The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-14

Hiergeselrs statement was rot con firmed by any other survivors of the terribletragedy, but notwithstanding the fact that there was none to cor roborate him, he held steadfast to his story.
 President Dunbaugh issued a state ment tonight in defense of his officers and crew. He said that the ships of- ficers were not only not responsible for the collision. but that considering the terrible conditions that prevailed imme- diately after the accident, the eompa- ny's men did everything possible to save lives. President Dunbaughs statement said:
 The schooner was responsible for the collision. The officers and crew of the Larchmont are not to blame in any
 way. In view of the horrible condi- tions which prevailed immediately aft CT the accident I am satisfied that the men did all in their power to meet the situation as conscientious and honora-
 ble men. It appears from my investi- gation that. the schooner luffed right into the Larchmont, and caused the accident which resulted in such great loss of life. The fact that the steamer sank so soon after the crash, the fact that so many were unable to reach the baots even after they were put out, is to my mind sufficient proof that the crew acted bravely and did all in their power to aid the passengers who were ableto reach the deck
 -MoEo r1oY1a in 1acr,.i hin tba manner in which Captain McVey's lifeboat left the sinking ship said: Being a mem Der of boat crew No. l, the captains boat, rushed to my station as soon as I found the ship was sinking. I stop ped only to put on some warm clothes. When I reached boat No, 1 Captain McVey was already there, and on his order we swung the boat out board ready to lower. The captain shouted loudly to the passengers, Come on.'
 Come!' but it was dark, the electric lights were out, steam was coming up in clouds from below, and they would not come to get into our boat The captain kept hollering, Come on, but the steamer was going down very fast, and we lowered away. When the boat reached the water below, l was left on the deck, nd I had to climb down the side of the steamer to get into her"
 When we unlocked the davit rope a problem confronted us. A rope which was made fast to a ring bolt in the bow would not unreel from the fastening nigh above. There was not knife on anybody in the crowd to cut that rope. If the Larchmont went down with the rope fast we must go down with her. Our lives were saved by Boatswain An dred Tobsen, who was on board the steamer. He looked down on 11s and saw our predicament. With one swing of an axe he cut that fatal rope.
 Captain McVey still shouted, Come on,' and he refused to leave the side of the Larchmont. We Were banging up and down against the guards with every swell and finally took the boat hook and pushed away. Poor Tobsen did not come with us. As We pulled away Captain McVey turned his head. He could not bear to see the people drown. He did everything to make the people come in our boat, which could hold twenty-five. They seemed afraid to come. There were seven in our boat and after we had rowed until we were exhausted we lay down on the bottom and were sheltered from the wind. We remained there until we drifted ashore"
 McFarlane, who was removed to the East Side hospital, was suffering se- verely from frozen hands and feet.
 The steamer Kentucky, which was sent to Block Island by the Joy line officials, arrived here shortly before 6 o'clock. As soon as she docked the suffering survivors were taken ashore, placed in ambulances and sent to the hospitals. The sailors If the Larch mont were taken in charge by pr. of the United States marine hospital service, and sent to the East End hospital, the passengers having been sent to the Rhode Island hospital. Many were in such serious condition that the anputation of frozen limbs will be necessary to relief their suffer- ing.
 The forty-nine bodies which arrived on the Kentucky were placed in nearby morgue and the police had diff ficulty in holding back the crowd that wished to view the bodies. Only a few were allowed to enter at a time, but the death-house was never empty.
 The array of bodies, arranged side by side, presented a gruesome spectacle as they lay on tables, boxes and piers, with their limbs frozen in many vari- ous position. Each frozen face was scanned closely as the people passed up and down the room from body to body. Accordingly, the calling of a name and then convulsive sobs told that some one had discovered loved one. As soon as the curious had ceased enter ing the morgue the work of identifica- tion progressed rapidly, and at mid night the names of thirty-eight of the forty-nine victims were known.
 CAPTAIN M'VEl'3 STATEMENT. Admits His Boat One of the First to