Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-03
DROWNED IN POTOMAC
Five Negroes Leap Off Launch
Attire and Three Are Dead.
BODIES NOT RECOVERED
Men Fight Madly in Water. Frus-
trating Companions Efforts.
RESCUE BY ANOTHER LAUNCH
Victims All Alexandrians-Gas
line Ignited When Match
Was Struck.
BODIES NOT RECOVERED

Spccial Dispatch /" Tho Star.
ALEXANDRIA August 3.--of five ne
sroes who jumped into the Potomac last
death by fire three found watery grave.
The gasoline launch suddenly took fire
at about 10 O'Clock last night. The fright
ened negroes gathered at the other end
Of the boat. out of reach OF the flames.
The launch careened under their wild
movements
All Jumped overheard k;,lf mile below
Fort Fcote. AS a result three of the five
lost their lives.
Dead and Survivors.
The drowned, all Alexandria residents,
are:
Ernest G.: Grady, thirtyfour years old.
barber who conducted a shop at 2o' King
street. Grady is survived by wife and
one child
Robert Mckenna, barber twenty-three
years old. unmarried. lill Duke street
Charles Hardy. laborer, twenty-three
years old, Oronoco street.
The .Wo saved We're:
Frank jackson, barber. twenty-seren
years old
Robert Grady. brother Of the drowned
man. captain of small boat.
Dragging for the bodies was resumed
this morning by the haibor police boat OF
Washington. H. 10 noon none OF Inc
bodies had been recovered. Besides the
harbor police boat several private parties
arc also dragging for the bodies.
Details of Tragedy.
The men left this city at O'Clock last
night !. was the first trip made by Ell
nest Grady. who recently acquired the
launch Their objective point was River
View.
When off Sandy bar. half mile be-
low Fort Foote, the engine for some u,l-
known cause refused to work. Grady
struck a match to see what was the trou-
BILE. AS he did gasoline which had
leaked from the tank ignited.
The flames fiared up and panic ensued
on the boat. Then all leaped into the
river
The boat was on the Virginia side Of
the channel at the time and in about
thirty-five feet OF water
Then began a mad battle for life. The
others fought frantically. while Robert
Grady struggled to save them. Although
a good swimmer his efforts were in vain
Launch Comes to Rescue.
The occupants of the gasoline launch
Gulmore Of Washington, including sever
al men and women, were attracted TO
the launch by the fire. They came - the
assistance of the drowning men.
After a few minutes Robert Grady was
pulled out of the water. Jackson was
afterward rescued
The two men were saved by +. r. Da
wilson. 13o2 18th street northwest. and
O. X: Evans, 81 Bryant. street northwest.
both of Washington. They We're unable
to save the others. All had gone down
to death nv this time.
The Guimore remained at the scene of
tho drowning about ten minutes. The sur
viyorS We're then brought to this city,
where they related their story. Davidson
and Evans also reported the matter to
the police.
Brother Blinded by Flames.
Robert Grady said this morning that
he is of opinion that his brother. Err
nest Grady, was partially blinded or
was burned. He appeared dazed and be-
wildered. says the survivor.
The launch has not yet been recov-
cred.
All the drowned men were well known
| among their race of this city. AS soon
as news of the accident reached here a
large crowd gathered on the river from
to learn the details. Several river men
dragged during "a part of the night for
the bodies of the drowned men.