The Delta independent., 1907-02-22
AWFUL DISASTER
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PEG.
PIE PERISH AT SEA,
BY STEAMSHIP COLLISION
some Escape In Small Boats. But
Many Of Them Are Frozen to Death
-Forty.elsht Bodies Drifted Ashore


sons went to their death in Block
Island sound Monday night as q re-
suit OF a collision Of the three-mastcd
schooner Harry Knowlton and the Joy
line steamer Larchr mt. bound from
Providence to New York
1t is estimated that, including the
crew. there were nearly 200 persons on
board the steamer when she sailed
from Providence or these, only
nineteen appear to have survived the
disaster. ten members Of the crew and
nine passengers. Forty-eight bodies
have been recovered.
Awakened from their slumbers In
their statcrooms. the unfortunate pas.
sengers were at the mercy OF the
fates. Many. 1t is believed. went down
with the ship. Others, temporarily
thankful that they had escaped drown
Ing. prayed that they might be relieved
OF the terrible pain caused by their
frozen bodies. md one unknown pas.
senger plunged a knife into his throat
and ended his sufrerings The few
who survived were in pitiful condition.
In almost every case their arms and
legs hung hclplessly as they were
lifted out OF the boats in which they
reached shore During the day forty.
eight bodies came ashore. either in
boats or thrown up by the sea. Only
six OF the forty-eight bodies were
identified.
Both captains were saved. and each
declares the other is responsible for
the fatal collision.
The Larchmunt left her dock In
l. l.It f,h hos
cargo o. freight and n passenger list
estimated from $50 TO 200.
Captain George McNey was prepar
ing 10 retire after a 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 ouartermaster pointed out
three masted schooner sailing east
ward before strong wind. The
schooner. which proved to be the
Harry knowlton. coal laden from
South Amboy for Boston. had been
bowling along on her course. when she
seemed suddenly TO luff up and head
straight for til" steamer. Again sew.
eral blasts were sounded on the steam
cr's whistle. the pilot and the quarter.
master at the same time whirlinS their
wheel hard aport In n mad endeavor TO
avert collision.
Before another warning could be
sounded. the schooner crashed into the
por, side OF the Iarchmont. and the
impact OF the big vessel was 30 ter.
rife that the big. clumsy bow OF the
sailing craft forced Its way more than
half the breadth OF the Larchmont
When the force Of tho impact had been
spent the schooner temporarily re-
mained fast in the steamers side. hold.
ing In check for n moment the thrush
ing waters.
Tho pounding sea soon separated
the vessels. however. md the water
rushed into the gaping hole in the
steamer with tremendous velocity.
Captain McVcy ordered all lifeboata
and iafts cut away. and before step
ping into his own boat he stood on the
upper deck moment to see that his
order was executed. Then he ordered
that his own boat. the largest on board.
be cleared away.
Before the men had an opportunity
to loosen the tackles. the bottom OF
the boat rested on top OF the gurginr
sea which was raging over the hurri
caao deck. and for momcn, II
seemed as though the lifcboat would
be dragged down before she could be
freed from the doomed steamer
Every hand in the boat was too cold
to handle n knife and cut the ropes.
which. however. slipped through the
tackles and set the boat ndrift just AZ
the vessel became submerged.
The passengers discomfort was in.
creased greatly the moment they had
launched their boats. Every wave sent
its dash OF spray over them. Soon n
thin coating OF ice cnvelopcd everyone.
Those who were fully clothed suffered
from frozen faces and numbcd feet. but
there were many who had on only their
night clothing.
One man In the captains boat was
driven insane by the intense suffering.
He pulled big clasp knife from his
pocket and gashcd his throat. Those
who sat near him were too dnzed to In
terfcre. The unknown mans body fell
to the bottom OF the boat. where It re-
mained unhceded.
=. Fishers Point. the nearest land. was
not quite five miles to the westward Of
the point where the steamer went
down and every boat Immediately
headed for that place. But the boats
were heavy and the men at tho oars
were weak.
The boats and RATS soon became
separated. and the only details Of the
disaster which could be learned here
were given when Captain McVcy's boat
came ashore.
Not man on board was able to
walk. Their feet were frozen so badly
tha. the life savers carried the survi.
vors bodily to the life saving station.
Captain McVey. shortly after his ar.
rival. said he had or board his ship be.
tween 15o and 200 passengers and
crew OF fifty. Later he said there were
between fifty and seventy.nve passcn.
gers on board the steamer when the
vessel went down.
The latter figure. however. is far be.
low the estimate made by the offlcials