The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-15

New London, Conn, Feb. n-An in
vestigation into the collision between the
steamer Larchmont Of the JOY Line. and
] the schooner Harry Knowiton. in Long
| Island Sound. Monday evening. which il
/ is believed now cost the lives Of at least
70 people, was begun here late this even
/ ing by Capt. Withey and Capt Stewart.
the local government inspectors. The
/ witnesses examined were the captain.
mate. and two Of the sailors on the
schooner, who We're on deck at the time
] Of the accident. one being at the wheel
i and the other on the lookout forward
Much interesting testimony was brought
out tending to show that the blame for
the disaster did not rest with them All
OF the stories agreed, and the impression
made by these sailors. all Of whom had
seen years at their calling. was distinctly
a good one. That the Larchmont sud
denly changed her course a few minutes
before she was run into by the schooner,
which had the right Of way as a sat-
ing vessel. was probably the most i'm
portant point brought out.
Steamer Suddenly Changes Course.
At this time, according to the testimony
Of the men. she was from one-eighth 10
d quarter Of a mile away. The mate gave
the distance Is 20 yards The Larch-
mont up TO the time she changed her
course. had her starboard lights show
ing on the starboard beam OF the sehoon-
CT. The schooner. all the crew testified.
continued on the same course that she
had been following for twenty minutes
before this That was east by north As
the steamboat drew closer, the men on
the schooner suddenly saw the green
lights change 60 red on the Larch-aont.
showing that she had directly changed
her course and was trying TO cross the
sehooner's bow.
I II was not until after they saw the
steamboat bow going by the enc OF the
schOOner'S bOWspTit the witnesses tee-
titled, that any whistles were blown or
any indication was given by those on the
LarchmOnt thar they saw the danger.
lThis time the steamboat was going at fun
4 speed. while TIE speed % the schooner was
estimated al seven miles an hour
Another Steamer Refuses to Help.
The inspectors were greatly interested
when the crew Of the schooner described
lhow. following the collision. another
to the south Of them, turned and ap-
preached 10 within half mile. Signals
OF distress were hosted and everything
done to show that the schooner was sink
ing but 10 the surprise Of the captain
land his crew. the other boat changed her
course and went on up the Sound
All the men were questioned very closely
concerning this steamer and her actions.
They said that she had come within hair
a mile Of them before she turned and
steamed away. Refusal to obey signals
Of distress is violation Of the law TIE
inspectors said that they intend 70 make
every effort TO ascertain the name OF this
ship and get an explanation of her ac-
tions The survivors who reached Bloc.
Island from the LaTchmont have said that
they saw the lights Of two steamboats, to
the northwest while they were making
their fight for life. These boats were said
TO be a Fan River liner and the Kennebec.
OF the Enterprise Line both bound for
New York. It is doubtful if they could
have seen any of the boats but the in
spectors think it peculiar that the signals
from the schooner were not obeyed.
Waiting on Capt. McVay.
The inspectors did not so into the sto-
ries Of the passengers on the I.archuont
to-day. nor were any Of the Larchmonts
crew examined. II was expected to get
the statement OF Capt. McVay. Of the
iarchmont but at noon Supt Noble OF
the JOY Line. told the inspectors over the
long-distance telephone from New York
that Capt McVay WAS not in any physi-
cal condition 10 be examined and init
|
they could expect "a statement from him.
, Under the law governing such matters.
the inspectors say the statement of a
captain must first he obtained before any
of his crew or the passengers can be OK
amiued- So when the crew OF the schooner
got through testifying here tonight. the
hearing was adjourned until such a time
as Capt. McVay's statement can be OBJ
tanned
VIII Bring Ont the Facts.
Capt Withey said that if there had
been any misconduct on the part OF the
captain or crew he would certainly bring
it out Aside from the fact that the
: captain seems To have left the Larch-
mont while most OF the passengers were
still aboard. which one of the crew said
was due to an accident, the only thing
to indicate that there was cowardice on
the part of the crew seems to be state
ment of Fred Heigersell. the sixteen
year-old boy. who said that some negro
walters seized one Of the boats. and that
the captains boat was the first TO leave
the ship.
There is no written law that cOmpels
q man TO stay on his ship until his pas
senEers arc of, said Capt. Withey to
night. -but there is an unwritten Law,
, which is higher than any statute law"
Pushed Away frem Captains BOat.
Block Island, Feb 14-Miss Sadie Gaiuh.
the only survivor who remains on Block
Island. told "a startling story to-day Of
how she was pushed away from the cap
tain's boat as it was about to leave. and
how she was left TO die on the steam
boat Miss Galub is one Of those who
! were picked up from the top of a deck
house by one of the fishing schooners.
She says:
, Il saw many people running about and
screaming, and crying to God to save
them 7 saw several men at boat, appar-
emily getting it out 10 launch #. It was at
the side OF the vessel on the upper deck. 1