Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-16
STEAMER SINKS;
NEARLY 200 PERISH
The Larchmont Goes Down After
Collision With Schooner.
MANY BODIES WASHED ASHORE

Block Island. r. l.. Feb. IA ma
rine disaster. with an appalling loss OF
life. and entaiiing suffering almost be-
yond the limit of human endurance.
came to light when a lifeboat of the
JOY line steamer Larchmont bound
from Providence 10 New York drifted
into Block Island harbor.
In the boat were several bodies OF
men who had died from the effects OF
long hours OF exposure to a death-deal-
ing temperature. In the boat also
were il men, whose suffering was so
intense that they seemed oblivious 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
I boat at sea-
! The boat brought a tale Of disaster
I that has rarely been eQualled in New
1 England waters. and It is believed
/ that when the final count IS made it
| viii be found that not 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.
\ AtfANn VI AAHAM NUAE AltAA nWIuEn OF
| grim death. as well as a load Of suf-
fering humanity. and each brought
/ tale OF horror. of suffering and OF
despair.
Owing 10 the condition Of the sur
[ vivors Of the tragedy. It was impo-si-
bic 10 get from them an estimate OF
the loss of life. Anywhere from IS 10
$50 persons went TO their death. and
Il is believed that the latter figures are
nearer correct than the former.
Only Nineteen Survivors.
The steamship officials estimate that
about $50 passengers and n crew Of
so were on board the steamer when
She left Providence. Forty-eight bod.
les reached these shores and 10 were
alive when taken from the Hfeboats
Taking the estimated figures Of the
steamship officials as a basis. there
are still 1SS persons TO be accounted
for.
The cause OF the accident has not
/ been satisfactorily explained. II &C.
CURED just of Watch Hin. when the
three-masted schooner Harry Knowl-
ton crashed into the steamers port
side amidships. Captain George Nc.
Vey. OF the Larchmont declares that
the Knowlton suddenly swerved from
her course. lured Up into the wind
and crashed into HIS vessel.
Captain Haley, Of the Knowlton. as
serts that the steamer did not give his
vessel sufficient sea room, and that the
collision occurred before he could take
his schooner out OF the path OF the on.
coming steamer.
The steamer. With n huge hole torn
in her side. was so seriously damaged
that no attempt was made 10 run Tor
shore. and she sank 70 the bottom IN
less than half an hour The Knowlton.
after she had backed away from the
wreck. began 20 on rapidly. but her
crew manned the pumps and kept her
ahoat until she reached a point OF
Quonochontaug. where they put out in
the liteboat and rowed ashore There
were no fatalities on the schooner. but
the men suffered from the extreme
cold.
Ihere was no comparison. however.
between their experiences and those
or the passengers and crew OF the
steamer. a majority Of those on tho
Larchmont had retired for the night.
and when the collision occurred there
we're few on board. with the exception
OF the crew. who were prepared for
the weather which prevailed. They
hurried from the warm staterooms TO
the deck OF the steamer and into a
zero atmosphere
Passengers Suffered Terribly.
Literally chilled 10 the bone. many
rushed headlong below TO secure more
clothing, while others, barefooted.
bareheaded and clad only in night
gowns. stood on the decks, fearing that
TO go below would mean almost GER
tain death.
While some of the seamen held back /
the frantic passengers by brute
strength. others were preparing TO 4
lower the lifeboats and RATS. There 4
was no 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 much
greater than those who survived.
II was physical impossibility for /
any but the most hardened to with. |
stand the cold, which turned ears and 7
noses white with the frost. and which
so benumber feet that both the pas.
sengers and members OF the crew
stumbled rather than walked to the
small craft in which they were 10 leave
the sinking ship.
ShTieks OF agonized pain drowned
the roar Of the inrushing water. Pan
oemonium reigned supreme. but in
spite OF 1t the women on board. snf-
fering more intensely than the men
were placed in l'feboats, the men pas
sengers and members OF the crew Sc
lecting the unprotected RATS as their
vehicles 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
lifeboats and RATS cut away, and be-
fore he stepped into his own boat he
stood on the upper deck a moment TO
see that his order was executed. Then
he ordered that his boat be cleared |