Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-07-19
the tAkRAeAnsEIT DISASTER
Opening Of the Court Of lnvesti-
CATION, at New London.
TESTIMONY OF CAPT. YOUNG.


with and Hovey.
l. NJ. Waller stated that he appeared as
counsel for the Stonington Steamboat Co.,
but was informed by the inspectors that no
counsel would be allowed to take part in the
proceedings or to question the witnesses.
The first witness examined was William
Smith Young of Jersey City, who stated that
he had been a master and pilot for 25 years,
and at the time of the collision between the
Stonington and the Narragansett was master
of the latter, and held license as such. lie
had been on the line from Providence to Bos-
ton for % years, and on the Stonington line
during the past three summer seasons. The
trip on which the collision occurred is the
first and only trip in which he had command
ed the Narragansett.
He was the only pilot on board the steamer
at the time of the collision.
Being asked to state the circumstances at
tending the collision, Capt. Young asked per-
mission TO read statement, giving as his
reason therefor that he could in that way be
briefer and more accurate. After consuta-
ton the inspectors determined to admit the
written statement, which was follows:
took charge of the steamer Narragansett
Thursday, June 10th, 1880, by order of Capt.
Babcock, through Capt. Waldron, he having
to attend the United States court at Hartford,
CT. left Stonington on Thursday evening
at the usual time. Nothing occurred on the
passage to New York. The steamer Nara
gansett left New York June llth, 1850, at )
O'Clock p. NJ, with passengers and freight,
bound for Stonington, Ct., stormy weather,
light winds from south. Nothing unusual
happened until about off Stratford Shoal light.
l then went to the pilot-house at 3 p. NJ. and
said to pilot Thompson, Il thought we should
have some fog before we got into Stonington."
as the mist was very heavy and streaks of fog
had been blowing across our bow. l then
left the pilot-house to go to my room to
change my clothing, putting on something
thick for protection against the foggy night.
A room door led from the inside of the pilot
house. This took, as near as I can judge,
five minutes. When returning to the pilot
house l asked Mr.. Thompson if he had passed
the Shoals light. He said he passed it at 9.02
p. NJ. / consulted with him as to what
courses we should steer. He said +. n. to
Falkners, and then + N. would take us to
Cornfield. l agreed with him perfectly,
knowing just how the boat would run, as l
had been pilot of her since the spring changes
The first thing we saw and heard was a
steamer on our port bow, about points,
which we called the Tillie, of New London,
which was blowing one long blast of her
steam whistle.
We commenced to blow our warning blasts
from this time at regular intervals not ex-
ceeding a minute. After passing what we
called the "Tillie' we sighted flash of light
on our starboard bow three to four points. and
gave two short blasts of our steam whistle,
which he answered with two short blasts until
he was abeam; then we blew our regular
warming whistle. We saw nothing more or
heard anything. l asked the pilot at IL 20
F. NJ. the time of night. He said at is
about time for the boats" When in about
eight minutes, sighted bright light bear
ing % points on our starbOard bow from my
position, as | stood looking out of the front
window on the starboard side. of the pilot
house, and at once gave him two short blasts
in quick succession and said: ''llard star
board At the same time heard one faint
blast from the approaching steamer, when
signals from the other boat were given so con-
fused me that could not tell if they were
meant for one, two or three blasts, so run to
slow, and stop sounding. Two blasts, three
times at intervals, were distinguishable. In
stantly rung to back and gave three blasts
twice. Also heard three blasts from the
other boat, which proved to be the Stoning-
ton. striking us between the forward gangway
and starboard paddle-box. From the time of
slSHtlHS W tiiS tltIc VI Soiiisloh " as ipht wv
to three minutes. At the time of the collision
I opened the rail to see what damage was
done; turned and said 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 said: "Call the mates"
Officer Field came to ask what ne should do?
| said "Clear away and lower the boats and
life e-rafts rs fast as possible" The lst officer
(Mowry) during the time was examining the
extent of the damage. The next officer who
came to me was Purser Kiernan. l ordered
him to call everybody and have them put on
life preservers. At time lst officer MOwry
came to me and said: Captain, she is max
ing water very fast" said "Call all hands,
and get boats and life-rafts over as quickly as
possible"
During this time Mr.. Thompson was in the
pilot house doing his duty as long as he had
steam to work with.
About eight to ten minutes after the col
lison blaze was reported coming up the
port side of the smoke stack. told the bow
watch to try and put it out. | turned and
saw it was no use to battle with it.
Then ordered the bow watch to assist at
lowering the forward port boats as quickly as
possible. which was done successfully and
filed with passengers. excepting one boat,
No. 6, which was told by the second officer
and wheelsman was attempted by the pas
sengers and swamped in lowering. After tell
ing the bow watch to leave the fire and as
sist in lowering the forward port boat / turned
and went to see if the forward starboard boats
were being owered, and in going stepped
across the gap made by the collision with the
Stonington outside of the hog frame. As
sisted in lowering the forward starboard
boats; taking all passengers that were on the
hurricane deck forward of the wheel. pushed
off and took in all | found in the water be-
tween the wreck and the steamer Stonington.
After landing the boat load on the Stoning-
ton returned, picking up several persons on
my return to the Narragansett.
When there found large number of
passengers on the promenade deck at the bow
of the Narragansett. At this time. being
aground on the bottom in ) fathoms of water,
tide running very strong by her stem. made
it difficult to hold life-boat up to it. | took
them on board. asking for the ladies and chill
dren first, all that thought was safe; 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. | started again for the Stoning-
ton; met boat, Purser Kiernan in it, and
asked him to come alongside and take part of
nv load. as was deep and wished to take a
thorough look around the wreck. Upon the
steamboat quarter found boat full of water
G. IL