The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-13
larchmont CoIIides with the
Schooner KnoWleton. OFF
Block Island. R. |.
BODIES WASHED ASHORE
NEAR SCENE OF WRECK
Frantic Passengers Frozen to
Death as they Made At
tempt to Leave the Doomed
Vessel in Open Boats.
Publishers Y'ressy

IioSioSH1Ss II. l., Il CD. L. - Il ne
steamer Larchmont of the Joy line.
with many passengers on board. bound
from Providence for New York. sank
OF the northwest side of Block Island
after having collided with the three
masted schooner Harry knowelton of
Quonochontaug. Passengers and crew
of the steamer took TO the boats, but
many lost their lives either by being
drowned or freezing. as the tempera-
ture was below zero. The schooner's
bow was cut away. and her captain
ran her ashore to prevent her sinking.
The crew of seven men, including Cap
tain Haley, reached shore safely in
boats.
The Knowleton, from Eastport, Me.
was bound from South Arboy for Bos-
ton, with coal. She lies on a sandy
bottom, but is full OF water, and 1t is
not known whether she can be fioated.
The Larchmont left Providence for
New York, in command of Captain Nc
Vey of Providence. She carried
crew of about 80 and had on board
$50 passengers and miscellaneous
cargo of freight.
Passengers met their deaths in vari-
Gus ways. Some attempted to launch
hfeboats and were frozen to death on
the decks of the laundering steamer.
Others were drowned in the attempt
to escape before the vessel went down
and still others who were success
full in launching lifeboat, were frog
en- TO death l,efnre tho small ersEt~
reached shore
Captain Mcvey said that at the time
Of the collision ne had not had an OPP
portunity to examine the passenger
list handed to him just before his
steamer left Providence. The cap
tain's estimate OF those on boari
agrees, however. with the estimate
made by the Joy line ofYicials at Provi-
dence, about $50 passengers and a
crew of 80. Inhabitants OF all parts
of the island turned out to assist I'm
rescue work, although many of them
live several miles from the point or
which the steamer sank. The north
west gale continued with zero temper
ature.
Captain McVey said the Larchmont
sank within 10 minutes after the col
lision. After cruising about in small
boat in the icy gale nine hours, he
landed on Block island. Close behind
his boat another landed, bringing i6
dead and eight dying passengers.
Only 10 survived. of whom six men
and two women were passengers, and
the rest were members OF the crew.
including Captain Mcvey. So far 20
bodies washed ashore
Captain Frank r. Haley OF the
Knowleton rammed the Larchmont on
he port side about quarter away
from the bow. The blow carried away
he schooner's jibboom and bowsprlt,
and all her forward rigging. opening
Up the ships seams and making
great hole forward, through which the
water rushed. Desperate work at the
bumps alone saved the lives OF the
rev Of the schooner Captain Haley
md his six men all took hand at the
work. until the moment came to launch
he ships boat, in which they were
ble 10 reach the shore at Watch Hill.
Captain Haley was without know
dge of the damage to the Larchmont
which, as soon as the two boats clear
d after the collision, appeared to con-
inue her way 10 the westward, and
'aptain Haley and bis men I'D not
emember of hearing any calls for as
istance from the steamer. However.
hey were SO much engaged in keeping
heir own vessel afioat that they had
tile or no time to watch the Larch-
lont, or figure out the extent to which
he was damaged, or the fate Of those
n board
Il never shall quite understand how
1is accident occurred said Captain
Ialey. a long time before the acci-
ent happened we sighted the Larch-
lont as she steamed steadily to the
eastward. All her lights were seen.
ONE of the crew were on deck awhile
nd we spoke OF the picture the Larch-
ont made, all lighted up. Then we
NV that the steamer seemed to be
eading directly for US. 7 remember
lat / looked np at our lights. which
ere burning all right"