Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-21

Capt. George W. McNay Of the Inflated
stcanlcr Larchmunt. which was sunk in
a collision i'll Lond Island sound on the
night of Feb. II. described his own act
ions at the timr before the United
States steamboat inspectors today.
Telling OF his going to the pilot house
upon hearing the blasts OH the thistle
Capt McNay said he found Quarter
master Staples holding the wheel over
AS far as he could get it. Pilot Arson
was directing Staples. The schooner
was coming on at right angles about
amidships. Continuing Capt. McVay
said:
Then l cried My God, John Arson,
what have you done?' Arson made no
reply. The schooner struck aft to the
officers quarters, forward of the gang
way on the port side, about 80 feet for
ward of the paddle box
What did you do"
THE boat stopped. | jumped from
the pilot house 70 look at the place
struck. came back to the pilot house
and rang up the engineers. Getting ~
answers to repeated calls, l sent Sta
pies below. Pilot Wyman jumped from
his room and sent him below with or
dcrs to find out what he could do with
regard to the accident, whether they
could work the engine whether the Wa
ter had gotten in deep and Ii 50 to start
the pumps. I waited reasonable length
of time and Mr. Staples came back but
from passing through the steam he was
unable to speak. Pilot Wyman then APP
pearcl and said tie chief engineer Sad
to beach the vessel as soon as possible.
asl.od Pilot Wyman if the chief en-
gine2r said he could work the engine.
He said YES. I rang 10 so ahead, tod
the pilot and quartermaster to hoid
the wheel hard apOrt and VIC would
head IN to Watch Hill. | got no re-
Spouse from the engine room. The mon
began to appeal to me to save them.
Then | told them all to 60.
Il ordered the men to their stations,
realizing that the steamer was sinking
fast. There was no ether steamer III
sight. I then went to III" etarbnlrd
side. The steamer hal heavy star
board li:;t ANA was CnVvlO1cd in steam
amiGship%. The men were getting the
boats ready. [ said 10 the first mate it
would be impossible to save any one
on that side. | also remarked we must
endeavor to get our boat around to the
leeward and save what we could.
"While we were working on the boat
The chief engineer came and said ne
had his boat ready. / assisted him III
swinging it out and told him to save
All he could, that I must get my boat
ont. The men were swinging the boat
ont. The starboard guard was then I'M
der water and jumped to my boat ana
called the sailors. l took the steering
oar. intending to go around to lecWard.
The boat got into the trough OF the sea
broadside to the V ind, and it was I'M
POSSIBLE to bring around her head to
the steamer.
1--WE were drifting away from the
steamer all the time and trying TO get
IN TO her. Almost before we could real
ize the steamer went down. We stayed
around as close as we could. we saw
n number of boats go out of sight Ill
The darkness. 1 decided the only thing
70 do was to let the boat drift, and we
drifted to Block Island
At the hearing Supervisor Inspector
J-bler and the local inspectors were
present.
Coming down to the lifeboat drills
On the Larchmont, Capt. McNay SAID
that colored walters, firemen and coal
rassers were assigned to places in the
drills. He had never considered the
danger Of manning lifc-boats with such
crews. He had suggested to the COM
many the employment of a better grade
of mon. but had received the assurance
that they were good. Wages he SAID.
we're low on the JOY Line. Masters on
other line get $500 a year; he got Sl0Oo.
Cant. McVay said that to the best OF
his knowledge and belief the Larch-
mcrt was in proper condition, that ac-
cording TO the custom of sound steam
ers. he was in the pilot house until off
Sabin.s Point, when he placed First
Pilot Arson in charge and went below.
Arson had never made a mistake in
running sound courses. The night was
clear but dark. Lights could be seer
one and a half or two miles away. The
wind was northeast, 50 to 40 miles an
hour. and the Larchmont was steaming
about II knots. The signal lights were
burning brightly. Capt. iMcEGy then de-