The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-13
They Loot MIR. AuStin'S
Launch or PaWtuXet.
AfterWard Set Fire TO Craft
and She is Destroyed.
Total Loss is Estimated at over
Three Thousand Dollars.

Thieves went aboard Arthnr L. Aus
tins naphtha launch lola. while she was
moored off Pawtuxet, SUNDAY morning
ard removed all the valuables OH the
craft. They thon set fire 10 the launch
and il was destroyed. entailng loss OF
about $1,000.
There was no insurance on the craft or
Its furnishings.
Just as streaks OF daylight began to mp
pear SUNDAY morning the fire was dis
covered by MIR. John Austin, father of
the owner of the boat, VITO lives on the
estate adjoining his sons property. lie
saw the lire from the window OF his bed
chan,ber aud he ran to his sons house
aud awaKened him. The alarm was
given and the engineer OF tho launoh,
William Olsen, went out 20 the burning
craft. He saw that it was doomed. Iio
also saw stranger on the iloat at the
foot of the bridge leading from Mr.. Aus
tins house. Shortly alter the stranger
disappeared.
Among those at the fire was Steward
Fred Nichols OF the Rhode Island Yacht
Club. At this time IL was possible TO
tow the burning launch To the shore, put
as it would endanger valuable property 1T
was decided TO let the craft burn NJ her
moorings as nothing of valde could DO
saved. The nephtha tank had been iill.d
Saturday morning ana there was danger
from an explosion. The naphtha was IN
the forward part of the craft which was
the only part that escaped the flra
When the tire had progressed FAR enough
the machinery sank the launch, leaving
the PROV out of the water sunday NJ
Yernoon Lou Crandal raised the null anu
towed IL ashore, and then IL was ascer-
tanned that the launch had been robbed
before the fire was started. n hirthday
present from Mr.. Austin's wife consisting
of a set of silverwnre, valued at Sl2o,
other silvewrare, a duck gun, which was
in the cabin, the binnacle and quantity
OF other portable property had been
stolen.
The tender OF the launch was missing
and wns found ashore ON Marsh Island
Just below Pawtuxet Neck. In the boat
was a strange pair OF oars. afterward
identified as having been stolen from
another boat ON the Neck. Footprints
were seen on the beach leading along the
wharf 10 the float soon after the discovery
of the fire.
Ii seems certain that the tender of the
launch was set adriit from a boat or from
tho Crescent Park shore, for the wind
was fresh northeast breeze at the time
of the fire. and the tide and wind together
woulu have taken 10 on TO the shore OF
Marsh Island from that direction.
The lola was built for Jacob Lorillard
of New York, four years a9o, from his
own designs, and was intended To be the
fastest naphtha lanch aiiUat. Tbs designs
for the boat were made by her owner,
and during the two years no entered her
in the races of the New York Yacht Club
the launch won many valuable prizes.
Her engine was IL horse powe-, aud her
guaranteed speed llA miles an hour.
The best record of the boat in NarraRan-
sett Bay was l01a miles in that time.
Two years ago Mr.. Austin, who Is
member of the firm of John Austin ~
Sons, gold Ietiners, of this city, pur-
chased the boat from Mr.. Lorillard for
$500 ana entered her in the Rhode Island
Yacht Club. Since that time the launch
has been nsed only for cruising. The now
owner made number OF improvements,
Increasing her accommodations for COM
fort, and the boat was luxuriously fur
nished. Although never entered in the
races In the pay, the launch was ono of
the best known and fastest boats OH the
roll of the IL. l. Yacht Cluo.
There are several CLOVIS To the perpetra-
tors Of this outras se and they Will be inves-
tigated thoroughly. Detective NickersOn
and Stewart Nichols Investigated somc
OF them yesterday. but thus far nothing
indicates who the robbers and lncerdi-
arias