The Monmouth inquirer., 1907-02-14


stand Zero Weather ~ Goal Laden
Schooner Rams Joy Line Steamer
Larchmont
Block Island. H. l., Feb. ia ma
rine disaster with an appalling loss Of
life and entailing suffering beyond the
limit of human endurance came to
light when lifeboat of the Joy line
steamer Larchmont, sunk in collision
with the schooner Harry Knowlton,
dlitted into Block island harbor. The
l.archmont was bound from Boston to
New York The collision occurred at
II p. m.
In the boat We're several bodies of
men who had died from the effects of
long hours of exposure to death deal
ing temperature. In the boat also
were eleven men whose suffering was
so intense that they seemed obliyious
to the fact that death was in their
midst and that they had escaped only
by virtue of their ability to withstand
the rigor of zero weather in an open
boat at sea.
At Least $50 Dead.
The boat brought tale of disaster
that has rarely been equaled in New
England waters. 1t is believed that
when the final count is made it will be
found that rot less than $50 lives were
lost Following closely in the wake of
the solitary lifeboat came bodies cast
upon the beach by angry waves. Then
came lifeboats and RATS. Each OF
them bore their burden Of grim death
as well as a load of suffering human
ity, and each brought tale of horror,
of suffering and Of despair.
Owing to the condition of the sur
yiYors Of the tragedy it was impossible
to get from them an estimate of the
loss of life Anywhere from seventy
five to $50 persons went to their death.
1t is believed that the latter figures are
more nearly correct than the former.
The cause of the accident has not
been satisfactorily explained. 1t cc-
CURED just off Watch hill, when the
three masted schooner Harry Knowl-
ton. bound from South Amboy for
Boston with cargo of coal. crashed
into the steamers port side amidships.
Cause of Disaster Unknown.
The steamer, with a huge hole torn
in her side, was so seriously damaged
that no attempt was made to run for
shore, and 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
afloat until she reached a point off
Quonochontaug, where they put out in
the lifeboat and rowed- ashore. There
were no fatalities on the schooner, but
the men suffered greatly from the ex-
treme cold.
Unfortunately the point of collision
was in that part of the steamer where
was located the signaling apparatus
connecting the engine room with the
pilot house. Captain McVey, standing
in the pilot house. could not commune
cate with his subordinate officers be-
lew decks and therefore was unable
to determine the extent of the dam
age The quartermaster was hurried
below to make an investigation.
The passengers meanwhile thronged
on to the decks. Few of them had
waited to elothe themselves. Their
fear was so great that the first pene-
trating blast of the zero temperature
was disregarded. but the suffering
from the elements soon became so in
tense that personal safety was forgot
ten in a general effort to keep the blood
in circulation Those who had not
stopped to clothe themselves now
found it impossible to return below
and do so.
Victims Freezing and Frantic.
While some of the seamen held back
the frantic, freezing passengers by
brute strength, others were preparing
to lower the lifeboats and RATS. There
was not time to think of the comfort
of any one. Even before the boats
were cut away Captain McVey knew
that the list of victims would be great
er than those who survived.
1t was a physical impossibility for
any but the most hardened to with
stand the cold, which turned ears and
noses WHITE Wlt4 the lfOSt uuu W hACu
so benumbed feet that both the pas
sengers and members of the crew
stumbled rather than walked to the
small craft in which they were to
leave the sinking ship.
~ Soon a thin coating of ice enveloped
every one. Those who were fully cloth
ed suffered from frozen faces and
numbed feet. but there were many who
had on only their nightclothes.
Insane Victim Kills Himself.
One man in the captains boat, al
though dressed warmer than many
others, was suddenly driven insane by
his intense suffering. He pulled big
eIaspknife from his pocket and gashed
his throat. No one stayed his hand
and again he plunged his knife into
his throat Those who sat near him
either were too dazed to interfere OF
looked upon the act of self murder al
Justified The unknown mans body
fell to the bottom Of the boat, where il
lid