New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
M'VAY TELLS HIS STORY
REPORT TO INSPECTORS.
Obliged to Leave Larchmont; I'm
able to Return. He Says.

passengers on the forward starboard side of the
LarChmont when he launched the boat which car
ried him and part of his crew from the Vessei Is
the way in which Captain McVay officially rffutes
the charges of cowardice made against him oE
some of the survivors OF the Larchmont IRIS he
does in a report which he filed with the United
States government inspectors here this afternoon
captain McVay asserts that it was because the
freight deck was submerged and his boat reahy
in the water that he was obliged 10 put on ana ne
did this. he says. with the intention of making his
way around to the other side of the steamer tie
found, however tina he unable to get theie'
Captain McNay's report follows:
Providence, r.. l., February 10 d 1877
To Messrs. WitEey and Stewart, United states
Local Inspectors of steam Vessels, New Lon
Gentlemen: I hereby wish to report the loss of Of
Wharf at Providence, K. l.. on February Il. at
about clock p M. winch was aPou' mi was
caused by getting freight and passenEers on D'ado.
sibly in the neghborhood of 10 miles an hour.
Upon leaving the dock everything was IN proper
condition with her fun crew and eve yPoay t, at
Their post Of dqty as usual Vas IN trs snS F are
Mr.. Moreland, the two quartermasters
courses and When We got to sabine Point drsl
pilot, Mr. Anson took charge WIN 4uaIterm , l,
MoIeland quaItermaster, went below off watch
the passengers and freight a;ere. properly taken
care OF ana tnat everything was IN shipshape or
DER After attending to these duties PlocredrPS 20
the nu~rs one ana ,9lked VIII nm n, ao W nne
deck TO go 10 my room to .ttald 90 other matters
TO get to my room | lad to tnss through the
a few words with the man in charge of the pilot
mouse. then proceeded to my room 20 look over
but very dark. II was blowing Il gale If wind and
passed through the pilot Rouse the pilot in charge
was causing the regular course 20 re steeTed |
had taken motto" that my headlight masthead
light ana side lights We're burning brightly, and
everything was in lrst class condition. ..-..,
snort riJ fEa whistle Of
I.lr .yut RING tn no la IN
pilot house When / arrived in The pilot house l
noticed that the helm OF the Larcamont about
hard aport. which proved 10 me that Mr. Arson
to get away from the schooner When l arrived
IN the pilot house noticed IN our port side ana
be heading directly into the Larchmqnt. Almost
found to be the Harry KnowIton loaded with coal
ara bound east struck the Larchmont IT about
Realizing that this was severe blow, at once
rang the bell to call the engineer, to have
him report TO me the condition Of affairs below
Wyman who had appeared ON the scene and Mr.
Staples, the quartcrmaster, TO get the desired in
At This time the boat became envelopod in steam
bos "r1erI - o8" ~ my NJ Ie Ps'o
must b" IN sinking condition
the quarternaster reported TO me that the Larch-
mont was n "A sinking condition Snd, ! think tod
should beach The boat as soon as possible. l at
once Io''l'H 10 tl'e pllot mousse rang the t'es-
c"ive no response. and returned again to the deck
board list In fa"t. think her freight deck was
under water which brought NV own boat which
was the forward starboard boat. quite The
A. this time there were no passenseTrs in The u.
cln!i' OF my BOAT, and knowing that the only way
my boat and go around 10 the other side OF the
into me %S ana Gn'f h is me thy o9es
who got into my boat We're the only ones that were
tf ma n " IA Va
The names OF those who were in my boat wore
George McVay. master Of the Iarchmont. Oscar
Young, purser OF the Larchmont. Mr. Staples one
OF the uartermasters two walters OF the Larch-
mont. names. Mcfarland and Warm. and two of
.'', So nos, names 90 ny hvW ''tSe
boat or on the starhoard side Of the Larthmout so
bon Of the sinking Lerchront 10 get on her port
SD" 70 be In position to save NE The Wind ana
to do any good I rnanGuyred the boat IN hat Vi
emily until the Iarchmont sank out OF sight but
! was unable To pick up any one. as none seemed
lowered saw The lights OF The I.archnlont 60 OUT
It was bitter cold. and he cold was so intense
DRIFT befor. thr wind. So fan rs ny personal
The Larcllmont and i used every rndeavor =, p'tS
mp any pyr-ons that could hGt i@iied 20 and on.
ashor. NJ Rlo"< island a, about as M ON M Feb
Island both myself and the balance OF those who
near as / can rc,ollect il was reported to me- tn,t
boat or the l.dTENfuoui Ndd got ashore Block
Island half or thrce-Quarters OF an hour before
had, and II HfterWard reported that four
boats and two life RATS had come ashore after
II also reported 20 me chat many had perish ii
with the cold before they had got ashore az Block
Island.
Al the time the collision occurred To- the best Of
my judgment. Watch HIN light bore about north
west distant about four miles. To the best of my
knowledge and belief the steamship l.lrchmOut
sunk out OF sight Hbu.t twelve minutes after the
collision. As TO the nearing OF the schooner when
Larrumout. and as To- her side lights general
movements from the time she was sighted 10y The
l.arrhmcut up H9ll the time saw her. which
lnSt previous To- the collision. / know nothing cA-
cept what have been told 10y other people ana
dO not at this time wish To quote ANYTHING that
was 'tid 70 me. as II would simply be hearsay.
WIN SIN iurth"r say that w always mad OUR
M"vk!i HIr and boat drills which reports he
found AT the United States local 4USUcCtoT'S
providence Her station bills their urluer
places. an licensed ath,crs held proper licenses
licensed officers of the steamer larchmout. bat the
entire crew was efficient In every particular. so
lar AS know from the practical workings Of the
sum rom N"3 age 20 voyage
Tn" boats We're ~ their proper condition. and tie
l.archmOnt was I'M Sh'psnapc condition, $50 FAR ~
] know, from truck kcclsOu.
l viii stin further add that / used my utmost
"ndeaNors from the time the I.arClqOut alarm
whistle was blown untu ny boat drifted ashore
AT BLOCK Island 10 observe discipline and say. he
IN every particular, aud no one regret more
than ! DO this sad affair. l am confined TO the
house under q Doctors care, ana will be for some
time to come but when my condition is such that
notice or the same. Respectfully yours
6 W. MVAY
Master Of the steamer Iarchmont
No Ill John street. Providence r. J.
State OF Rhode STAND S. Providence In Provi
dence, this 18th day Of February 1907 personaII,
and known by he the party who signed the
above statement; and made oath that all the