Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-18
IN MEMORlAM.
CONTINUED from Page One.)
CAPT. McvEY's STATEMENT.
Swears That He Did Everything Posi-.
BILE for His Passengers.

McVey to the United States inspectors
was made public Saturday afternoon
| upon its receipt here. The following
is Capt. McVey's letter:
Providence. r. l., Feb. Is. 1907.
| To Messrs. Whitney and Stewart, L. S.
| local inspectors of steam vessels,
| New London, Conn.
| Gentlemen-I hereby wish to report
the loss of IS Larchmont.
The steamship left Joy Line wharf
! at Providence, r. l., on Feb. IL. at
about Z o'clock P. NJ. which was about
| 80 minutes behind her regular sched-
ule time, which was caused by getting
| freight and passengers on board.
The wind was about northwest and
| blowing possibly in the neighborhood
of 40 miles an hour.
| Upon leaving the dock everything
was in proper condition with her full
crew and everybody at their post of
duty. ], as usual. was in the pilot
| house and on duty with me was Mr..
Arson, first pilot: Mr. Wyman. second
pilot; Mr. Staples and Mr.. Moreland,
the two quartermasters.
We preceded down the river on the
| usual course and wher we got to Sa-
olne Point our first pilot, Mr.. Arson,
took charge with Quartermaster Sta
pies at the wheel. Second pilot and
Mr.. MOreland. uuarternaster. went
below off watch and l proceeded as
usual to go below to see that the pas
sengers and freight We're properly TAX
en care Of and that everything was in
shipshape order.
After attending To these duties I
proceeded to the purser's office and
talked vita min while and somewhere
about 1910 | proceeded 20 the upper
de"k to go to my room to attend to
other matters.
To get to my room | had to pass
| through thu pilot house and I stopped
| fol moment TO exchange a few words
| "lth III" man i'll charge of the pilot
mouse. | then proceeded 10 my room
to look over some papers, and at this
| time the night was clear but very
! dark. 1t was blowing a gale of wind
and the water was quite rough.
| At this time that / passed through
! the pilot house the pilot in charge was
causing the regular course to be steer
ed | had taken notice that my head
| light. mast head and side lights were
| burning brightly ard everything was
in first-class condition.
| Soon after reaching my room
| heard several short and rapid blast
| of the steam whistle from the Larch-
| mont. and knowing this TO he the alarm
whistle | at once jumped from my
room into the pilot house
When I arrived at the pilot house |
noticed that the helm Of the Larchmont
was about hard aport, which proved
to me that Mr. Arson was trying to
sheer the Larchnont to starboard to
get away from the schooner.
When l arrived in the pilot house |
noticed on our port side. and very close
70 US tho schooner, which appeared to
be heading directly into the Larch-
mont
Almost in an instant the schooner
which I afterward found to be tho
| Harry KnOWlton. loaded with coal anG
| bound east. struck the Larchmont al
| about right angles in the Larchmont'
| port side just forward Of amidships
Realizing that this was a severe
| blow. I at once rang the bell to call the
engineer so as to have him report tc
me the condition of affairs below Fail
4
| Mr.. Wyman. who had appeared on the
scene. and Mr.. Staples. the quarter.
| master. to get the desired information
| vt this time the boat became envel-
opsd in steam. and everybody seemed
to be panic-stricken except the crew.
at once from my station in the pilot
| houS" ordered everybody to their sta
| tons. rs realized by the starboard list
| ,yt . ,A ola r. II.
| ing condition.
| Almost Immediately after this Mr.
| Wyman and the quartermastcr report
| ed to me that tn" Larchmont was in q
sinking condition and l think told me
| ii was the request of the chief engi
| nrcr that | should beach the boat a.
soon as possible.
| ut orcc proceeded to the pilot house
| rang the necessary bells to start the
| engines ahead. but could receive no re-
| sronse and I turned again to the decl
| to Superintend the clearing away OF
| the boats.
At this time the LarchmCnt had Z
| very heavy star0oard list. in fact.
| think her freight deck was under wa
| ter which brought my own boat. which
was the forward starboard boat, quite
| near the water.
| AT this time there were no passengers
| in the vicinity of my boat. and know
| ing that the only way to save lives il
| the proper manner was to lower my
boat and go around to the other side OF
| the Larchmont. 1 proceeded at once &c
| have my boat lowered into the wa
| ter, and ut this time the ones who got
| i:;to my boat We're the only ones that
were on my side of the ship. unless
someone might have been aft. bidder
by the starboard paddlebox.
The names of those who We're in my
| boat We're George McNey. master OF
| the Larchmont; Oscar Young. purScI
| of the Larchmont; Mr.. Staples. on" OF
| the uuartcrmaSters. two walters Of the
I.archmont. names Mcfarland and
Nann and two firemen whose names
| do not know.
These were absolutely the only ones
| who were in my boat or on the star
board side of the Larchmont so far as
know.