The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-14

Providence, r. l., February 1S.-A care
full compilation of figures in this city
early today shows that 13S lives are
known to have been lost as result of
the collision Monday night between the
Joy line steamer Larchmont and the
schooner Harry Knowlton.
1t is known that there were not less
than 157 persons on board the steamer
OF that number only nineteen survived
Fifty-seven bodies have been recovered
thirty-elght of them have been identified
There are still 100 passengers, who are
either missing or unidentified.
Terrible tales of suffering were brought
here tonight by some of the nineteen sur
vivors of the steamer Larchmont, which
went to the bottom of Block Island sound
Monday night, and one of the passeng-
ers asserted that in that awful hour of
peril helpless women We're thrust aside
by men who cared only for themselves.
Charge of cowardlce was made by Fred
erick Hiergesell, an 1s-year-old lad of
Brooklyn, y. Y. lie said that not only
were women left to their fate, but that
Captain MeNey left the sinking ship in
the very first life boat: that some of the
sHlD tulDiOgtS liiltu lilt bOciS IL hAAN
exclusion of the passengers, and that az
least one boat was without oars when it
was put over the side of the ship.
Louis Mcfarland, a coloTed waiter on
the Larchmont, gave Nersion of the
departure of the captains boat which was
entirely diffeernt from that given by
Hergesell lie said when he reached the
captains boat to which he was assigned
he found Captain McVey there. The cap
tain ordered that the boat be swung
overheard ready to lower, calling to the
passengers at the same time to step into
the boat The passengers, Mcfarland
said, seemed afraid to do So and as the
steamer was going down fast Captain
McVey ordered that the boat be lowered
When 1t reached the water however,
rope fastened to the ringbolt and attached
to the davit above become caught, and
those in the boat were in danger of being
dragged down with the steamer, when
Boatswain Andrew Tobesen, who was on
the deck, saved their lives by cutting the
rope.
Schooner Responsible.
Hiergesell's statement was not confirm
ed by any other survivor Of the terrible
tragedy. but, Notwithstanding the lact
that there was none to corroborate hlm
he held fast to his story.
President Dunbaugh issued statement
tonight. In which he said:
1.-THE schooner was responsible Tor tle
collision The officers and crew 'of the
Iarchmont are not TO blame in any way
In view of the terrible condition Whlcn
prevailed Immediately after the accident,
am satisfied that the men did all in
their power to meet the situation as con-
scientious and honorable men.
ut appears from my investigation that
the schooner luffed right into the Larch-
mont and caused the accident. which re-
suited in such great loss Of life.
.rrhe fact that the steamer sank soon
after the crash the fact that so many
were unable to reach the boats. even after
thev were put out. is to my mind suffi-
Client proof that the crew acted bravely
and did all in its power to aid the pas
sengers who were able to reach the deck.
Not fewer than 1000 persons had as
sennbled along the water front as the JOY
liner steamer Kentucky came slowly up
the Providence river. Along ner loWer
deck on the starboard side lay forty-nine
hodies all covered with white sheeting.
Tnsida In the best state rooms or the Doat
were eighteen survivors of the accident.
Miss Sadie Galtrup of Boston was in
such condition when the Kentucky ar
rived at Block Island that II was eohsiu-
cred dangerous 10 move her, ana she was
left on the island
The survivors were carried to amou-
lances which were waiting TO convey
them to the Rhode Island and East Side
hospitals.
Dead Still Frozen.
The dead still frozen in unnatural POSI-
tions. were placed on the undertakers
baskets and carried to a nearby morgue,
where they were arranged so that all who
desired might pass in an effort to Identify
them. Physicians. who had an oppor-
tunity TO examine the bodies. expressed
the opinion that in many cases death
had been caused by the cold, rather than
drowning.
The most thrilling narrative Of the dis
aster was that told by Harris Feldman
of New York. who. with his wife. were
saved Feldrnan declared when the col
ljsion occurred he ordered his wife to
dress as warmly as possible. When she
had done So they ran 10 the hurricane
deck They had been there but mo-
ment and the Lachmont was then sink
Ing so rapidly that il seemed that they
must be lost mountainous wave struck
the top of the steamer and ripped off
huge piece of the superstructure upon
which many of the panic stricken pas
sengers were standing. As the piece of
wreckage slipped off into the sea. many