The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-14
Charges of Cowardice
 Against Captain.
LEFT STEAMER FIRST,
 SAYS BRO0NYN YOUTH
Story Is Not Corroborated by Eigh-
 teen Others.
Owners of Line. Say Schooner Was Re- sponsibIe for Catastrophe and Crew Did All In Their
 Power.

Providence, R. l.. Feb. 13.-Terrible tales of suffering were brought here tonight by some of the nineteen survi- vors of the steamer Larchmont which went to the bottom in Block Island Sound Monday night, and one of the passeagers asserted that in that awful hour of peril helpless women were thrust aside by men who cared only for themselves
 Charges of cowardice was made by Frederick Hiergesell, an ls-year-ola lad of Brooklyn. N. Y. He said that not only were women left to their fate. but that Captain Mcvey left the sinking ship in the very first lifeboat; that some of the ships employees filled the boats to the exclusion of the pas- sengers and that at least one boat was without oars when it was put over the side of the ship.
 Louis MacFarland. coiored waiter on the Larchmont gave a version of the departure of the captains boat which was entirely different from that given by Hlergeseli. He said that when he reached the captains boat to which he was assigned he found Captain Mo vey there The captain ordered that the boat be swung over board ready to lower. calling to the passengers at he same time to step into the boat: The passengers. MacFarland said. seem ed afraid to do so and as the steamer was going down fast. Captain McVey ordered that the boat be lowered.
 When it reached the water. however, rope fastened to the ring bolt ana at tached to the davlt above became caught and those in the boat were in danger of being dragged down with sths steamer waen boatswain Andrew Tohjn who was on the deck saved their lives by cutting the rope.
 Hiergesselrs statement was not con- firmed by any other survivor of the terrible tragedy. but notwithstanding the fact that there was none to corrob- Orae him. he held fast to his story. President Dunbaugh issued state lnent tonight in which he said:
 The schooner was responsible for the collision. The officer and crew of the Larchmont are not to blame in any way. In view of the terrible condition which prevailed immediately after the accident. am satisfied that the men did all in their powerto meeet the situs alton as conscientious and honorable men
 Did all in Power.
 "It appears from my investigation that the schooner luffed right into the Larchmont and caused the accident which resulted in such great loss of lifa
 The fact that the steamer sank soon after the crash; the fact that so many were unable to reach boats even after they were put out, is to my mind suf- ficient proof that the crew acted bravely and did all in it's power to aid the passengers who were able to reach the deck
 Not fewer than two thousand persons had assembled along the water front tonight as the Joy Line steamer Ken lucky came slowly up the Providence river. Along her lower deck on the starboard side lay foty-nino bodies all covered with white shooting,
 Inside in the best staterooms of the boat were eighteen survivors of the ae- cident Miss Sadie Galtrup of Boston. was in such condition when tic Ken. lucky arrived at Block Island that was considered dangerous to move her and she was left on the island
 The survivors were carried to aml'n lances which were waiting to convey them to the Rhode Island and EaFt Side hospitals.
 The dead, still frozen in unnaturalpo- sitions 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 had an opportunity to examine the bod ies expressed the opinion that in many cases death had been caused by the cold rather than drowning.
 The most thrilling narrative of the disaster was that told by Harris Felde- man. of New York, who with lis wife were saved. Policeman declared when the collision occurred he ordered his wife to dress as warmly as possible When she had done so they ran to the hurricane deck. They had been there but, "a moment and the Larchmount was then sinking so rapidly that 1t seem- ed that they must be lost.
 Wave Swept Superstructure.
 A mountainous wave struck the top of the steamer and rip ed off huge piece of superstructure upon which many of the panic stricken passengers were standing. As the piece of wreck age slipped off into the sea many ot the passengrs either fell backwards into the saloon of the steamer or were thrown forward into the water.
 
 ions and besides himself and wife there were thirty-three on the raft, but they were crowded so badly thai one by one they began to drop off into the sea. Some of them crazed by tho cold jumped from the raft and were drowned. Others sitting near the edg4 were swept away and still others frozen to death dropped into the water. An hour after the raft had been swept from the top of the steamer there were but sixteen persons on it and of thesO only eight were alive Mrs Feldman who found place next to her husband was slowly freezing to death when he begged her to move her hands and feet continually in order that she might keen her blood circulating.
 It was only by constant attention that Mir. Feldman was able to save his wife from death similar to that which came to others who sat nearby.