The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-09-07
AN EXPLOSION
OF GASOLINE
Deals Death and Destruction to Well
Known AstOrians.
CLAuDEHANTHoRNE WRECKED
Captain nsnIhofus Badly Burned aud First
officer lsyLsll Dead from Suiiocation
Outsiders Probably Responsible
CLAuDEHANTHoRNE WRECKED

By tho explosion of gasolcne at o'clock
yesterday morning on the large launch
Claude B Hawthorne. one man was killed
and another seriously burned
Captain Claude H. Hawthorne and First
Oniccr James lAyEell Of the launch Han
thorn went aboard Sunday hs . q. m. at
the Astoria Iron works gridiron. where
some alterations were being made In the
house OF the vessel. They retired for the
night almost Immediately. The boat had
not been used In any way during the day.
About four o'clock In the morning the
captain says he WAS awakened by the
grpanS of Layzrll and went TO his help
both mrn sleeping in the same room. He
shook him. but could get no reply and his
breathing appearing laborcd the captain
resisted Lhyzcn partly out Of his bunk
and held him IN his arms ana worked
with him until he brcath,d easier. stu
the man could not speak Supposlng thar
he had tainted the captain started for the
main deck for cold water In the mean
time. while working with i.ayEcll he heard
the gaSoicne escaping from the little vent
guasc. which he quickly turned on As
the boar was resting partly on the grid
iron ans partly In Clc water she WAS not
floating ON an even keel but was listed.
This he knew was the cause OF the gaso-
lcnc escaping from the pipe and thought
iha, from the list taken just at the time
al oil had escaped, but now believes some
had leaked out before. Having slept IN
the room and inhaled the odor IN his sleep
Il was not detected on awAking Before
going on deck, and not knowing any
quantity Of OH had escaped the captain
thought Il best 10 light the lamp always
kept ready Tor such purposes The FIRST
match struck burned out without lighting
the lamp. Turning the wick higher sec
ond match was lighted and the lamp
burned freely Just ~ that moment the
explosion took place and In a second the
cabin was IN flames Realizing that he
could not save l.ayzcll and himself single
handed, himself being body burned. he
rushed on deck. sprang overheard into the
winter. which was mp 10 his ormp!ts his
and hair being on FIRE and
went To the nearest house on the river
bank, Mr.. Taylor's, and with young ray
Tor returned to the boat In an effort to
save the first officers life, ~ this time
the nro had gained such headway In the
cabinS S@hich was dense with smoke. that
they could not possibly reach the room
whore LayEell was lying The captain In
the meantime had gone up on the hurrI-
cane deck OF the steamer and from there
to the lower deck 10y the ladder, with the
skin all burned on HIS hands and was
?gain compelled TO Jump overheard to
save his life, followed by young Taylor
The fire company now reached the scene
and put out the fire ON the boat. Captain
Hawthorne was taken to Mr.. Taylors
house for care, as he was dangerously
burned.
Layzell evidently died through surroca-
tion. and was burned somewhat but was
certainly not conscious Of any suffering
The captain says he could hear him
groaning when he went back to the boat
the second time Those who were near
by and with the captain when he was try
!rg to raise the alarm, and after all was
over, say that the captains only trouble
was regarding LayZell, His heroic efforts
In trying TO save him al the peril OF his
own life, showed his fine feeling, Suffer
ing now severely from his own wounds,
whore he lies in his fathers residence In
eastern Astoria, he is suffering more in
mind, as his only thought seems to be for
Layzel a young man Of his own uge-:2
years, and between whom had grown
strong friendship, The unfortunate first
officer, James Layzell, was well known
and respected I'm the community. He was
possessed of splendid habits, good educa-
tlon and gave promise of future success
He was first officer OF the Maynower,
which recently sailed for Alaska, and as
the Hawthorne took her place ON the
Gray's river and Chinook run. Layzell
became interested in the business with
the boat.
II is not known whether Layzell was
affected by the gasolene during the night,
or had some other ailment.
Tie captain Of the launch is a son OF
Mr.. J. o. Hawthorne. the well known can
neryman. His legs and hands were badly
burned and his face slightly burned. II is
believed. however that he viii pun
through all right and will not be disfig-
ured He did not notice the smell Of gas
when he first awakened, and cannot tell