Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-02-15
DEAD MAY REACH $50
Terrible Disaster to Joy Line
Steamer off Fishers Island
Collided with a Schooner and Sank in 10
minutes-only 10 Survivors and They
Suffered Intensely.

SS''uSu WIN d schooner ana sank in 10
Minutes-ony 10 Survivors and They
Suffered Intensely.
AT least l3S lives were lost. probably
more, Monday night as a result Of "A col
lision between the JOY line steamer
I.archmont, from Providence TO New
YORK, and the three masted schooner
Harry knowlton, laden with coal, from
South Amboy for Boston The Knowlton
struck the Larchmout amldships. cutting
a big hole. The passenger boat sank in
about ten minutes. The Knowlton's crew
reached shore safely at Watch Hill.
The Larchmont an old sidewhecI
steamer, which was put into the Joy line
service only during the present season
left her pier in Providence Monday night
with passenger list estimated at about
100, and heavy cargo Of freight 4
strong northwest wind was blowing the
thermometer was at about zero. but the
steamer ran down through Block Island
sound without any unusual incident until
she was well abeam Of Watch Hin. and
within five or six miles of Fishers
Island.
Capt. McNay, who had remained in the
pllothouse until the vessel had been
Strengthened out on her course. was pre-
pairing to retire after a turn around his
ship, when he was startled by several
blasts of the steamers whistle. He went
10 the pilothouse, where the pilot and
quartermaster pointed out a three masted
schooner sailing eastward before a strong
wind. Suddenly the schooner seemed TO
luf and headed straight for the steamer
Again several blasts were sounded on the
steamers whistle, the pilot and quarter
master at the same time putting the
wheel hard aport to avert a collision.
But as the Larchmont was slowly veering
around the schooner came on with great
speed and even before another warning
pn11ln no
side OF the Larchmont. The impact of
the big vessel was so terrific that the
big clumsy bow of the sailing craft was
driven more than half through the Larch-
mont
After the impact the schooner tempo
rarily remained fast TO the steamer, stop
ping Tor a moment the leak she had
made. The heaving sea soon separated
the vessels however and as they backed
away the water rushed into the big hole
IN the steamers side at a speed that
showed she could not float long As
there were no watertight compartments
to be closed, the water could not be con-
nned TO the damagd part of the ship. and
IL poured in over the cargo and down
into the hold. When 1t reached the boiler
room great clouds Of steam arose, and
the panic stricken passengers, many of
whom had been thrown from their hunks
when the collision occurred, at first
thought a fire had broken out The pas
sengers meanwhile ran to the decks. Few
OF them had waited to dress. Their fear
was so great that the cold was at first
disregarded, but the suffering from the
elements soon became so intense that
personal safety was forgotten in a gem
eral effort to keep the blood in circula-
tion. Those who had not stopped to dress
found 1t impossible to return below and
do so. Their rooms were flooded soon
after they had been deserted, and the dis
abled steamer was sinking with a rapid
lty that sent terror to hearts of all.
Lfeboats and RATS were launched while
great confusion. prevailed Some on
board We're undoubtedly killed at the
moment of collision and many more went
down with the vessel or in the efforts to
launch boats Those who got away in
boats were soon in a pitiabe condition.
Every wave sent its dash of spray over
the boats and their contents. A thin