The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-01

A merry pleasure party speeding
across Lake Minnetonka in a swift
launch late last night, the laughter
Of the men women Won en a., ch III rem
engine and the seething wash Of the
waves, was visited by suffering and
death. The odor Of gasolene defined
q leak. An effort was made to To-
plostop, binding, burning flash, and
then the rapid progress Of the flames
as they ate up the lnflammable rustic
Eeclining chairs and upholstering.
rdewellyn Christian, the weli-known
aniller, had on board Mr.. Christian, his
daughter. Mrs. George L. Upton, and
her husband; Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Mer-
Timan and their two children, Harry,
years old, and Prudence 8, and MIS-.
V A short distance ofe-sTonka Bay
after pleasant ride to various lake
points, the explosion occurred, IT
was deafenins, and was heard FOR
more than O. mile across the lake,
FLAMES and burning oil covered the
occupants Of the launch, the front END
!of which was blown out.
The men and women struggled for
she water. other members OF the
unfortunate party say that Mrs, Dew
ereaux, by her heroic efforts, saved the
lives Of the two children, keeping them
afioat until assistance came from other
boats, which were attracted by the
boom Of the explosion,
Couldn't Find Leak.
The party had left the home OF
Llewellyn Christian In his launch, the
RsEleanor," early In the evening. With
IA out any premonition Of the lmpend-
ing catastrophe the trip to Tonka Bay
III was made. The party spent some time
3 at the Minnetonka Boat clubhouse
band at the pavilion, starting for home
4at about 1890. After the launch hat
gotten well under way toward Gales
pisland, the engine bucked and refused
to work. Turnout the evening the
odor Of gasolene had been detected
- by the party, but all efforts to dis
" cover q leak had been futile, aooord
ing to the statement made by Mr.
ia Merriman this morning.
III AS soon as the engine refused tt
work, Mr.. Upton went to work upoI
it, while Mr.. Merriman took charge o
the wheel; Some re- n little ~ time ~ wa wa
Retarted and hope had almost been giv
bn I'D and O rowboat had been hailet
to pull the launch into Shore, whel
+ Nseemingly Of it's own motion the en-
@gine started UP and the launch SO
The engine HAD made but tey
Revolutions when deafening explo
sion occurred. Flames and hurntn
8oil covered the occupants Of tn
siently to the floor while the wome
and the children we're either. blow
into the lake or Jumped In, Thel
aCries and the noise of the explosion
ktogether with the glare from the no
burning craft, brought eager rescue1
Ito their assistance.
The force of the explosion blew OF
1.-THE entire front end Of the boat, Will
the flames destroyed most of til
Woodwork above the water line.
Many to the Rescue
Frank Morse, in his yacht, tt
sUndline, happened to be but sho
distance away and was the first
reach the launch. He picked the tv
children from the water just as tn.
were about to go down, while Il
Helena, number Of rowboats ar
several yachts reached the launch ar
I took off the burned and injured pc
! sons.
~ All were taken to Tonka Bay, whe
medical attention was at once sur
moned. It was decided that bett
| attention could be given them if pa
Mrs Merrinan and Mrs Upton we
placed In boats and with all 6fspat
| taken to the White House, whe
preparations had been made for thu
Immediate attention. Doctors a
nurses were secured.
The most intense excitement pr
vailed along the south shore of
lake during the entire night, repo
gaining Roadway that one Of the lar
steamers had blown UP. Everyo
X 4 was anxious to render whatever
istance was in his power to the
fured people and large corps "
tlppt in attendance procuring lotto
\ shtton and bandages.
n roA casual investigation Of the ca,
on the accident would seem to lay
Responsibility to a leak in the gal
ne tank. Mr.. Merriman and
n ineristian both state that they had {
gated the odor OF gasoIene shor
flo.er starting out, but their best {
avars failed to locate the Leak.
Leg Continued on Sixth Page.