The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-19

held license only as assistant About two or
three minutes before the collision Finckle
heard the Narragansett alter her fog whistle
10 two whistles, and is positive two whistles
we're blown twice and perhaps oftener Fol-
lowing cloSs on these whistles he received the
signal to slow and few seconds later the signal
10 stop. In from fifteen to twenty seconds af-
ter the signal to stop came a signal to work
her ahead and then almost instantaneously a
signal to hook her on and go ahead strong
After the signal to go ahead was sounded
there were three whistles and then the col
lision quickly followed.
Shortly after the collision he discovered fire
on the port side of the port steam chimney
Took down the hose and got on a stream and
put out the blaze.
As he was preparing to take the hose below
the tire III the fire room he saw the flames
coming up on the starboard side of the star
board steam Chimney, and he and his assist
ants We're obliged to leave their posts. Noan-
time he despatched an oiler below to see If
she sneW making of any water, but he was
unable to execute the order because of fine vol
June Oh steam winch came up from around the
furnaces. About this time water reached tho
lower furnace and was about eight inches dean
All hands IN the eng inc and fire room made
their escape to the hurricane deck excent Gil
bert Cheesebrough, who went out by the star
alive afterwards ' 'NN'
He assisted in getting two boats ready and
IN lowering one, in which he embarked with
seven women, besides the chambermaid of
Ihe Narragansett-abOut twenty-five male pas
sengers and several employees of the boat,
ana reached the Stonington in safety al
though the plug was out and three men kept
balling constantly. one with a regular bailer
and two with hats
TESTIMONY OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE sToN-
INGToN.
George P Nye residing in Providence. tes-
titled that he held pilots license since 1864,
I'M VIC unto in Of 1,oC Co.
of the collsion,H having taken charge of her
in April Prior to that he had been captain
of the Narragansett two seasons. and had
served as captain of propellers. We left Ston-
ington at 9.35 p. M, in very dense fog, with
light wind from the west southwest. We went
along about as usual, blowing our whistle
about twice a minute. Made Bsrtletts Reef
lightship about 1915, and heard the bell about
two or three minutes before making it. The
next point was Cornfeld, and our next course
from Bartleto's there was west fve-eighths
south. Heard the bell on Cornfield Lightship,
and next heard in about ten minutes after
leaving the lghtship, a boat blowing one
whistle. We supposed it to be the City of
Boston. When she went by we could see
glmmer of light.
After leaving Cornfield we changed our
course to west by south and made for STRAIT
ford. We next heard another whistle from
boat which we supposed was the Narragan-
sett. We heard her on our port bow, blowing one
altered our course to west and ran along on
that In short time we heard the sound of
the whistle coming nearer and then altered
our course to north west, I saying to the man
at the wheel we would do this to give them
plenty of room. We ran north west about two
or three minutes when all of sudden we
heard two whistles from the boat We STOP
ped and blew three whistles, saw the green
light of the Narragansett and her headlights;
evidently she was crossing our bow. Our
wheel was put hard port as soon as we heard
two whistles. We were so near together she
did not have time to feel her rudder when we
struck the Narragansett aft the forward gang
way. Orders were then given to call all hands
and some boats were lowered to rescue passen-
gers from the Narragansett.
Soon after we struck made an examination
and found the Stonington leaking FAST but
found we could nearly stop the leak by patch
ing with canvass and boards. The pumps
were set going Immediately, but at one time
the water was up to the planks in the; forward
cabin. Four of our boats were lowered to aid
the Narragansett, one forward on the star
board side, two aft, one starboard and one aft
on the port side. We had seven boats and
three life RATS. did not think it best to low
er all the boats as we might need them our
selves. expected at one time to have to
beach the boat at the nearest land, and some
of the passengers clamored for me to do it.
Without finishing the examination of this
witness an adjournment was taken until Mon
day at 10 a. m. AS yet it is impossible to tell
how long the investigation will last, but the
inspectors hope to finish it by next Thursday.