Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-13

The pitiable condition of the pasSen-
gers and crew was increased hundred
fold the moment they had launched
their boats. Every wave sent it's dash
of spray over the boats and their con-
tents. A thin coating of ice envelOped
clothed suffered from frozen faces and
numbed feet, but there We're many who
had on only their night clothing.
One man in the captains boat, al
though dressed warmer than many
others, was suddenly driven insane by
his intense suffering. He pulled a big
clasp knife from his pocket and gashed
his threat. No one stayed his hand and
again he plunged his knife into his
threat. Those who sat near him We're
either TOO daZed 20 interfere or looked
upon the act Of self-destruction as JUS
tiiablc. The unknown mans body fell
to the bottom OF the boat, where it re-
manned until he died.
Fishers Point, the nearest point of
land, was not quite five miles to the
westward of the point where the steam
er went down and every boat immedi-
ately headed for that place, but the
boats were heavy end the men at the
oars were weak. A 50-mile gale blew
OF their backs as the men strained at
the ice-corercd oars in hopeless en-
deayor to overcome the handicap
against which they were struggling.
The boats and RATS soon became sepa-
rated and the only details of the ter
riblc disaster which could be learned
here were given when Capt. McEey's
boat came ashore. Not man was able
to walk. Their feet were frozen so bad
ly that the lifesavers carried the sur
vivors bodily to the lifesavfng station.
Capt McVey was so overcome by the
enormity Of the disaster. that for
time he was unable to give lucid ac-
count of what had happened after the
ship had gone down. Shortly after his
arrival here. the captain said that he
had on board his ship between $50 and
200 passengers and a crow of 50 per-
sons.
Captain McNey later said there were
between 80 and - passengers on board
the steamer when she went down. The
later figure, however, is far below the
estimate made by the officials Of the
Joy Line at Providence, who estimated
the number of passengers at not less
than $50. The exact number Of passen-
gers was given in . list which was
handed the purSer just before the
Larchmont started on her fateful jour
ney, but it is believed that it was lost
when the ship went down.
Captain McVey said that had his
crew been able to make progress
against the northwest gale they would
have landed at Fishers island between
II and l o'clock. The wind, however,
he said was too strong to be overcome
and there was nothing left for the sea-
men to do but turn around and head
for Block island, Is miles away 1t was
shortly after II o'clock when the cap
tain of the boat cut away from the
sinking steamer and it was not until
$50 o'clock in the morning that it ar
rived at Block island. 1t seemed, the
captain said, as as though the 7-hour
struggle against the elements occupied
All eternity and not a soul in the boat
expected to survive the eXcruciating
suffering to which all were subjected
Captain McVey asserted with empha-
sis that the crew of the schooner was
responsible for the wreck. He said that
had the sailing vessel held true to the
course which she was sailing when first
sighted there would have been no pos
Sible chance of an accident. The
schooner, however suddenly luffed
and crashed into the port side of the
Larchmont almost before the helms
men had ported their wheel. Captain
McEey said:
Eve left Providence at o'clock. A
brisk northwest wind was blowing and
we were off Watch Hill at about II
o'clock. had gone below to look over
the passengers and freight leaving a
sood pilot and quartermaster in the pi-
lot house. l returned to the pilot house,
passing through there on my way to my
room. Everything was o. X. in the pi-
lot house as l stepped into my room
and prepared for the night. Suddenly
l heard the pilot blowing danger sig
nails and I hurried into the pilot house.
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