New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-22
Mrs. J. N. Jarvie, of MontClair,
N. J., Meets Instant Death
Aboard F. c. FletCher'S
New Yacht CriStina.
HOUR AFTER BOAT RACE
At Time of Wedding Banker
Gave His Sister Sum Said to
Have Been $1,000,000
--Damper on New
London Celebration.

New London, Conn, June 2l.-Less
than half an hour after the Harvard
crew crossed the line in the annual var
sity race on the Thames this afternoon a
terrific explosion shook the neighbor-
hood, and the stern superstructure Of tho
steam yacht Cristina was torn apart
from the hull and hurled into the river
Mrs James y. Jarvie, of Montclair,
y. J., was instantly killed. and her hus-
band. who was with her in stateroom
in the after section Of the boat, was
stunned.
The Cristina, which is owned by Fred
erick c. Fletcher, of Boston, steamed
into New London Harbor Yesterday
evening and lay at the New York Yacht
Club anchorage until this morning, when
party of guests from New York and
New Jersey, including Mr.. and Mrs
Jarvie. came aboard. Then the yacht
passed through the drawbridge and took
up a position on the west side Of the
river, just of the Thames shipbuilding
yards
There was a merry crowd on the boat
all day, and their toyousness increased
with each victory that went to the Grim
Son. After the varsity race the whole
party stayed on deck for half an hour or
more TO watch the rapidly dispensing
feet.
Mr.. Fletcher had planned to take his
guests 10 the Griswold for dinner, and
after the crush at the drawbridge had
been relieved he gave the order TO hoist
anchor and return 10 moorings off the
New York Yacht Club landing
Crew all Forward
The windlass had just heaved the ane
chor from the surface Of the water when
the yacht was rocked by a fearful ex-
plosion The crew was forward look
ing after preparations for getting under
way, and, fortunately for them, none of
the deckhands was in the stern, for the
after section Of the steel deck was lifted
clear Of the vessel and tossed into the
stream.
Mr. Fletcher was on deck at the time.
He rushed TO the staterooms where most
Of his guests were and found Mr.. Jarv!e
trying 10 revive his wife. \ hasty eX-
animation showed she was apparently
beyond hope, but a hurry call was sent
for medical assistance and a physician
came from neighboring yacht. He said
that Mrs Jarvie had been killed in
stantly The New London police we're
notified and the body was removed TO
an undertaking establishment here The
Christina was towed downstream TO the
New London wharf.
Mr.. Fletcher said tonight he thought
the accident was caused by the explo-
sion of gases in the hull OF the vessel
which had been ignited by spark from
q effectively insulated wire leading from
the storage batteries.
Mrs. Jarvie. il was said, had lived in
Montclair for several years. Her hus-
band was at one time general manager
FOR the Arbuckle Sugar Refining plants.
Both were enthusiastic followers Of row.
ing, and had not missed a Yale-Harvau
race in years.
Damper on Celebration.
Whel. news Of the accident reached the
city this evening there was lull in the
celebration Of the Harvard victories, and
New London was quieter than II has
been in years on boat race night.
The dead woman was Miss Helen V.
Newton. Of Bloomfield, y. j., and was
married TO Mr.. Jarvie in August, 1913.
At the time he was said TO have observed
the occasion by giving large sum Of
money to his sister, Miss May Scott Jar
vie, with whom he had lived many years
in MontClair. 1t was said the amount
was, perhaps, as much as Sl,OoVo
Next day the announcement was made
that Miss Jarvie had purchased the 500
900 residence Of G.. r. K. Smith, in South
Fullerton avenue.
Miss Newton and Mr.. Jarvie were mar
ried at the nome Of the bride and started
Immediately on the steamship Amerika
tor a tour abroad.
reward Of 500 offered by firm OF
jewellers was the first intimation the
friends Of the couple had that Mrs.
Jarvie had been robbed at her home, In
Upper Mountain avenue, of a $1,000 dia-
mond bracelet, with thirty stones set in
p4dllluiIl, at ii l'''' 'l'Nt''' NV
the middle Of last october. The house
hold servants were all dismissed after
the robbery
Mr.. Jarvie is a banker and is direc-
tor in the Bank OF America. the National
Bank Of Commerce and the New York
Mutual Gas Light Company and trus-
tee Of the Central Trust Company and
the London Assurance Corporation. He
has an Office at No. Sc Broadway. Last
December he purchased the old Tefft-
Weller building through broker.
Yacht Built This Year.
The Cristina is a twin screw steam
yacht 1T feet over all and Of 15J feet
waterline length She has 26 feet 3
inches beam and II feet inches draft
She was designed by Gielow & Orr. Of
this city, and built this year by the
Pusey G. Jones Company, Of Wilmington
Del She is atted with pair Of triple
expansion engines and boilers OF the
water tube type. Her speed under force l
draft is 1876 nautical miles an hour
Her model is a radical departure from
the conventional steam yacht. She has
plumb stem and graceful lines. Her
Eteel deci house is 102 feet long.
The Cristina's owner, Mr.. Fletcher, Is
? member Of the New York. Eastern,
- - Ii - he