Ruggles. Bainbridge and Jett at the River

[RJNorton]

Sounds to me that Alfred must have been the proprietor of the Aguntneck house and he's trying to use the tragedy to drum up business..

I agree - something is "off" here. I think the correct spelling is Aquidneck House, and the gentleman misspelled the place where he worked? Strange, if he were the proprietor, and it does sound like he might have been.

(unless the Aquidneck House was also called the Aguntneck House - I do not know)