The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-21
PAUL JONES WAS BLOWN UP.
WRECKAGE GIVES SIGN OF NAPH-
TIA TANK EXPLOSION.

Fishermen Confirm the Report. Say
ing the Explosion Took Place Jan.
6-Pieces of the Launch Identified
by Lawrence Jones, Its Owner.
Prominent PIeasure-seckers BE-
Iieved to Have Been LOst-NO Bod
les Yet Found.
Mobile, Ala, Jan. 2O.-The government
steamer Pansy touched at Biloxi, Miss,
Ibis afternoon, and reported finding on
Breton Island a part OF the stern of the
naphtha launch Paul Jones, also yawl
boat with bow smashed, and other small
articles from the launch.
The conditior of the wreckage tends to
show that the naphtha tank blew up and
tore the boat 10 pieces.
The Pansy met the Maud with Jones
and Taggart on board. The latter visited
the wreckage and identified it as part of
the Paul Jones. No bodies We're found.
e. F. Fremont and party left Scranton
this afternoon in the sailing yacht Ade-
laine, which is of very light draught, and
win visit every nook to the westward. The
expedition is a volunteer one and is pro
visioned for ten days
The launch had the following pleasure
seekers on board:
Joseph Brinkman, Louisville
Miss Florence Taggart. daughter OF
Mayor Taggart of indianapolis
Miss Marjorie Woodland. daughter or
George w. Woodland, vice president of
the Prairie State Bank, Chicago.
Col. Harry c. Yocum, St. Louis.
IN LII. I v1,As.
The crew consisted of three men, whose
names are unknown.
Yachts Loss Confirmed.
News confirming her loss has been
brought by oyster fishermen, who have
known of it for more than a week. The
launch exploded, they say, on or about
Jan. 6, near Bird Island, and everything
goes to show that all on board We're killed
at once or drowned soon after.
Last Friday they visited Bird Island and
found a lumber schooner ashore, also
pleasure yacht near the island. The latter
they say was split in half by an Internal
explosion. The men boarded the yacht
and explored her cabin, breaking open the
trunks and taking from them lot of fine
female apparel and keys and whatever
other property they discovered on board.
Although their discovery occurred
week ago. the men did not come to Ven
ice the nearest settlement, until to-day,
when they had to do so to lay in supply
of provisions. In Venice they turned the
| KEYS over to a storekeeper, by whom these
facts were made known. The keys bear
a tag inscribed FLETCHER and Company,
| Indianapolis"
The clothing taken from the trunk by
the men is that of Miss Taggart.
NO bodies We're Seen.
No bodies were seen by the men on or
near Bird Island, but there is no hope or
any one having escaped from the wreck
The Paul Jones had two boats One bad
w stove in was picked up by the Marie
Louise of Mobile. The other, with Paul
Jones" painted on her, was found by the
Pansy of Biloxi.
The three relief expeditions ought to
reach Bird Island tomorrow. Two go
from New Orleans. the Zeta and the Doul-
let, and one from Mobile. the Maude. Bird
Island is merely a sand reef covered by
coarse sea grass.
The launch, which was owned by Law
renee Jones a Louisville distiller was
loaned by him. to Mr.. Yocum. and left
Louisville Dec. s for a trip to Florida
She left New Orleans for Pensacola Jan
3. Since that time nothing definite has
been heard from her until to-day, although
her loss has been rumored since last Sun.
day