New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-19
THE NAPHTHA LAUNCH ETHEL DID NOT
EXPLODE

tn. nevspaper accounts OF the wreckng Of the
launch Ethel at Long Beach Inlet on sunday aso ao
so grossly erroneous that it becomes necessary lot US
to this way many inquiries Of owners OF our
launches and to anticipate those OF many others, as 10
the real facts oncernng that sad occurrence whereby
three lives sacrificed by reason OF lack OF Iuue
ment and Of seamanshp and not as the press epor's
imply to mperfectons in the boat or its machinery
Such headlines as "A Yacht Blown Up at Sea-"
"The Explosion of a Naphtha Launch appeared IN
several sheets that preferred, with reckless disregard
Of the injury it would do to us and to thousand OF
our patrons TO publish sensational and unverlilea
article rather than a plain unvaFnished statement oi
the facts because the truth did not make what one
city editor described as the best story in todays
ISSUE certain portion Of the press declined to cor
rect these missatements and TO give the correction inc
same prominence as the false and misleading details
which must have been evolved from the imagination OF
the reporters since not the slightest foundation of fact
for them exists.
The truth is simply this: The owner Of the Ethel.
with two friends and an FISHERMAN whose seamanshp
IS very questionable against the advice Of experienced
boacn went outside to fish. and attempted to return
through Long Beach inlet against strong ebb tide.
with brisk southeast wind blowing, across bar on
which there Is but three feet Of water at low tide
She swamped In the breakers her fire put out ana
the boat thus rendered helpless capszed tho owner and
his friends drowned in attempting to reach shore
by swimming, while the Oysteman was saved by
the next day. towed over the bar into the bay, and
rghted and found to be perfectly whole and sound
with the exception that the smOkestack and retOrt
had been scraped of when she was towed, bottom
up across the barr, the engine tank, shaft and
steering gear being all in good condition INSTEAD Of
being broken into bits, and the pieces not large
enough to keep him above water" described in one
account she Hes where any ono can inspect her,
without leaking drop. and without scratch or dis
cOloraton from tho accident on any part OF her wood
work.
The accompanying circular contains the statements
Of several persons cognzan of the facts bearing upon
the accident and the present condition Of the launch
which made to Mr.. Moore, and as such are sworn
to by him We respectfully refer you TO it, not only
10 show you the material out Of which tho average
been given to the general public by reckless ana
sensational press but that you may have, IN teTee
and succnct form, the exact truth OF the AFFAIR and
tbs conflicting and unreliable statements made by the
survivor subsequent to those gwen by MIN when he
was first rescued from impending death. and which
were naturally the nearest to the real truth.
tank boiler engine or any part OF the mechanism OF
naphtha launch has ever been exploded Inc gas rom
uncCnfned naphtha pumped or spleu oy me Grnn'St
boat Itself has in instances been exploded with disas
trous results, but Intelligent child understanding IN
JS Sg groScrly handed ( as safe servant as ec
tricy would be guilty Of such gross carclessness as
was manifested those occasions our offer OF 5000
TO any one who deviSs a plan TO blow up one OF
our engines TctOrts Is not empty bombast but Is
made 10 induce those who are Ignorant of the mechan-
selves that the popular allacies which prevail concern
ing the danger of using naphtia az motive power are
faacicS only.
will be mailed free on appaln. Very respectfully
GAS ENGINE AND POWER COMPANY.
Morris Heights Station, New-iork City.