The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-14
Smack Was on Her Way To
Fishing Grounds When
Accident Happened.
HENRY GAYLE
FELL OVERHEARD
Other Members of the Crew
Were Asleep and Did Not
Know of It-Explosion
and Fire Followed and the
Men Left the Burning Yes
sci in a Dory.

The auxiliary fishing schooner Nau-
titus, recently purchased by E. E.
Saunders & Co. which sailed Thursday
evening about 5 o'clock for the fishin =
grounds, was badly damaged that
night by fire from an explosion of gas
caused by a leak in the gasoline 1T
tings, and Henry Gayle, one of the
crew, was knocked overheard and
drowned while the vessel was only q
short distance from the life sayi1g
station in the bay. Gayle's body has
not been found, and the vessel is
lying near the life saving station,
where she was taken by Captain
Broadbent and his crew
The circumstances surrounding the
explosion and drowning of Gayle are
peculiar, and just what caused aim
TO be knocked overheard and drown
ed is not known. The smack LETT
Palafox street wharf about ) O'Clock,
with Capt. John Larsen, familiarly
known as Sturgeon john Dave Ben
nett and Henry Gayle on board. Lar
sen and Bennett, it is said, had been
drinking heavily previous to the de-
parture OF the vessel and when theY
went aboard were very much under
the influence of liquor Gayle was at
the wheel when he was knocked over
board and it is thought he was struck
by the boom when he attempted to
jibe the maiAsail. The smack was
going before the wind and just where
the other two members of the crew
were at the time of the accident il
not known. They both admit that
they were not aware of the absencs
of Gayle until they discovered tbe
vessel in flames about 10 o'clock o.
Thursday night. ass
Reached Shore in Dory.
How the fire originated is also
mystery, but it is thought that it orr
mated by either Larsen or Bennett
striking match in the cabin, where
either one of them went for the put-
pose OF smoking. Neither of the two
men know now the fire started, but
they managed to reach shore in
dory and proceeded to the life saw
ing station. The engine was not be-
ing used at the time of the explosion.
The burning vessel was discovered
by Capt Broadbent and the crew at
the life saving station and they I'm
mediately went to the rescue of the
smack. There was no one aboard Of
her when they reached her, Bennett
and Larsen having abandoned the
vessel. The fire was eXtingufshed
after much damage was done and the
vessel was taken TO a point near the
station. Most of the damage is in
the cabin. where the gasoline engine
is located.
Shortly after the return of Cant.
Broadbent and crew to the station,
Bennett and larsen appeared and re-
ported the absence of Gayle and the
burning of the smack They were
brought over to the city YESTERDAY
morning
Gayle was well known in Pen=a-
cola, having resided here for over
ten years, and was known to be
very reliable, sober man. He was not
even drinking at the time OF the acct
dent which resulted in his death bv
drowning He is a brother of Capt.
Alden Gayle, of Gloucester, and was
unmarried. He resided on West Ro.
mana street.
Larsen and Bennett, who botl deem
1y regret the drowning of their ship
mate, are also well known in the
city. having been engaged in snapper
fishing at this port for a long time
Gayle was a member of the local
isherman's union and flags were ,iiS.
played at half-mast on all of the
smacks yesterday out of respect tc
his memory