Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-13
SCHOONER IN COLLISION
FROM SOUTH AMBOY.
CONTINUED from page ID

tCOntlnQeu IlOu1 puSe ~
The Larchmont. side wheeler
which was only put into the service OF
the Joy line during the present sea-
son. left her dock in Providence with a
heavy cargo of freight and passenger
list estimated Mt from $50 to POO. A
strong northwest wind was blowing as
the steamer plowed her way down
through the eastern passage of Narra-
gansett bay, but the full effect of the
gale which was blowing III the sound
was not felt until the Larchmont
rounded Point Judith. Then the side
wheeler pointed her nose into the very
heart of the gale and continued down
through Block island sound without
any unusual incident until she was
we'll aheam of Watch hill and within
FIVE or six miles of Fishers island.
Captain George McVey. who had re-
mained in the pilot house until the YES
sci had been Strengthened out on her
course. was preparing TO retire after a
turn around his ship when he was
startled by several blasts of the steam
er's whistle He rushed into the pilot
master pointed out three maated
schooner sailing eastward before a
strong wind.
The schooner which proved TO ne
the Harry Knowlton. coal laden, from
South Alnboy for Boston, had been
bowling along on her course when she
seemed to suddenly huff up and head
straight for the steamer Again sew
eral blasts were sounded on the steam
er's whistle, the pilot and quartermas-
ter at the same time whirling their
wheel hardaport In mad endeavor to
avert collision.
But as the Larchmont was slowly
veering around in response to her helm
the schooner came on with speed
that almost seemed to equal the gale
that had been pushing her toward Bos-
ton Even before another warning
signal could be sounded on the steam
er's whistle the schooner crashed into
the port side Of the Larchmont, and
the impact Of the big vessel was so
terrific that the big clumsy bow of the
sailing craft ate its way more than
half the breadth of the Larchmont.
When the force Of the impact had
been spent the schooner temporarily
remained fast in the yitals of the
steamer. holding in check for mo
ment the lnrushing water. But the
pounding sea soon separated the inter
locked vessels, and as they backed
away the water rushed into the gap
ing hole i'll the steamers side with Il
velocity that could only mean the doom
of the passenger vessel.
Tho passengers meanwhile thronged
on to the decks Few of them had
waited 10 clothe themselves Their
fear was 20 great that the first pene-
trating blast OF the zero temperature
was dlsregarded, but the suffering
from the elements soon became so in
tense that personal safety was forgot
ten in a general effort to keep the blood
in circulation. Those who had not
stopped to clothe themselves now
found it impossible to return below
and do so. Their rooms were flooded
soon after they had been deserted, and
the wounded steamer. houndering
around in the high seas that are feared
by all sound navigators. was sinking
with a rapidity that sent terror to the
hearts of the officers and crew These
men We're prompt In answering Cap
tain McNey's call to quarters.
While some of the seamen held back
the frantic, freezing passengers by
brute strength, others were preparing
to lower the lifeboats and RATS. There
was no time to think of the comfort
of any one. Even before the boats
were cut away Captain McVey knew
that the list of victims would be
greater than those who survived.
1t was physical impossibility for
any but the most hardened to with
stand the cold, which turned ears and
noses white with the frost and which
so benumbed feet that both the pas
sengers and members OF the crew
stumbled rather than walked to the
small craft in which they We're TO
leave the sinking ship.
Shrieks Of agonized pain drowned
the roar of the hlrushing water. Pan
demonium reigned supreme, but i'll
spite of It the women on board. suf-
fering more intensely than the men,
We're placed In lifeboats, the male pas
sengers aud members OF the crew Sc
lecting the unprotected RATS.
captain McYey remained on the up
u ~.
until every one on board appeared TO
have been cared for lie ordered all
lifeboats and RATS cut away. and be
fore he stepped into his own boat he
stood on the upper deck n moment TO
see that his order WAS executed Then
he ordered that his boat the largest
on board, be cleared away. Before
the men had an opportunity to loosen
the tackles the bottom of the boat
- q ~.