Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-13
But Few Survivors From 100 To 200
Passengers and Crew Of Fifty.
Terrible Experience Of Survivors, -HeaItrending
Scenes Schooner Also Sinks.

northwest wind was blowing as the
steamer plowed ner way down through
the eastern passage of NarranganSett
bay, but the full effect of the gale
which was blowing out in the sound
was not felt until the LarchmOnt
rounded Point Judith. Then the side
heart of the gale and continued down
the rough Block Island sound without
any unusual incident until she was
well abeam of Watch Hill, and within
five or six minutes of Fishers island.
Captain George McVey, who had re-
manned in the pilot house until the yes
sci had been Strengthened out on her
course. was preparing to retire when
he was startled by several blasts of
the steamers whistle. He rushed into
the pilot house, where the pilot and
quartermaster pointed out a three
maSted schooner sailing eastward be-
fore n strong wind.
The schooner had been bowling along
on her course when she seemed to sud-
denly huff up and head straight for the
steamer. Again several blasts We're
sounded on the steamers whistle, the
DllOl anu slt Tic StilIlt
moment whirling their wheel hard
aport in mad endeavor to avert a
collision.
But as the Larchmont was slowly
veering around in response to her helm
the schooner came on with speed that
almost seemed to equal the gale that
had been pushing her toward Boston.
Even before another warning signal
could be sounded on the steamer, the
schooner crashed into her port side and
the impact was so terrific that the
clumsy bow Of the sailing craft ate its
way through more than half the
breadth Of the Larchmont. AS they
separated after the collision the water
rushed into the gaping hole in the
steamers side with a velocity that
could only mean the doom of that YES
sci.
There were no water tight compart-
nents to be closed and, therefore. the
inrushing flood could not be confined to
the damaged section, and it poured in
over the cargo and down the hold. AS
the water struck 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. were at
first of the impression that fire had
broken out on board.
Unfortunately the point of collision
was in that part of the steamer where
was located the signalling apparatus
connecting the engine room with the
pilot house. Captain McVey, standing
in the pilot house, could not commune
cate with his subordinate officers below
decks and therefore, was unable to de-
tcrmine the extent of the damage. The
quartermaster was hurried below to
make an investigation.
Tie passengers meanwhile thronged
to the decks. Few of them had waited
to cloth themselves and those who had
not found it impossible to return be-
low ard do so Their rooms were flood
ed soon after they had been deserted,
and the wounded steamer was sinking
with 2 rapidity that sent terror to the
hearts<of officers and men.
The men were prompt in answering
Captain McVey's call to quarters.
While some of the seamen held back
the frantic, freezing passengers by
%
to lower the life boats RATS. There
was no time to think of the comfort
of any one.
Even before the boats were cut away
Capt. McVey knew that the list Of vic
tins would be greater than that Of
those who survived. II was a physical
impossibilty for any but the most
hardened to withstand the cold which
turned ears and noses white as the frost
and which so benumbed feet that both
the passengers and members of the
crew stumbled rather than walked to
the small craft i'll which they We're to
leave the sinking ship.
Shrieks of agonized pain drowned the
roar Of the inrushing water. Pan
demonium reigned, but in spite of it the
women on board, suffering more in
tensely than men, were placed in life
boats, the male passengers and men,
bers OF the crew selecting the unpro-
tected RATS as their vehicle of escape.
Captain McVey remained on the up
per deck directing his officers and crew,
until every one on board appeared to
have been cared for. He ordered all
life boats and RATS cut away and be-
fore he stepped into his own boat. he
stood on the upper deck a moment to
sec that his order was executed. Then
he ordered that his boat, the largest on
board, be cleared away, but it seemed
| as though the boat would be dragged
down before she could be freed from
the doomed steamer Every hand in the
| boat was too cold to handle knife and
cut the ropes, which, however, slipped
through the tackles and set the craft
adrift Just as the vessel became sub
merged.