Milford chronicle., 1907-02-15
STEAMER SINKS:
NEARLY 200 PERISH
The LarchmOnt Goes Down After
Collision With Schooner.
MANY BODIES WASHED ASHORE

MANY BODIES WASHED ASHORE
Block Island, R. l., Feb. IA ma
rlne disaster. with an appalling loss OF
Hfe' and entailing suffering almost be
yond the limit of human endurance
came to light when a lifeboat of the
JOY line steamer Larchmont, bound
from Providence to New York, drifted
into Block Island harbor.
In the boat were several bodies of
men who had died from the effects of
long hours Of exposure to a death-deaI-
ing temperature. In the boat also
were IL men, whose suffering was so
intense that they seemed Oblivious to
the TACT that death was in their midst
and that they had escaped only by
virtue of their ability to withstand
the rigor Of zero weather in an omen
boat at sea.
The boat brought tale of disaster
that has rarely been equalled in New
England waters. and it is believed
That when the final count is made il
VIII be found that not less than $50
lives were lost. Following closely in
the wake Of the solitary lifeboat came
bodies, cast upon the beach bv angry
waves. Then came lifeboats and RATS.
Each of them bore their burden of !
grim death, as well as a load of sui.
Iering humanity and each brought :
tale OF horror. of suffering and of ;
despair.
owing to the condition of the SIR
Vivors of the tragedy, it was impossi.
Die to get from them an estimate of !
the loss of life. Anywhere from rs to
$50 persons went to their death. and !,
II Is believed that the latter figures are =,
nearer correct than the former. 81
Only Nineteen Survivors. in
The steamship officials estimate that B
about $50 passengers and a crew of at
% were on board the steamer when bl
she left Providence. Forty-eight bod. ed
les reached these shores, and 10 were lei
awe when taken from the lifeboats. ca
Taking the estimated figures of the gil
steamship officials as a basis. there ca
are still 1873 persons to be accounted of
for. he
The cause Of the accident has not tai
been satisfactorily explained. It oc- a
cured just off Watch Hill. when the Tn
hree-masted schooner Harry Knowl. the
on crashed into the steamers port boz
ide amidships. -, Captain George Nc. /
ley OF the Larchmont, declares that we
ne knowlton suddenly swerved from nat
er course, luffed up into the wind fro
nd crashed into his vessel. sci
Captain Haley, of the Knowlton as the
erts that the steamer did not give his and
essel sufficient sea room. and that the hau
0llision occurred before he could take the,
10 schooner out OF the path of the on stoC
'nllHs steamer. had
Inc steamer, with a huge hole torn tied
her Side was so seriously damaged bod
at no attempt was made to run for the
ore and she sank to the bottom in drift
SIS than half an hour The KnowIton. TT
ter she had backed away from the in h
eek began to fill rapidly. but her ors
sW manned the pumps and kept her surv
oat until she reached a point off demo
where they put out in Bird
nIeboat and rowed ashore. There pick,
re no fatalities on the schooner, but off s
men suffered from the extreme who
~ u, shirt
There was no comparison. however wore
ween their experiences and those and ,
the passengers and crew of the
amer. majority of those on the VIZ
had retired for the night u.,d
when the collision occurred there
e few on board, with the execution III,
the crew, who were prepared for bond.
weather which prevailed. They W.
ried from the warm staterooms IN 49,
deck of the steamer and into A tonin,
-'-''0' piieie $500
Passengers Suffered Terribly. The
terally chilled to the bone. many the st
ed headlong below to secure more place
ling, while others, barefooted. were
headed and clad only in night were
IS stood on the decks, fearing that "Cbris
D below would mean almost Ger. These
death. saved
ME some OF the seamen held back at s25
IIfnuIc passengers by brute The
gun others were preparing to loss
the lifeboats and RATS. There house
no time to think of the comfort distinc
~ one. Even before the boats
cut away Captain McVey knew e
he list of victims would be much D..
er than those who survived. sions.. =