Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-02-14
$50 PERSONS LOSE
LIVES IN SHIPWRECK
Fifty Corpses Have Been Re-
covered bv Divers.
RESPONSIBILITY is NOT PLACED
Thrilling and Pathetic Stories Are
Told by the Few Who Survived the
Steamer Sank.

Steamer Sank.
Block Island, R. l., Feb. 13.-The
Associated Press communicated We'd
nesday with Captain McVey and Pur-
ser Young, Of the steamer Larchmont
and from them it was learned that a
conservative estimate of the loss OF
life by Tuesdays disaster was one
hundred and fifty.
Both Captain McVey and Purser
Young are suffering severely from
both ,he physical pain and from the
mental anguish caused by their terri
BILE experiences. Neither man is able
to leave his bed.
Block Island, R. l., Feb. 13.-The
recovery of the bodies of the victims
Of the steamer Larchmont, sunk in
collision with the schooner Harry
Knowlton, late Monday night, pro-
ceeded slowly and with difficulty dur
ing the night.
Up to s o'clock Wednesday morn
ing however, 81 bodies had been
gathered in by coast patrols and YES
sells. Those of the survivors still
stood at 10.
Purser Oscar A. Young, of Provi-
dence, still maintained Wednesday
there were from 125 to 100 passen-
gers on board the steamer when she
left Providence for New York, and
that most of the survivors were able
to express an opinion were inclined
to support his figures rather than
those of Captain George w. McVey
Of the Larchmont, who estimated
the number Of passengers at from
so to rs. From some Of the surviv-
ing officers, it was learned that the
LarchmOnt carried crew Of As men
OF whom only 10 are accounted for
This means a total Of 100 to 200 peo-
Pile aboard the Larchmont, nine pas
sengers and ten sailors have sur
vived. Their condition is pitiable
but two physicians are in almost con-
slant attendance upon the sufferers
and express confidence that none OF
the injured is likely to succumb
One of the ships officers stated
that the Larchmont carried eight Iife-
boats and four life RATS. AT 8
o'clock Wednesday it was believed
that five of these boats and one raft
had been accounted for.
There are only two women among
the survivors, Mrs. Harris Feldman
of New York, and Miss Sadie Gallup
@of Boston.
During the night the coast guards
from the two life saving stations
aided by a large number of the popu-
lace, patrolled the beach and on the
water front for bodies. Every corpse
that came ashore was incased in ice
several inches thick.
On piece of the after deck of the
steamer was picked up two survi-
vors and one dead man, all that re-
manned Of 16 who had sought refuge
on the frail support Little hope
was felt that occupants of the missing
life boats and RATS had survived the
fearful cold, which moderated but
slightly during the night.
Among those lost is said to have
been a little squad of Salvation Army
workers from Worcester.
This band of Salvationists, said
to have numbered ten persons, fur
nished, according to reports one OF
the thrilling incidents of the disaster
When it was evident that the boat
must sink, and the frenzied passen-
gers were endeavoring 10 get into
the boats, the Salvation Army sol
diers are said to have fallen to their
knees where they joined in prayer
invoking the Almighty to save and
protect the shipwrecked people. Only
one Of this little band, a woman, is
said to be among the survivors
Mrs. Feldman, of Providence, one
of the survivors, in describing the
awful scenes following the collision
is quoted as follows:
"We all seemed so helpless, so ut
terly beyond human aid In the ag-
onized cries of frightened women and
the shouts of men, l suddenly felt
my husband seize my arm and force
me to where they had started to lower
the captains long boat. Men were
climbing in, but my husband and some
man don't know, lifted me in.
Il can never forget the cries of an
guish and terror that arose from those
who sank with the ship that disap
peared like magic under those white
capped waves. AS the steamer sank
i could hear some sweet-voiced wo-
men singing gospel hymn-It was
Onward, Christian Soldiers.
Just as soon as we got away from
the doomed ship the waves began tC
break over us, and we were drench
ed to the skin.
The salt water froze on us and
began to pray that I might die, but
God was merciful to me- My hus-
band and. another man would slap me
and kept rubbing my arms and body
l think it saved their lives as well
as my own, for it kept our blood IN
circulation.
After untold sufferings, we final
ly got ashore at daybreak."