Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-19
Sole Survivor SWimS Ashore to
Spend Night Walking Marsh.
ONE BODY is RECOVERED
Helped to Shore, Gray Perhaps Lost
Life in Quicksand.
THIRD MAN UNACCOUNTED FOR
Gasoline Tank on Fire-Men Jump
of Navigation Bureau.

Spattered with mud from head to foot
and drenched to the skin. William E
Alger. twenty-five years old. wandered out
of the marsh on the Eastern branch just
at daylight this morning to tell of a
tragedy which had been enacted during
the hours of darkness.
Alger is sole survivor probably, OF a lit
tie boating party Of three men which
started out yesterday for an afternoon of
pleasure on the river. His two compan-
ions, W. II. Gray and William Rule, have
not been seen since. 1t Is almost certain
they were drowned.
1t is possible that even a worse fate
than drowning overlook Gray. Alger saw
him safely to the shore after the accident
which disabled their boat. Gray may
have gone down to death in the soft mud
or in quicksand on the marsh.
The boat in which the three men were
riding was the little power launch Zulu,
owned by Alger. The disaster was caused
by an unprotected carbureter. back flash
causing the gasoline in the boats supply
tank to ignite and explode, throwing all
three men into the water.
The accident happened about 8 o'clock
last night. Since the first news, as re-
ceived by the police this morning, the
police of the harbor precinct have been
out in the naphtha launch Maj. Sylvester
dragging the bottom of the Eastern
branch, but the bodies of Gray and Rule
have not been recovered.
Night Of Horror.
Probably no more thrilling tale has been
written in the annals of accidents among
pleasure seekers on the Potomac river
than this tragedy.
Alger. Gray and Rule. all employed in
the bureau of navigation. had been in the
habit of spending their afternoons after
work in skimming about the waters of
the Eastern branch and of the main chan
mel of the river in Ager's launch. They
started out yesterday about 5 o'clock,
carrying lunch with them in lieu of sup
per. SO that they might take advantage
of all Of the daylight hours without re-
turning to their homes for the evening
meal
Ayers boat was kept at j. o. Miller's
boathouse at Benning bridge Starting
from that point, the men cruised about
the Washington and Georgetown channels
for an hour. and then went ashore at
the lover end of Potomac Park, opposite
the War Colle5e. and ate their supper
Afterward they went as far upstream as
the Long bridge, and then started back
toward Benning.
For several days Alger has been having
trouble with his engine. He had new
batteries yesterday. Everything went
we'll until they started I'D the Eastern
branch.
Several times the engine stopped. Each
time greater difficulty was experienced in
getting it started. Round the bend at
Devils Elbow back of the District iail
the propeller stopped again.
AS Alger tried to start it a sheet of
fame came from the carburetor Before
any OF the three had an opportunity To
avert the impending catastrophe the boat
was filled with blazing oil as the supplv
tank exploded
All Leap Overheard.
To escape the flames. all three leaned
overheard. Alger and Rule were hot
strong swimmers. AS they clung to the
gunwales Rule called to Aleer to helm
Gray.
Alger kept Gray afoat He swan with
him to the edge of the mud flats and left
him standing in water which was about
waist-deep.
Then he returned To tho ho.t opd oo1lod
to Rule. There was no answer
Thinking Rule might have made his
way to the opposite shore, AIger turned
his attention 10 the boat With an idea
that he might extinguish the fire. he tilted
the tiny vessel and let the water run
over the sides
AS II happened, he tilted the boat too
much II filled and sank In an instant
he was enveloped in the flaming oil
which spread over the surface OF the
water.
Alger was almost exhausted by his eff
forts. He was just able to reach the
flats.
The heavy fog which covered the river
and the flats last night completely OBJ
scured all landmarks. Alger was COM
pletely bewildered.
At first he tried 70 find a course out
OF the marsh by guiding his footsteps by
the sound OF freight engines whistling in
the Anacostia yards. After what seemed
hours of effort he was apparently as far
from dry land "a when he started
Alger was dazed by the fear that his
companions had been drowned This
probably contributed TO his loss of the
sense OF direction. He spent the entire
night wandering about in the marsh
With the coming of the dawn he chose
what appeared To be the shortest way
out of the dilemma by again swimming
across the branch by circuitous route
To Miller's boathouse.
Companions Not Heard From.
Hearing nothing OF his companions at
that place. he called up Rules home by
phone and found that the latter had not
been seen since he started out for the
boat ride. He also went to Mount Rainier
Gray's home. and found that Gray. too,
was missing. Then he notified the police.
Mr.. Lyttle. chief clerk in the depart
IC0ntinued on Second Psgs)