as
the night bid fair to be foggy. ! asked him
at 1l:20 p. M. the time OF night. He told
me, and said, alt is about time for the
boats" When in about eight minutes |
sighted bright light bearing two and a
half points on our starboard bow from my
position as / stood looking out OF the
| front window on the starboard side
of the pilot-house, / at once gave
him two short blasts in quick success
sion, and said. Head starboard." At
the same time heard one faint blast from the
approaching steamer. Then signals from
! the other boat were given so confusedly
that could not tell il they were meant for
one or two or three blasts; 50 | rang TO slow
and stop, sounding two blasts three times
at intervals distinguishable; then rang to
go back aud gave three blasts twice; also
heard three blasts from the other boat, which
proved TO be the Stonngton, striking us be-
tween the forward gangway and starbo ard
ssddIe.box. From the time OF sighting TO The
time OF collision two or three minutes
elapsed. At The time Of collision opened the
rail to see what the damage was, and turned
and said to the pilot, "Let hergo ahead wide
open." Knowing she was pointed for the
west end OF the shoals, in the same breath
| said, "Cal the mates"; and Officer Field
came to ask what he should do. | said,
"Clear away and lower the boats and life
RATS as fast rs possible" First-Oflicer
Mowry in the mean time was examining
the extent OF the damage. The next officer
who came TO me was Purser Kiermen. l
ordered him to call everybody and put on
their life-preservers. At that time First
Officer Mowry came to me and said, "Cap.
tain, she is making water veryfast"; and l
said, "Call all hands, and get bosts and life
RATS over as quickly as possible"
During tins time Sfr. Thompson was in
the piIot-bouse doing bis duty there as long
as he had steam to work with. About eight
or ten minutes after the collision blaze
was reported coming ND from the port side
OF the smoke-stack. i told the bow watch
to try and put 1t out. turned and saw 1t
was OF no use to battle with the fire. l
then ordered the bow-watch to assist at
lowering the forward port boat as
quickly as possible. which was done
successfully and filed with passen-
gers. One boat, No. 6, which L was
told by the second officer and wheels
man was attempted to be lowered by the
passengers, was swamped in lowering. Az
ter telling the bow.watch to leave the fire
and assist at lowering the forward port
boat turned and went to see IL the forward
slarboard boat was being lowered, and in
going stepped across the gap made by the
collision with the Stonngton outside OF The
bog.lrame. assisted at lowering the for
ward stan board boat, took in all the nassen-
gers that were on the hurricane-deck for
ward OF the wheel, pushed of, and took In
all found In the water between the wreck
and the steamer Stonington. After land
ing the boatload on the Stonington
returned, picking up several person on
the way back to the NarragaDsct. When
there found large number OF passengers
on the promenade deck. The Narrsgansett
at this time was aground in five fathoms OF
water, and the tide running very strong by
her stern made 1t difficult to hold the life
bOst up to it. stood on board, asking for
ladies and children first, all that thought
IL was safe TO take. / told the remainder
to keep cool, that another boat was coming
behind us. They faid "All right" Tor
the boat had not settled any for
some time. l started again for the
Stonington, returning again to the
wreck. He says: ~ made a thorough
seorch all around the water In the vicinity
Of the wreck, but neither found nor heard
any one answer TO our shouts. i then re-
turned and made fast TO the wreck, and In
company with my officers and the crews
remained there through the night" The
captain also said "One OF the ladies', whom
| afterwards learned was Mrs. Dix, clung
TO the network around the promenade
deck to keep other passengers from over.
turning the boat, and showed me her hand
burned until the skin was peeled. AS
we helped the men out OF this boat
INTO NINE, he SAID, pointing TO her,
She is the brayest woman living. She
has held this boat to the wreck, and has
saved us sil,'; which her burned hands
showed. While giving me orders, was
on the starboard.side near the pilot-house,
on the burricane.deck (where l remained
the greater part OF the time, knowing that
my officers would come there first to end
me for orders without loss OF time) Until
l left, to launch boat No. /, was on the
stsrbOard-side forward OF the wheel-hOuse,
during which time passengers came TO Inc
and asked assistance In putting on life
preservers, which / quickly gave, ty-
Ing some around them. All OF this
time l had on my rough weather clothes
changed at Stanford, with nothing 10 be
recognized by but my regulation cap with
a gilt button on esch side. The other !
officers were in like condition, several In
their shirt-sIeeves answering my call for
their watch below In the quickest manner. |
This doubtless led TO the report that no
officers were seen OF the boats or helping the |
or heard giving orders.
"My officers and crew, as far as l know |
and have heard, obeyed orders promptly, |
aud worked as quickly a. possible under |
the circumstances to saye our passengers |
from the most powerful elemen's-fre and