Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-18
GOOD WORD FOR McVEY.
Survivor Mcfarland Says Captain Did
Everything Possible.

Providence. Feb. 17.-At the East
Side hospital Saturday night four OF
the survivors of the LarchmOnt. John
Toland and Martin Liebert, tiremen;
Lewis Hall, cOlOred waiter. and
James Louis Mcfarland, also cOlored, a
Waterman. We're resting comfortably.
The two men first named declared
that it was too dark to be certain as to
which boat left the steamer first. There
We're boats on each side of the Larch
mont so that neither could make out
the other
The captains boat, in which they
We're, they said, left the steamer only
two minutes before the latter went
down. In their opinion the captain be-
haved as courageously as he possibly
could under the circumstances, and all
stories to the effect that women were
pushed from his boat We're entirely
without foundation. they say. as there
We're no passengers in that immediate
vicinity.
Mcfarland was able to sit UP Satur-
day. Regarding the wreck, he today
said: The first thing | knew of what
had happened was when we all heard
sort of explosion like sound. and the
people came rushing to the hurricane
deck. A signal had been given immc-
diately after the collision had ccurred,
but the shock put out the lights ana
sent the steam in all directions.
AS no signal could be given to man
the lifeboats. Cap. McNey shouted the
order. Every man attached to the yes
sci as officer or part OF the crew knew
his position, and as soon as the COM
mand came to cut loose. each person
was in his assigned place.
The passengers were, of course,
Iparic-stricken and rushed wildly about
the captain himself displaying the
greatest amount Of GOODNESS and coln-
mand, and even ordering some of the
other officers who had become excited
to refrain from swearing.
Il was one Of the first to reach the
top deck. and since I was attached to
the captains boat, made ready TO
obey orders as soon as they were given.
Il was very windy on the hurricane
deck. and it is probable that the cap
tain's voice might have been carried;
away. but the captain cried out for all
those who could to come away with
us.
starboard. side of the vessel. Stree this
Was the most dangerous position. on ac-
count of the way the steamer was tip
ping. Nearly all of those who had reach
! ed the top portion of the ship had gone
to The other or higher side.
THE captain apparently waited as long
as he dared ard when no response from:
any of the passengers was forthcoming
| he gave orders to have the lifeboat low
| cred.
II WIS one of those who assisted in
this. and we were none too soon. In
| about two minutes or less after the boat
reached the water, and I jumped after
| them, the I.archmont began to sink. Our
men tried to row around to the other
| side. but we could not distinguish liv-
| ing soul.
II can positively assert that no one
tried to get in the captains boat, let
alone being refused this privilege, for
| there sirrply We're no persons other than
some Of the officers and crew in that vi
entity at the time we effected cur es-
cape I en- sure the captain behaved as
well as anyone could and certainly did
the best that was possible under the cir
cumstancCs."