Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-24
THE nARRAeAnsETT DISASTER
Doings Of the Court Of lnvesti-
cation, at New London.
FURTHER TESTIMONY REGARD.
ING THE DISASTER.

ol the route before starring ne gas on the
night of the collision was taken from New
York Gas Works. In all his experience the
gas never went out but once. and then in a
heavy gale. The life preservers were not
put where they would be accessible TO pas
sengers. He found no passengers ON oork
mattresses. Six of the Narraganset, boats
were found after the collision and returned
TO the steamer.
John NJ. Johnson, detective on the Maria
gansett. heard the Narragansett blow two
whistles. which were answered BY another
steamer with one faint whistle. He told the
steward il was the Stonington. Soon after
heard another whistle. two points on the star
board bow and the steward said she is going
to strike us" Went to the ladies' cabin and
told the occupants To get out as soon as pos
sihle. Went aft and endeavored to calm the
passengers.
Clerk herman came To him and asked for
lantern. Wanted to try aud get his passen-
ger list. When he knew the ship was on fire
he instructed the passengers to go on hurri-
cane deck, which most of them did. Then
saw men lowering boat Witness went in
the boat and assisted in saving passengers.
In his opinion if the male passengers had
acted halt as well as the women there would
not have been five passengers lost. He had
followed the sea Is years and had been in the
L. 5. navy and thoroughly understood the
management of small boats. He saw no ex-
ira mattresses on the steamer on the night of
the collision.
Horace c. Lamphere. master of the CITY of
New York. testified that after passing Corn
field Il minutes, he heard 3 boat blow four
whistles, and soon after four whistles more,
and then sharp up to northward saw a light
from the Narragansett. Within minute run
across the bow of the Stonngton and was
told by the captain he had been in collision
with the Narragansett.
Capt. Nye asked him to pick up all he
could in the water and then TO come TO him.
as he was disabled. Three boats were low
cred on the starboard side, and two on the
port, commanded by officers of the steamer
and manned by the crew. Could not tell how
many were rescued by the boats of the New
York. Heard the number estimated as high
as 200. Did not know how many passengers
his steamer took from the Narragansett and
Stonington. The rescued passengers were
presented with food and liquors, and given
blankets to take the place Of clothing. So
far as he knew, nothing was done by the
officers of the Stonngton line to relieve the
passengers while they remained on the New
\ ork. A son of Capt. BabcOck came to the
boat at $50 that afternoon 1--WE arrived about
10 A. NJ. } and wanted to know if Capt. Bah
cock or any of their folks had been there.
He was answered in the negative, where
upon he said he thought it was little rough,
to which Superintendent Lamphere replied,
Il thought it id nonsense" He thought
the boats running west that night could hear
signals quicker by one-half than those run
ming east. 1t was more difficult to hear the
whistle on the Stonington line than on any
other on the Sound. He had experienced
more difficulty in passing the Stonington
boats in fog because they did not blow their
as often as other boats He knew
one instance in which the Narragansett and
Stonington have mistaken each Others
signals.
He was pilot about % years ago on the
Stonington line, and the only pilot on
board. He thought there shoald be at least
four men in the pilot house, when it became
to put down the wheel pretty sud-
den; of course it made a difference as to how
the boat was situated. On his boat both
pilots were kept in the pilot house during the
entire trip, in thick weather. There was also
one there always in all kinds of weather On
the trip from New London to New York,
thought the Stonngton and Narragansett
tould not get within two miles of each other
the night of the collision without hearing the
others whistle, provided the whistles were
properly blown.
Samuel Ii. Rodman. passenger on the Ston-
ington: Stonington was blowing her fog
" histle at intervals of from one-half to three
quarters OF minute. About an hour after
leaving S;onington, heard a steamer whistle
on the port bow and soon after she was passed.
About fifteen minutes before the collision
heard another boat blow one whistle, which
was answered. The boats come nearer and
nearer and finally passed Very close on the
port side. Soon after heard another steamer,
which was answered by the Stoningtons whs-
tie, and the answer was repeated three or four
times. Think it was from five to eight min
utes this whistling was kept up between the
two steamers. Looked out a stateroom vim
dow and saw light very close off the port
bow, and soon the hull of the Narragan-
sett. The collision followed very quickly.
The shock was verv light When the steam
ers struck saw the Narragansett swing along
side and drift by. Hailed her, asking what
steamer it WAS. Then left my stateroom and
went out on the forward saloon deck. Re-
turned to the window and looking saw the
Narragausett on the starboard quarter, and
almost Immediately saw flames shoot out from
her, as if there had been a gas explosion.
Saw one of the boats low cred and noticed her
pulling TOuilu tHt stern vi titt NtpDUlglDH
Asked those on board why they did not res
cue passengers of the Narragansett, who could
then be seen in the water Reply was made
that the plug was out Of the boat and that
she would founder before she could reach the
Narragansett. Think Capt. Young was in
the second or third boat that arrived at the
Stonington. Remained on the Stonington
and assisted in getting ont passengers
from the boats. Think about half of them
had preservers some had taken them off in
the small boats. Think all boats were filed,
except the first. Cannot tell how long after
the collision the City of New York arrived.
Passengers who were rescued towards the
last were very much exhausted. All were
carefully attended to. He the steward
and another officer of the Stonington whom
he did not know assisting rescued passengers
after the collision. These were the only Of
ficers of the steamer he saw. Thought the
engines of the Stonington were stopped five
minutes before the collision. The boat was
moving very slowly when she struck
Adjourned to Tuesday next.
THE INDIANS.