Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-12
BOATS CRASH AND
MANY FREEZE AND
DROWN IN WRECK
Jay Line Larchmont and a
Schooner in a Terrific COL
IisiOn Near Block Island.
SCHOONER CREW ESCAPES
Numerous Bodies Have Been Washed
Ashore and Long Death Roll
is Feared.
PASSENGER LIST ON STEAMER
Steamer Left Providence Last Night
Bound for New York-Her Can
tain Wires Wife of His Safety
Bodies Washed on Beach.

The steamer Larchmont OF the
Joy line, after a collision with a
schooner near Block Island, went
down and many lives were lost. No
accurate list of the scores OF persons
who were either drowned or frozen
to death can be had, as the passenger
list went down with the steamship.
Only 10 out of an estimated total
OF from $50 to 200 persons sur
vlved, according to an estimate
made at pm. today. OF the
saved, eight were passengers and
the rest were members of the
crew, including Captain McVey.
Some of the passengers who man
aged to get in the boats froze to
death before they could reach shore.
No explanation is given as to the
cause of the accident.
BLOCK ISLAND, R. l., February ~
Scores OF persons were drowned or frozen
to death result of the Joy Line
steamer Larchmont sinking in Block Island
sound early today after collision with the
three -masted schooner Harry Knowleton.
Several boats came ashore from the scene
of the wreck during the forenoon, and
many bodies were washed ashore on the
northwest side of Block Island The Larch-
mont sailed from Providence for New York
last night with about $50 passengers
aboard and a crew Of fifty-nine. The pas
senger list was board the steamer. The
Larchmont collided with the Knowleton or
Quonochontaug about midnight, cutting Off
the schooner's bow. The steamer was so
badly damaged that she ran for Block Is
land, but before she could reach the island
she sank. The Knowleton was run
aground west Of Quonochontaug and Capt.
Haley and his crew Of six men reached
shore safely in their own boats. The seas
at about zero.
Captain Haley's Story.
WATCH HILL, r. l.. February FIN.
describing his experience today Capt
Frank T. Haley of the Harry Knowlton
said that the Knowlton rammed the
Larchmont on the port side about quar-
ter way from the bow. The blow car
ried away the schooner jib boom and
bowsprit and all her forward rigging.
opening up the ships seams and making
a great hole forward, through which the
water rushed. Desperate work at the
pumps alone saved the lives of the crew
Of the vessel Capt. Haley and his six
men all took a hand at the work until
boat in which they We're able to reach
the shore at Watch Hill.
Capt Haley was without knowledge of
the damage to the Larchmont which, as
soon as the two boats had cleared after
the collision, appeared to continue on
her way to the westward, and Capt. Ha-
ley and his men did not remember of
hearing any calls for assistance from the
steamer. However, they were so much
engaged in keeping their own vessel
lf1oat that they had little or no time to
watch the Larchmont. or figure out the
extent to which she had been damaged.
DR. the fate Of those on board Of her.
Night Dark.
%. never shall quite understand how this
accident occurred" said Capt. Haley. 1.-THE
light was dark, but starry, and it was not
hick. We left New -ork yesterday with
largo of coal, bound for Boston, and were
making fair progress through the sound. A
ong time before the accident happened we
lad sighted the Larchmont as she cleaned
teadily to the westward. All her lights
we're seen. Some of the crew were on
Ieck a while, and we spoke of the picture
hat the Larchmont made. all lighted up.
Then we saw that the steamer seemed to
% heading directly for US. remember that
looked up at our lights. which were burn
ng all right. and Of course expected that
he steamer would look OUT for US. But she
,ept right on.
Shouted q Warning.
Some of US shouted warning. and one
nember of the crew blew horn constantly.
scarcely knew what to do. ! did not dare
ttempt to tack to clear the path OF the
teamer, because thought she would turn