The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-19
THE NARRAG ANSETT.
Investigating the Causes Of the
Disaster.
TESTIMONY OF THE CAPTAINS OF
THE TWO VESSELS.


NEW LONDON, Conn, July 1.-THE inves
tigation of the Narragansett disaster began to-
day before local inspectors Beckwith and How
ey. L. Nj Waller appeared as counsel for the
steamboat company, but was informed by the
inspector that no counsel would be allowed to
take part i'll the proceedings or to question wit
nesSes.
TESTIMONY OF CAPT. YOUNG.
The first witness examined was Capt
Young, who stated that he had been master
and pilot thirty-fve years. He had been on
the Providence to Boston line twenty-five
years, and on the Stonington line the past
three summers. The trip on which the coils
ion occurred was the first and only trip he had
commanded the Narragansett He was the
only pilot on the steamer at the time of the
collision. He then read the following state
ment:
took charge of the Narragansett Thursday,
June 10, by order of Capt. Babcock, through
Capt. Waldron having to attend court at Hart
ford. The Narragansett left New York Jul o
II, at o'clock p. m. 1t was stormy weather
with light winds from the south Nothing :!
usual happened until about off Stratford shoal
light. l then went to the pilot house at p.
m and said to the pilot, Thompson, that [
thought that we should have some fog before
we got into Stonington, as the mist was very
heavy and streak of fog was blowing across
the bow. 1 then left the pilot house to put on
something thick for protection against the fog
gy night. When returned to the pilot house
L consulted with Thompson as to what course
we should steer. He said east $50 north to
Falkness and then east 81 north would take us
to Cornfeld. l agreed with him perfectly
The steamer Tillie ofNew London then passed
about three points off on our port bow, blow
ing continuous blast. We blew our whistle
from this time at regular intervals not exceed
ing minute. Another steamer soon passed
three to four points off on the starboard bow
We saw and heard nothing more till II %
when in about eight minutes sighted bright
light bearing two and half points on our
starboard bow from my position as I stood
looking out of the front window on the star
board side of the pilot house. at once gave
him two short blasts in quick succession, and
said 'hard a-starboard.' At the same time I
heard one faint blast from the approaching
steamer when the signals from the other boats
were given so confusedly that could not tell
II they We're meant for one, two or three blasts
The sounding of two blasts three times at in
tervals being distingulshabe, instantly rang
to back and gave the blasts twice; also heard
tne blasts from the other boat, which proved
to be the Stonington. She struck us between
the forward gangway and the starboard paddle
box.
From the time of sighting to the lime
the of collision was two or three minutes. At
the time of the collision opened the rail to
to the pilot, "Let her go ahead wide OPEN"
knowing that she was pointed for the west end
OF the shoals. In the same breath l said
"Call the mates" l told Officer Field to'clear
away and lower the boats and life RATS as fast
as possible. First Officer Mowry during the
time was examining the extent of the damage.
1 ordered Purser Herman to call everybody
and put on life preservers. At that time First
Officer Mowry came to me and said, Captain
she is making water very fast" I said, "Call
all hands and get boats and life RATS over as
quickly as possible"
During this time Thompson in the pilot
house was doing his duties as long as he had
steam to work with. About eight to ten min
utes after the collision blaze was reported
coming up the port side of the smokestack
told the bow watch to try and put it out. I
turned and saw it was of no use to battle with
it. Then I ordered the bow watch to assist at
lowering the forward port boats, which was
done successfully and filled with passengers,
excepting one boat, No. 6, which was told by
the second officer was attempted by passengers
and swamped in lowering. After telling bow
watch to leave the fire and assist at lowering
the forward part of the boat, 1 turned and
went to see if the forward starboard boats were
being lowered, and stepped acress the gap
made by the collision with the Stonington,
outside OF the hog frame. 1 assisted at lower
ing the FORWARD Starboard boats. aud taking
the passengers on hurricane deck forward Of
the wheel pushed off and took in all found
in the water between the wreck and the
steamer Stonington After landing boat
load on the Stonington returned, picking up
several persons on my return to the Narragan-
sett, where found large number of passen-
gers on the promenade deck of the bow, the
Narragansett at this time being aground on
the bottom in five fathoms of water. The tide
was running very strong by her stem which
made it difficult to hold the life boat up to it.
took on board all that I thought was safe I
told the remainder to keep cool, that another
boat was coming behind us. They said, "all
right" for the boat had not settled any for
some time.
1 started again for the Stonington: met
boat with Purser Herman in it, and asked him
to come alongside and take part of my load, as
was deep and wished to take thorough look
around the wreck; upon the starboard quarter
found boat full OF water and entangled in the
afterdavit fall, which proved to be the one
that was lowered and swamped by the passen-
gers; found in it one man, two ladies', one small
boy and one woman drowned; took them on
board of my boat; pilot Thompson jumped
into;the swamped boat and cleared her from
the davit fall, bailed her partly out and then
asked for man to pull an oar and bail; Mr.
Iruesdale volunteered and another man got
in; then pushed off and pulled for the Ston-
ington again, picking up all 1 found on the
way; before reached her boat hailed us and
asked if we wanted any assistance; said,
Come and take our line and help us to the
to be the one we had last taken passengers
from with the pilot in charge; after landing
these passengers aboard the Stonington made
fast my boat, changed into the boat with pilot
thompson and baggage master Rogers, who
offered to go with us; we then started back for
the wreck, followed by first officer Mowry in
his boat with the crew, and second officer Field
with his boat and crew; I went and made a
thorough search all around the water in the
vicinity OF the wreck; neither found nor
heard any one in answer to our shouts; then
returned, made fast to the wreck and in COM
pany with my officers and their crews remained
their during the night and the following day
until II M, when the first boat, abe A. E.
Burnside, of New London, arrived, dispatched
by the companyfwith orders to render every
assistance; soon after came Captain scott's
wrecklng schooner Report, sent by the COM
pany the third arrival was the company's
steamer Electra" despatched from Stoning-
ton to render assistance; Captain Waterman of
the Burnside asked what assistance he could
render us; told him 1 had sent the first officer.
Mowry, with two boats and crews to Cornfield
lightship, and I wished he would stop and take
the boats and crews to Stonington, which he
did, at the same time taking three bodies
picked up by fishing steamers and transferred to
the United States steamer Cactus, Captain
Latham.
Capt Griffin, of steamer Electra, asked of
what assistance he could be: did not know of
anything more he could do but take the BODY
OF small child, picked up by the crew of the
wrecking schooner Report and taken in charge
by baggage n.aster Rogers, who went aboard
the company's steamer Electra to Stonington;
myself with the pilot, second officer Field,
wheelsman and two deck boys remained by
the wreck one week; further, wish to say
that the night of the collision, on my last trip
to the Stonington with passengers from the
swamped boat, heard from one of the ladies'.
whom 1 afterwards learned was a Mrs, Dix:
that she chung to the network around the
promenade deck to keep the other passengers
from overturning the boat, and showed me her
hand burned till the skin was pealing; before
reaching the Stonington she was very much
chilled; took off my coat and placed it
around her; then another lady complained of
cold; had her helped to the side of the first
lady, where the coat covered both; this lady
said to me that three of her children were
swept off the swamped boat by the rapid cur
rent; as we hauled around the stern of the
Narragansett 1 heard these exclamotions-
"Thank God we are saved" "Glory to Cod"
which came from those in the swamped boat;
as helped a man out of this boat into mine
he said, pointing to her whose hand was
burned, "She is the bravest woman living; she
has held this boat to the wreck and has saved
us all, which her burned hands show
While giving my orders stood on the star