The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-12
TWO HUNDRED GO TO DEATH

sea was rough. 1t was intensely cold
throughout the night
When the first boats came ashore
from the steamer it was found that
some of their occupants were dead. In
the first confusion it was not known
whether they had been pulled from the
water after having been drowned. or
whether they were frozen to death.
The Knowleton which halls from East
port, Me-, was bound from South Am
boy for Boston with AIS tons of coal
She lies on a sandy bottom but is full
OF water and 1t is not known whether
she can be hoated.
The T.archmont left Providence at
bout $50 last night for New York in
command of Captain McVey of Provi-
dence The chief engineer was Robert
GAY of Bridgeport, Conn. She carried
a crew of about so and had on board
some passengers and a miscellaneous
cargo of freight. The Larchmont reg
istared 500 tons net, 1850 tons gross.
Sc was 252 feet in length, 81 feet
built at Bath, Me. in 1885.
The Harry Knowleton registered 217
tons net and hailed from Eastport. Me.
She was built at Tottenville, N. Y, in
1880. She was 12s feet in length, 80
feet in breadth and IL feet in depth.
Fourteen Bodies Recovered.
Providence, r. l., Feb. 1.-THE prin-
cipaI Joy line office in this city at 10
O'Clock today, was without definite in
formation concerning the sinking OF the
steamer Larchmont off Block Island.
The officials here stated that their
only knowledge of the disaster was
telegram sent by Captain McVey to his
wife stair g that he was safe. The
telegram made no mention of loss of
life among the passengers or crew but
a private message received here from
Block Island stated that IA bodies had
been washed ashore.
The official passenger list of the
steamer was carried by Captain McVey
to be delivered by him upon his arrival
in New York.
The Joy line officials estimated that
there were about $50 passengers on
board and the crew numbered about 80.
Eighteen Left Boston.
Boston, Feb. 12.-Eighteen persons are
known to have purchased tickets in this
city yesterday to take passage to New
York on the Larchmont. The names of
only two of these passengers are on
record at the office of the Joy line here.
Captain Haley's Story.
Watch Hill, r. L, Feb. 12.-In de-
scribing his experience, Captain Frank
T. Haley, of the Harry Knowleton,
said that the Knowleton rammed the
Larchmont on the port side about
quarter way from the bow The blow
carried away the schooners jibboom
and bowsprit and all her forward rig
gfng opening up the ships seams and
making a great hole forward, through
which the water rushed.
Desperate work at the pumps alone
saved the lives of the crew of the yes
sci. Captain Haley and his six men
all took a hand at the work until the
came to launch the ships
boat, in which they were able to reach
the shore at Watch Hill.
Captain Haley said the Larchmont,
as soon as the two boats had cleared
after the collision, appeared to con-
tinue westward and Captain Haley and
L l.. --4--
However, they were so much engaged
in keeping afloat they had little time
to watch the Larchmont.
Il never shall quite understand how
this accident occurred" said Captain
Haley.
'"The night was dark but starry. We
were bound for Boston from New
York and were making fair progress
the sound. A long time be-
fore the accident happened we had
sighted the Larchmont steaming west
ward. Some of the crew were on deck
a while and we spoke of the picture
that the Larchmont made, all lighted
up. Then we saw that the steamer
seemed to be heading directly for US. 1
remember that looked up at our
lights which were burning all right
and of course / expected that the
steamer would look out for US. But
she kept right on. Some of us shouted
a warning and one member of the
crew blew a horn constantly 1 scarce
ly knew what to do. I did not dare at
tempt to make clear the path of the
steamer because 1 thought she would
turn out for us. When she came right
ahead. there was nothing for US to do
but hit her. The blow was a very bad
one. I thought we were going down
at once as the schooner quivered and
then reeled backward with the bow
spirit. the jibboom and the rigging for
ward carried away. The water rush
ed in at once The steamer Iurched
badly to starboard, when we struck
her and then continued on her way.
She did not seem to be badly dam
aged"
Captain Haley then proceeded to
narrate the experiences of himself and
crew in working his vessel shoreward.
With five feet of water in the hold and
gaining. manning the pumps was ex-
ceedingly difficult. as the water surged
about the men all the time. Finally
1t was decided to abandon the vessel
and all hands took to the boat.
CeAA0NGQ Dim n0lNN