Evening star., 1909-06-21
RIVER LAUNCH BURNS
Nine Men Aboard Barely Es-
cape With Lives.
RESCUED BY CANOEISTS
Several Unable to Swim Compelled
to Jump Overheard.
GOOD TIME A TOTAL LOSS
Vessel One of the Finest on the
Potomac-story of Rescue
Told by Participant.

Nine men narrowly escaped death about
Z: 30 O'Clock last night when the launch
Good Time suddenly caught fire and
burned to the waters edge in the
Georgetown channel of the Potomac river
The occupants of the Graf: jumped over
board and were rescued by persons in
small crafts. who witnessed the accident
and went to their assistance.
Ihose aboard the Good Time. besides
the owner. Edwin G. kahlert, meat mer-
chant. 3@ Rhode Island avenue north
west, were: F. w. kahlert, grocer. 3Of
Rhode Island avenue northwest: August
kahlert, manager, 1925 n street north
west: f. w. kahlert, jr.. clerk. 3o6 Rhode
Island avenue northwest: Frank II. Gum
mel, clerk, 800 Rhode Island avenue
northwest; Edward G. Gummel, con-
tractor. 800 Rhode Island avenue
northwest; Clinton D. Goldman, employed
at the government printing office, residing
at North Capitol and / streets, and John
Morrison. cigar merchant, 1913 7th street
northwest.
The accident occurred when the launch
was in midstream and about opposite the
bandstand of the speedway. The craft
was moving along at a good speed with
the occupants all seated near the stern.
explosions. Almost Immediately flames
shot up near the steering gear and slight
ly burned Edwin G. kahlert, the owner
of the launch. on the arm. The blaze
the gasoline in the tank. There was a
flash and then the launch took fire.
Forced to Jump Overheard.
AS the blaze started toward the stern
of the boat. Mr. Goldman. who was the
nearest to the bow, leaped overheard. He
called out that he could not SWIM One
of the occupants managed to stop the
engine and then the launch slowed up,
with the result that the flames did not
spread as rapidly as when the explosion
first occurred.
A frail canoe was nearby, occupied by
n. ]. Swearingen of 60o F street north
west. a District fire alarm operator, and
+. c. Darlington of 1926 G street north
west, employed by the real estate firm
OF Moore & Hill. who were padding.
and John l.. Hines. also a District fire
alarm opera tor. 1910 18th street north
west. who was sitting in the bottom OF
the craft. They Immediately started for
the launch. and. as they neared it, Cod
out that he was unable to swim Mr..
Darlington jumped overheard and swan
with him to the canoe Goldman held
on to the side while Mr. Darlington went
About this time the flames had gained
such headway that all of the occupants
of the launch were compelled to take TO
the water All but three of them were
able to swim. and they, with the assist
ance of Mr. Darlington, succeeded in
reaching the side of the canoe, to which
they clung until taken ashore.
Help From the Shore.
AS the canoe was nearing the launch
the canoeists called at the top of their
voices, which attracted the attention of
persons on the shore. Barton s. Stew
art of 3342 Mount Pleasant street north
west padded out in canoe and aided
in the rescuing of the men from the
water.
A Swede in tender from the yacht
Lounger. owned by j. B. Hammond, q
typewriter manufacturer, started out to
aid in the rescuing. AS he rea ched the
place one of the men let go of Mr.. Stew
arts canoe and attempted to climb into
the tender. which resulted In the water
partly filling the boat. Fearing that the
other men would also make an attempt
TO get aboard the SWede started ashore
with his one occupant.
Another launch appeared and threw a
tow line to Hines, who was in the center
of one of the canoes. During the excite
ment the tow rope became entangled with
the rope of the burning launch. and could
not be loosened without boarding the
launch. Mr.. Swearingen, without thought
of danger, climbed upon the burning craft
and united the rope and then got aboard
the other launch. The small launch, with
the canoes in tow. and the men holding
on the sides. started toward the District
shore at a slow speed. During the trip
ashore Darlington and Swearingen swan
alongside of the men who were holding
on to the canoes, In order to render as
sistance If they might lose their hold.
Threw Over Life-Preservers.
w G. Schafhirt. a dentist. who is a
member of the Capital Yacht Club. had
a party of ladies in his launch coming
up the river when he saw the blazing
launch, with the men floundering in the
water. Mr.. Schafhirt started for the
scene, and threw several -preservers
to the men. but they all retained their
hold upon the canoes
Mr.. Schafhirt stated this morning that
owing to the number of ladies aboard
his launch he was unable to approa ch
near enough to take any of the men
aboard. He also stated that the club
has in its possession some oars believed
to belong to some canoeist engaged in
the rescue and that number of white
and red life-preservers belonging to the
club were lost or are in possession of
some one who picked them up from the
water.
Burned to Waters Edge.
During the excitement word was tele-
phoned to the Firefghter. which steamed
up the river about the time the persons
were being towed ashore. The freboat
threw a number of streams of water on
the craft, but the flames had gained such
headway that 1t was impossible to save
anything. The fire slowly burned out.
after only the hull at the waters edge
remained. The launch was valued at
5000. and was one of the finest crafts
of Its kind on the river
1t is stated that when the men had
been safely placed ashore. one of them
drew roll of money from his pocket and
after thanking his rescuers tossed the
money into the canoe. The young men,
however. declined the money with thanks.
The canoeists later boarded their
craft and returned to their lighthouses,
none the worse for their experience AL
though the rescued men were badly
frightened. none of them received any
injuries except the slight burns to the
launch owners arms They went to
their homes on street cars.
Described by Witness.
When seen today Mr.. Darlington in
referring to the accident. said: Il was
with Mr.. Swearingen and Mr.. Hines
We were out In the canoe on our way
to Georgetown. We had been admiring
the lines of the Good Time. when / no.
ticed that there were several misses in