The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-22
THE SOUND DISASTER.
More Testimony Regarding the Wreck of
the Narragansett.


the Narragansett.
New LONDON, July 21.-In the Narragan-
sett investigation this morning Samuel j.
Walker testified that he was master OF the
Narragansett until the day before the collision.
He considered that the tenth of June the
Narragansett was in perfect order in all her
equipments. The boats, davIts and cranes
were examined weekly Her inspection certi-
ficate allowed her to carry few short of 60O
passengers. She had carried only one pilot
since February. He saw no necessity of more
than one, as in bad weather he was always in
the pilot house himself.
George Brainerd testified that he had held a
mates license since 1860 and had been chief
mate five years on the steamer Stonington He
was on her the night of the collision, was in
his room ON the port side of the hurricane
deck when the collision occurred. He went
below to see what damage had been done, and
found he could not reach it below and went
outside and partially repaired the damage with
canvas. He afterwards assisted in lowering
four boats having told the captain that it was
safe to do so and believing that the Narragan.
sett needed them more than the Stonington
No RATS were lowered He had the hiring
and dscharging of deck hands. They were a
good class of men. After assisting to lower
the boats he returned to the bow and directed
the repairs of the leak. He denied that he
called officer Mowry to assist him in making
repairs He found Mowry in boat upon his
the steamer. He did not consider that Now
rendered him valuable assistance, after til
steamers cleared each other, subsequent /
the collision.
John A. Smith, engineer of the steame
Stonington, testified that when abreast q
Corntield as near as he could judge, the J
slowed and stopped on meeting the City 81
Boston, The signals were just prior to the COLI
sion and were to slow, stop and go back, there
being an interval of two seconds between each
When answering the last signal he got two
more bells, which were to stop backing and &C
ahead. The collision occurred just as she was
answering the last signal. The last bell he
got that night was the jingle which was to &c
ahead strongly. After the collision he received
no signals and did not work the engines until
the boats started to return to the Stonington
He had frequently known mistakes made in
ringing bells from the pilot house, but had nc
reason to believe that any were made on the
night of the collision. He spoke through the
tube to the captain after the collision, telline
him about the boat making no more water
than usual, but received no reply. He went
to the pilot house and was told by the captain
to look out for his engines.
Samuel Waldron passenger clerk of theStOn.
ington, testified chiefly as to his nstrumentality
IN rescuing passengers, and to the number Of
passengers on the Stonington The passen GERS
on life preseryers, and these half dozen were
swimming and had left them off purposely
Some of those rescued had on two preservers
and some three.
Charles E. Chappell second pilot of the
steamer City Of New York, detailed the pass
ing of the City of Boston and the Hartford
boat. Did not see the Cornfield light, but got
the bell all night. After passing the light.
ship heard one whistle, then three and soon
after four, Then saw the reflection of the
light which made us think a steamboat was
on fire. Then hauled up to the Stonington
and her captain said he had colided with the
Narragansett and that those of her passengers
who were not burned were overheard. The
steward and two walters assisted witness in
manning the after port boat. Picked up a
who were picked up had life preservers. Took
second trip but did not find any more per.
sons in the water. Heard no complaints from
anybody as to the lack of life preservers.
Eaton Nichols, first officer of the City OF
New York, testified in detail as to lowering
boats and picking up some 35 passengers
After that the New York went alongside the
Stonington and took such of the passengers as
wished to 60. All the rescued passengers had
life preservers and many of them chairs be-
sides. One man had life preseryer, a trunk
a box and four chairs (he was Jew peddler.
The New York carries 20 deck hands, some OF
whom are sailors. 1t was the custom on our
steamer to practice men in boats frequently.
Tho boats on the New York would carry from
80 to 90 each in an emergency and the life
RATS about 70 each.
James E. Murphy second steward of the
City of New York, testified that he assisted in
taking up tickets at the gangway on the ar
rival of the boat at New York on the morning
after the collision. There were 1888 tickets
taken up from the passengers of the Stoning
ton and 289 from passengers If the Narragan.
sett. There were quite number of Others
from the Stonington steamer who had nc
tickets, as near as we could estimate about 1O(
or more. Everything was done for the rescued
passengers on the New York that could be-
Waldron, clerk of the Stonington, testified
that this morning took 800 passengers at Ston
ington. Murphy's testimony shows 1888 tickets
were received from the passengers by thai
boat. The discrepancy may be occasioned By
the fact that some tickets were issued on othel
dates than June 18th. Waldron s estimate
was made from the number of tickets reportee
June 18th.
Adjourned until Thursday.