Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-12
MANY FREEZE IN OPEN BOATS
Temperature At zero and Some Of
Those Who Took to Small Boats in
Effort to Escape suecumb to the
coId-Disaster Occurred OFF Block
Island, r. I.-Numbsr Of Bodies AL
ready Washed Ashore-Eishty Pass
snsers Landed in Dying Condition.

4 the north side of Block Island early to-
day, after having collided with the
three-masted schooner Harry Knowle-
ton, of Quonochontaug. The passeng-
ers and crew of the steamer took to
the boats, but it is feared that some
lives were lost, either by being drowned
or freezing, as the temperature was
below zero. The schooner's bow was
cut away, and the captain ran her
ashore to prevent her sinking.
The cause Of the collision is not
known. The night was clear and there
was strong northwest wind. The sea
was rough and intensely cold thruout
the, night. When the first boats came
ashore from the steamer 1t was found
some Of the occupants were dead.
Captain Mitchell, Of the North End
life saving station. estimates that be-
tween fifteen and twenty bodies have
already come ashore. Up to 10:30 sew
eral boats had landed. The others are
making slow progress from the wreck
toward the shore.
The Larchmont left Providence last
evening With about 15o passengers and
q crew OF thirty, and a miscellaneous
cargo Of freight. The Larchmont was
252 feet in length, 81 feet in breadth
and II feet in depth. 1t was built at
Bath, Ne, in 1885.
The Knowleton run aground, but
Captain Haley and crew OF six men
reached the shore safely.
Only Eight Passengers Escaped.
Captain George Mcvey. of the steam
or Larchmont, said to the Associated
Press today, that he had on board be-
tween $50 and 200 passengers when the
collision occurred. and only eight of
these escaped with their lives. At the
time he made the statement eighteen
bodies had been washed ashore, max
ing only twenty six accounted for. The
passengers met death in various ways.
Some Of them attempted to launch the.
boats and were frozen to death on the
decks of the steamer. Others were
drowned in an attempt to escape before
the vessel went down, while others
who were successful in launching
life boat, were frozen to death before
the small craft reached shore. McVey
said that he could not estimate the
exact loss of life at this time.
the steamer left Providence late in
the evening and at the time of the
collision, the captain had had no op-
portunity to examine the passenger list
which was handed him just before the
steamer left Providence. The captains
estimate of the number on board
agrees, however, with the estimate
made by the Joy line officials at Prov
idence. The Inhabitants of all parts
of the island have turned out to assist
in the rescue work. A northwest gale
continued with zero temperature, thru.
out the forenoon.
At o'clock this aftSnoo 1t is es-
timated that but nineteen persons sur
vived in the sinking Of the Larchmont.
Eight passengers, six men and two
women, were saved. The others saved
were members Of the crew.
According to these figures the num-
Der who perished is placed at 181. In
the boats which carried the survivors
were the bodies of several passengers
who had frozen to death during the
trip from the wreck to land. The bodies
OF victims of the disaster are being
washed ashore constantly.
The collision between the Larch-
mont and schooner occurred at 10:45
last night, about three miles off Watch
Hill, r. I. The Harry Knowleton
founiered few hours after the acci-
dent, but the captain and crew of six
men escaped in the ships boats and
reached the shore at Watch Hill.
Five More Rescued.
Word has been received that a fish,
ins schooner picked up one of the
Larchmont's boats containing five
passengers and the body of another
who had died from exposure.
The survivors expressed the opinion
that on all board the Larchmont Sc
cured place in boats or RATS, but many
OF the boats were swamped.
Many Perish in Open soat.
New York, Feb. 12.-Captain McVey
communicated with the Joy line Off
aaals In this city by telephone from