The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22
REPORT OF M'vEY
Captain of Lsrchmont Gives His
Version of Disaster
STEAMER SUNK QUICKLY
Boat Which Was Last to Leave
Ill Fated Craft Unanswered
Around Wreck, but Was I'm
able to Pick Up Anyone

New London, Conn, Feb. 1S.-The Of
fetal report Of the loss of the steamer
Larchmont made by Captain George w.
McVey to the United States inspectors
was made public upon its receipt here.
McVey's letter says that on the night
Of Feb. II. after seeing that everything
on the Larchmont was in shipshape
order, he proceeded to his room to look
over some papers. Soon after reaching
my room," the report says, II heard
several short and rapid blasts Of the
steam whistle from the Larchmont,
and knowing this to be the alarm
whistle at once jumped from my room
! into the pilot house When l arrived
in the pilot house l noticed on our port
side and very close to us the schooner,
which appeared to be heading directly
| into the Larchmont. Almost in an in
slant the schooner, which afterwards
found to be the Harry Knowlton, loaded
with coal and bound east, struck the
Larchmont at about right angles in the
LarchmOnt's port side just forward of
amidships.
Realizing that this was a severe
blow, at once rang the bell to call the
| engineer so as to have him report to
me the condition Of affairs below.
Failing to get any response, at once
sent Mr. Wyman. the second pilot, who
had appeared on the scene, and Mr..
Staples, the quartermaster, to get the
desired information.
"At this time the boat became en-
velOped in steam and everybody seemed
to be panic-stricken except the crew.
l at once from my station in the pilot
house ordered everybody to their sta.
tons as | realized that the boat must
be in a sinking condition. rang the
necessary bells to start the engines
ahead, but could receive no response
and l returned to the deck to superin-
tend the clearing away of the boat. AT
this time the La:CEmont had a very
heavy starboard list; in fact think her
freight deck was under water, which
brought my own boat which was the
forward starboard boat, quite near the
water.
AT this time there were no passen-
gers in the vicinity of my boat and
proceeded to have my boat lowered into
the water and at this time the ones who
got into my boat were the only ones
that were on my side of the ship, unless
someone might have been aft hidden
by the starboard paddlebox. The
names of those who were in my boat
were George McVey, master of the
Larchmont; Oscar Young, purser Of the
II4saFE Oh melnlt eat; ME Staples, one of the
quartermasters, two walters of the
Larchmont, named Mcfarland and
Warm, and two firemen whose names
do not know.
"These were absolutely the only ones
who were in my boat or on the star
board side of the Larchmont so far as
know. We at once proceeded around
the bow of the Larchmont to get on her
port side to be in a position to save
life. The wind and sea were so very
heavy that when We arrived on the port
side Of the LarchmOnt it was impossible |
to do any good. | Unanswered the
boat in that vicinity until the Larch- !
mont sunk out of sight, but / was unable 4
to pick up anyone, as none seemed TO be
in my vicinity. Soon after my boat |
was lowered ! saw the lights of the |
Larchmont go out
ut was bitter cold and the cold was
50 intense that it was almost impossible
to do anything but drift before the
wind. So far as my personal knowl-
edge goes, my boat was the last one TO
leave the Larchmont and | used every
erdeavor to pick up any lives that |
could, but failed to find anyone to res
cue.
"As near as could judge. this col
Iision occurred at about 1850 p. m. and
our boat drifted ashore at Block Island
at about $50 q m OH Feb. II. When
my boat drifted ashore at Block Island
both myself and the balance of those
who were in my boat were in terrible
condition.
ITO the best of my knowledge and be-
lief the LarchmOnt sunk out of sigh
lbout 10 minutes after the collision. As
70 the nearing of the schooner when she
was first sighted from the pilot house
If the Larchmont and as to her side
lights or general movements from the
lime she was sighted by the Larchmont
lp until the time l saw her. which was
lust previous to the collision, I know
lothing except what l have been told
~ other people.
"The boats were in their proper con-
Iition and the Larchmont was i'm ship
hape condition, so far as know. from
ruck to keelsOn. l will still further
id that l used my utmost endeavors
rom the time the Larchmont's alarm
whistle was blown until my boat drifted
shore at Block Island to observe disci-
line and save life in every particular
nd no one can regret more than do .
his sad affair"
hundred and Fifty Probably Drowned
Block Island r. l.. Feb. 13.-About |
30 persons went TO their death in :
flock Island sound as a result of a col
sion between the three-masted
choonsr Harry Knowlton and the Joy ?
ne steamer Larchmont, bound from !
rovidence to New York. !
1t Is estimated that. including the |
rev. there were nearly 200 on board a
be- steamer when she saileO from !
Providence. OF these only 10 appear :
D have survived the disaster, 10 men,
@ Of the crew and nine passengers.
Awakened from their slumbers in
heated rooms. the I'M
1rtunate passengers were at the mercy ,