Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-13
LIVES LOST
IN ICY SEA
Passenger Steamer and Freight Schooner
Collide on Block Island,
ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND FIFNY DEAD
Vessel Carried 400 Persons, Only Nineteen
Of Whom Are Accounted For.
NEARLY ALL VICTIMS FROZEN TO DEATH
Passengers With Little Clothing Exposed
70 Gale Ter Several Hours.
FoRN-ElsHT BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND
Steamer Sinks In Ten Min Y Life
Beats Are Launched Pro- 1s
EACH CREW PLACES BLAME ON r.
Accident Happens About II p.
Monday and Vessels Had Been in
sight Of Each other for
Some Time.
FoRTY-EIsHT BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND
Steamer Sinks IN Ten Min Life
Beats Are Launched Pro- =
EACH CREW PLACES BLAME on

pune Ilmnes
BLOCK ISLAND, r. l., Feb. l2-About
$50 persons went to their death in Block
Island sound last night as a result of
collision between the three-masted schooner
Harry Knowlton and the JOY Line steamer
Larchmont, bound from Providence to
New York 1t is estimated that including
the crew there were nearly 900 persons on
board the steamer when she sailed from
Providence. OF these only nineteen appear
TO have survived the disaster. ten MEM
bers of the crew and nine passengers.
Awakened from their slumbers in their
state rooms. the unfortunate passengers
were at the mercy of the fates Many. II
Is believed, went down with the ship.
Others, temporarily thankful that they had
escaped drowning. prayed that they might
be relieved OF the terrible pain caused by
their frozen bodies, and one identified pas
senger plunged a knife into his throat and
ended his sufferings.
six Bodies Identified.
The few who survived were in q pitifui
condition. In almost every case their
arms and legs hung helplessly as they
were lifted out Of the boats in which they
reached shore. During the day forty-eight
bodies came ashore, either In boats OF
thrown up by the sea. Only six OF the
forty-eight bodies were identified.
The bodies identified were:
JAMES B. HARRISON. steward. Brook
iyn.
JASPER HEST. first assistant engineer,
Albany.
JACOB zANDRus. nrst watchman,
Paterson.
GEORGE SMITH. waiter. Providence.
HARRY EcKLEs, Block Island,
5kn- izxestiSatinn BE made BY Tire
TINTED states STEAMBOAT inspectors OF the
disaster.
owing TO the condition Of the survivors
q wae impossible to get from them an esti-
nneD q the loss OF life. From seventy-ive
90 $50 persons went to their death. and at
a late hour tonight II was believed that
the latter figure is nearer correct
Captains blame Each other.
The cause OF the accident has not been
satisfactorily explained. II occurred Just
on Watch hill. about II O'Clock last night.
when the three-masted schooner Harry
Knowlton. bound from South Amboy to
Boston with cargo OF coal. crashed into
the steamers port side aInidships Captain
George McVey Of the Larchmont declares
that the Knowlton suddenly swerved from
its course. lifted up into the wind and
OF the Knowlton asserts that the steamer
did not give his vessel SUFFICIENT sea room.
The steamer. with huge hole torn in
it's SIDE was so seriously damaged that
no attempt was cade to run for shore. and
II sank to the bottom IN less than half an
hour. The Knowlton after 1t had backed
away from the wreck began to MI rapidly,
but the crew manned the pumps and kept
Il afoat until It reached a point on Quon-
ochontaug. where they put out In the life
boat and rowed ashore. There were no IA
tailties on the schooner.
Sailing vesseI Changes Course.
The Larchmont left its dock in Provi-
dence last night with a heavy cargo OF
freight and passenger list estimated al
from $50 10 200. A strong northwest wind
was blowing as the steamer plowed its
way down through the eastern passage OF
tSarraaansett bay. but the fun effect of the
gale which was blowing out in the sound
was not felt until the Larchmont rounded
Point Judith. Captain George Mcvey was
preparing 20 retire after, q turn around
his ship when he was startled by several
blasts OF the steamers whistle He rushed
into the pilot house. where the pilot and
ouartermasteF pointed out three-mastet
schoone rsailing eastward before a strons
wind.
The schooner. which proved 70 be tn,
Harry Knowlton. coal laden from Soutl
Amboy for Boston. has been bowling alonl
on her course. when she seemed snddenl,
10 luff and head straight for the steamer
Again several blasts were sounded on tn,
steamers whistle. the pilot and the quarter
master at the same moment whirlins thei
wheel hard a-port In a mad endeavor {,
avert collision.
Impact L. Terrible.
But as the Larchmont was slowly veer
ing around. the schooner came on with /
speed that almost seemed TO equal the gal
that had been pushing her towards Boston
Before another warning could be sounded
1.-The schooner crashed into the port side o
the Larchmont and the impact OF the biI
vessel was 30 terrihc that the big ciums,
Dow OF the sailing craft forced it's way NOR
ehAn half through the breadth OF the Iarch
nnont When the force Of the impact hai
been spent the schooner Temporarily re
,mained fast In the steamers side, holdinl
in check for moment the inr1shing water
The pounding seas soon separated the YES
sells and the water rushed into the hole Il
the,steaIner with tremendous force AZ IN
water struck the boiler room great cloud
sf ssszz. arose End the passenger W,er
fnst under the impression that a fire ha.
broken out on board CaptAin Mcvey coul
not commnnicate with his subordinate OF
feers below deck. the signal apparatus be
ing wrecked
The passengers, meanwhile rushed 20 IN
deck. Few Of them had waited TO cloth
themselves The Intense cold made ther
want 10 obtain their clothing. but the
found Il impossible Go return below and d
%. Their rooms were flooded soon afte
they had been deserted and the steamer