The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-02-22
COLLISION At SEA
AWFUL MAR,NL DISASTER OFF
RHODE ISLAND.
In the Darkness Of the Night Time
Two Hundred Human Beings
Face Death.

Block Island, X. l.--About 100 per
sons went to their death In Block
Island sound Monday night, as a re-
suit OF 4 collision between the three
masted schooner Harry Knowlton and
the Joy line steamer Larchmont,
bound from Providence to New York.
1t is estimated that including the crew
there were nearly 200 persons on board
the steamer wnen she sailed from
Providence. or these only 10 appear
to have survived the disaster, ten
members of the crew and nine pas
sengers. Forty.eight bodies have been
recovered.
A Soatload Of Agony.
The first intimation of the disaster
was Tuesday morning, when a life
boat drjfted into Block Island harbor.
In the boat were several bodies OF
men who had died from the effects of
long hours of exposure to a death-deal-
ing temperature. In the boat also were
IL men. whose suffering was so in
tense that they seemed oblivious to the
fact that death was in their midst, and
that they had escaped only by virtue
of their ability to withstand the rigor
of zero weather in an open boat at
sea.
--- "
The boat brought a tale of disaster
that has rarely been equaled in New
England waters, and it is believed
that when the final count Is made, it
will be found that no less tina $50
lives were lost.
Following closely in the wake of the
solitary lifeboat came bodies, lifeboats
and RATS, cast ON the beach by angry
waves.
Owing to the condition of the sur
vivors, it was impossible to get from
them an estimate of the loss of life.
From IS to $50 persons went to their
uSdll, anu IL . USIlSNSu lndI tuS ldt-
ter figures are nearer correct.
TWO Hundred Were on Board.
The steamship officials estimate that
about $50 passengers and a crew of 50
were on board the steamer when sh"
left Providence, Monday night. Forty
eight bodies reached these shores
Tuesday and 10 were alive when taken
rom the lifeboats. Taxing the esti-
mate figures of the steamship Off
Gals as a basis, there are still 1873
positive evidence of the steamers vic
tins is lying at the bottom of Block
Island sound.
Cause of the Accident.
The cause of the accident has not
been satisfactorily explained. 1t &C.
Cured just off Watch Hill, about II
o'clock Monday night, when the three
masted schooner Harry Knowlton,
bound from South Amboy for Boston,
with a cargo of coal, crashed into the
steamers port side amidships. Capt.
McVey, of the Larchmont, declares
that the Knowlton suddenly swerved
from her course, luffed into the wind
and crashed into his vessel. Capt.
Haley, of the knowlton, asserts that
the steamer did not give his vessel suf-
ticient sea oom
No Fatalities on the Schooner.
The steamer, with a huge hole torn
IL, I,or ciln u-oc On cari0,clu n y a noh
that no attempt was made to run Tor
shore, and she sank to the bottom in
less than half an hour. The Knowlton,
after she had backed away from the
wreck, began to fill rapidly, but her
crew manned the pumps and kept her
afoat until she reached a point off
Quonochotaug, where they put out
in the lifeboat and rowed ashore.
There were no fatalities on the
schooner.
Victims Routed From Warm Beds.
A majority of those aboard the
Larchmont had retired for the night,
and when the collision occurred there
were few, with the exception of the
crew, prepared for the weather which
prevailed. They hurried from the warm
staterooms to the deck end into a zero
atmosphere.
Chilled to the bone, many rushed
headlong below to secure more cloth.
ing, while others, barefoot, ~barehead.
ed and clad only in night gowns. stood
on the ecks, fearing that to go below
would mean certain death.
1t now appears certain that the loss
Of life was heavier among those who
had retired for the night. Despite the
efforts which were made to leave nc
one on board, 1t would appear to be
impossible that of the 200 souls on
board nom was left behind. Those
who had no opportunity to elothe
themselves soon succumbed.
"ALL THIS PRATTLE Is A LIE"