The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-15

NJ "a EfSNh AA(tot
Block Island, r. l., February IA
aarine disaster with an appalling loss
Of life and entailing suffering almost
beyond the limit to human endurance,
came to light today when a life boat
of the Joy Line steamer Larchmont,
bound from Providence to New York
dirfted into Block Island harbor.
In the boat were several bodies OF
men who had died from the effects o.
long hours of exposure to a death deal
ing temperature. In the boat also were
IL men whose suffering was 50 intense
that they seemed Oblivious to the fact
that death was in their midst and thar
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 equalled in New
England waters, and it is believed that
when the final count is made it will be
found that not less than $50 lives were
lost. Following closely in the wake
Of the solitary life boat, came bodies,
cast upon the beach by angry waves.
Then came life boats and RATS. Each
of them bore their burden of grim
death, as well as a Load of suffering
humanity, and each brought a tale of
horror.
Owing to the condition of the survi-
vOrs Of the tragedy it was impossible
to get from them an estimate of
the loss of life. Anywhere from 10
to $50 persons went to their death, and
at a late hour tonight it was believed
that the latter figure is nearer correct
than the former.
The steamship officials estimate THAI,
about $50 passengers and a crew of 50
were On board the steamer when she
left Providence last night. Forty-three
bodies reached these shores today n
10 were alive when taken from the
life boats. Taking the estimated fig
ures of the steamship officials as a
basis, there are still 1873 persons to be
accounted for. The only positive evil
denoe of the steamers victims is ly-
ing at the bottom of Block Island
sound. The list Of passengers and
crew, handed to the purser just before
the steamer left Providence vas locked
in a safe and it was not recovered.
The cause of the accident has not
been satisfactorily explained. It oc-
Cured just off Watch Hill about IL
o'clock last night, when the three
-ooo&&ol ooh10n1~ uorru Krou-lfN-
bound from South Amboy for Boston
with a cargo of coal, crashed into the
steamers port side amidship. Captain
George McVey of the Larchmont, de-
clares that the Knowlton suddenly
swerved from her course, luffed UP into
the wind and crashed into his vessel.
Captain Haley of the KnowltOn as
serts that the steamer did not give HIS
vessel sufficient sea and that the
collision occurred before he could take
his schooner out of the path Of the on
coming steamer.
The steamer, with a huge hole torn
in her side, was so severely damaged
that no attempt was made to run for
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
afloat until she reached a point on
QuOnOchontaug where they put out in
the life boat and rowed ashore. There !
were no fatalities on the schooner but
the men suffered from the extreme,
cold.
The Larchmont, a side wheel steamer
which was only put into the Joy line
service during the present season, left
her dock in Providence last night VIVID
a heavy cargo of freight and a pas
senger list estimated at from $50 To
200. A strong northwest wind was
blowing as the steamer plowed her
way down through the eastern passage
OF NarTagansett bay. When well abeam
of Watch Hill and within 5 or 6 miles
Of Fishers Island the pilot n quar-
sermaSter sighted a three masted
schooner sailing eastward before a
strong wind. The schooner, which
proved to be the Harry K. Knowlton,
coal laden from South Amboy, for Bos-
ton, had been bowling along On her
course when she seemed to suddenly
turn and head straight for b steamer.
As the Larchmont was slowly veerIng
around in response to her helm the
schooner came on with a speed that
almost seemed TO equal the gale and
crashed into the port side of the Larch-
mont. The impact was 50 terrific that
the bfa clumsy how Of The sailing Gafxl