The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-02-13
Horrible Suffering Follows
Marine Disaster off Block
Island Yesterday
coRrsEs ARE BLOCKS OF ICE.
Survivors With Frostbitten Features
and Hands and Feet, Ride
Rude Rats.
WEARING ONLY NIGHT CLOTHES

Block Island, II. L., Feb. f3.-The
steamer Kentucky left today for Pro-
whence bearing 81 bodies OF victims
of the Inflated steamer, Larchmont,
and 10 survivors, who arrived here in
life boats. Many Of the survivors as
soon as they reach Providence WIN
be taken to hospitals for treatment.
All are suffering from frostbites. All
the bodies recovered were frozen
stiff. None is identified.
Dead in Boats.
Following closely in the wake OF
the solitary life boat came bodies,
cast upon the beach by the Waves.
Then came life boats and rats. Each
of them bore their burden Of grim
death, as we'll as load of suffering
humanity, each brought a tale of hor-
ror, of suffering and despair.
The cause of the accident has not
been satisfactorily explained. 1t pc-
Cured Just of Watch Hill at IL
O'Clock. when the three masted
schooner. Harry Knowlton, bound
from South Ambry for Boston with a
cargo of coal! crashed into the steam
er's port side, amidships. Captain Nc
vey. of the Larchmont, declares thet
the Knowlton suddenly swerved from
her course. luffed up into the wind
and crashed into his vessel.
Captain Haley, of the Knowlton.
ass IS that the steamer did not give
his iessel sufficient sea room and the
coaiision occurred before he could
take his schooner out Of the path Of
the steamer
steamer Rapidly Sank.
A majority of those on the Larch-
mont had retired for the night and
when the collision occurred there
we're few on board, with the excep-
ton of the crew who were prepared
for the weather which prevailed.
They hurried from warm staterooms
to the deck and into zero atmos-
phere.
Rush to Decks in Night Clothes.
Literally chilled to the bone. many
rushed headlong below to secure
more clothes. while others. bare foot
ed. bare headed and clad only in
night gowns, stood on the decks fear
ing that to go below would mean
certain death.
Those who had not stopped to
clothe themselves now found it inn
possible to return below and do so.
Their rooms we're flooded soon after
they had been deserted and the steam
err fourdering around in the high
seas was sinking with a rapidity that
sent terror to the hearts of officers
and crew.
While some of the seamen held
back the frantic passengers by brute
strength. others were preparing to
lower life boats and RATS. There was
not time to think Of the comfort OF
an yone
It was a physical impossibility for
any but the most hardened TO with
stand the cold which turned ears and
noses white with frost and which so
benumbed feet that both passengers
and crew stumbled rather than walk
ed 10 the small crafts in which they
we're to leave the sinking ship.
Shrleks of agonized pain drowned
the roar of the inrushing water. Pan
demonium reigned supreme. but in
spite of it, the women on board suf-
fering more intensely than the men,
were placed in life boats the male
passengers and crew selecting unpro-
tected RATS as their means of escap-
ing.
Captain McVey remained ON the
upper deck giving directions until ev-
eryone on board appeared to have
been cared for. He ordered all life
boats and RATS cut away and before
he stepped into his own boat he
stood on the upper deck moment
To see that his order was executed.
Captains Boat Nearly Swamped.
Then he ordered his boat cleared
away. Before the men had an oppor-
tunity to loosen the tackles. the bot
tow of the boat rested on the top Of
the serging sea which was raging
over the hurricane deck and for a