Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-16
STEAMER SUNK BY COLLISION
THE MOST APPALLING DISASTER
THAT EVER OCCURRED NEW
ENGLAND WATERS.

Block Island, r. l., Feb. IA ma
rine disaster with an appalling loss OF
life and entailing suffering almost be-
yond the limit of human endurance
came to light yesterday when life
boat of the Joy line steamer Larch-
mont, bound from Providence to New
York, drifted into Block Island harbor.
In the boat were several bodies OF
men who had died from the effects or
dealing temperature.
Awful Tale of Disaster.
In the boat also were eleven whose
suffering was so intense that they
seemed oblivious to the fact that death
was in their midst and that they es-
capped only by virtue of their ability to
withstand the rigor of zero weather in
an open boat at sea.
The boat brought tale of disaster
that has rarely been equaled 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 lifeboat came bodies, cast
upon the beach by angry waves.
Burden of Grim Death.
Then came lifeboats and RATS. Each
of them have their burden of grim
death as we'll as a load of suffering
humanity, and each brought tale OF
horror, of suffering and of despair.
The steamship officials estimate that
about $50 passengers and a crew or
fifty were on board the steamer when
she left Providence Monday night.
Forty-eight bodies reached these
shores yesterday, and nineteen were
alive when taken from the lifeboats.
Taking the estimated figures of the
steamship officials as a basis, there
are still 1873 persons to account for.
Cause of Accident in Dispute.
The cause of the accident has not
been satisfactorily explained. 1t oc-
Cured just off Watch Hill, about II
o'clock Monday night, when the three
masted schooner Mary Knowlton
crashed into the steamers port side,
amidships Capt. George McVey or
the Larchmont declares that the
Knowlton suddenly swerved from her
course, luffed up into the wind and
crashed into his vessel.
Capt. Haley of the Knowlton asserts
that the steamer did not give his YES
sci sufficient sea room and that the
collision occurred before he could take
his schooner out of the path OF the
oncoming steamer.
Steamer Sinks Quickly.
The steamer, with huge hole torn
in her side, was so seriously damaged
that 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
afoat until she reached a point OF
Ouondchontaug, where they put out In
the life boats and reached shore.
There were no fatalities on the SchoOn-
err
Caught in Their Bunks.
A majority of those on the Larch-
mont had retired for the night when
the collision occurred. They rushed
on deck into zero atmosphere, many or
them clad only in their night clothes
and SO quickly did the steamer sink
that there was no time to return below
for warmer clothing.
Those who had no opportunity 10
clothe themselves succumbed long be-
fore they reached shore, and even
those who were fortunate enough to be
fully dressed endured suffering and
frost bites of a most serious nature.