New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10
EXPLOSION ON YACHT:
MAID IS BADLY BURNED
Servant, Filling Alcohol Lamp,
Causes Fire on A. w. ParSonS'S
Schooner at Glen Cove.
THREE CHILDREN ON BOARD
Neighboring Vessels Rush to Give
Assistance, but Crew Extin-
guishes Flame Before Great
Damage Is Done.

Glen Cove. Long Island. Sept. @
Dense clouds of black smoke pouring
from the forward hold OF Arthur Webb
Parsons's schooner yacht Yankee, an
chored in Glen Cove Harbor yesterday
afternoon, set the New York Yacht
Clubs anchorage around about into a
fermont OF excitement Launches and
tenders that happened to be in commits
sion at the time swarmed TO the aid OF
the burning vessel but the fire was
enectually subdued by the Yankees own
crew before help arrived.
The only person injured in the con
flagration was a maid, who had been in
the employ of the Parsons family FOX
about twelve Years. She was responsible
for the alconol explosion that caused the
fire. and received severe burns on the
left leg and on both hands. Or. Ginniver
OF Glen Cove, who treated her, allowed
her to remain on board the vessel.
MT Parsons, a member Of the Fencers'
Club and a graduate of Columbia Uni
yersity. lives at No - East ed street.
this city He and his family have been
cruising in Long Island waters most OF
the summer in the Yankee. Yesterday
afternoon, however. he was Jsent from
the vessel. visiting on another yacht
near by. His seventeen-year-Ol daugh-
ter, Miss Dorothea Webb Parsons. who
attends the Taconic School, at Lakeville,
Conn, during the winter; two young
boys and the maid were the only occu-
pants Of the boat when the accident
happened besides the crew.
The explosion resulted from an ill
advised attempt on the part Of the maid
10 fill an alcohol stove while ii was
lighted. Among other things in the for
ward hold Of the schooner was a five
gallon tank jf alcohol. Observing that
the stove which she had lighted was
running short Of fuel, the maid conceived
the idea of saving trouble by transfer
ring some of the fluid from the tank TO
lie stove without extinguishing the lat
ter. The result could be heard for sew
eraI miles around
W I'm Hti uItSS dbldLt anu al lItll OL
flame behind the frightened maid
started for the deck just as the two boys
and the crew appeared in the compan-
ionway. Selling a blanket, one OF them
threw /. around her while the rest
turned their attention 20 the blazing
hold.
1t was no easy work fighting the flames
that We're fed by the leaking alcohol, but
a quickly organized bucket squad had
successfully headed off their further
spread when the first launch attracted
by the explosion pulled alongside. The
hasty action Of the crew was the only
thing that saved the yacht from destruc-
ton.
Mr. Parsons was one OF the first 70
climb over the side after the fire was
under control. Anxious for the safety
Of his daughter. he had hastened from
the yacht he was visiting with all speed.
and was much relieved to find that mat
tiers were no worse. He sent ashore i'm
medately for the doctor 10 treat the
maids burns
When the last spark had been deluge
and the danger was over Mr. Parsons
said that the vessel had not been dam
aged TO any extent.