The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-05-31
JOHN KENNEDY JUMPS
FROM BURNING YACHT
Broker and Ills skipper Couldn't
Put out Fire on the Ranc
of riverside.
BOTH MEN WERE RNED
Rescued by a ROwbOat While
the $1,000 Cruiser on Tun-
ing Up Trip Sinks.

John Kennedy. a stock broker with
offices at :, broadway. was compelled
10 jump into the Hudson River together
with Capt. Ben Jacobson. the skipper of
his yacht. the Rane. yesterday forenoon
when the Rane caught fire out in the mid
die of the river almost opposite Mr.. Ken
, nedv's residence overlooking the Hudson
At 254th street and Palisade avenue,
Riverdac. Capt. Jacobson was burned
badly about the hands and forearms and
Mr. Kennedy also was scorched bit
about the hands during an ineffectua
attempt to put out the flames The Rane
burned TO the waters edge and then sank
near the Jersey shore.
The boa, was built year ago for Mr.
! Kennedy She was IA fifty five foot cruiser.
ten foot beam. of flush deck design and
carried one signal mast; She was equipped
with six cylinder engine of sixty horse
power and was capable of hitting up a
speedy clip She cost Sl5,OW originally
and Mr. Kennedy spent 5000 more in
! furnishings and other incdentals.
! After being laid up for the winter the
Rann recently was overhaulcd and only
: few DAYS ago was pu, in commission for
. we SEASON. NUtIi sic WOE ps Va ~
fire YESTERDAY the cr(biser was OH her first
spin oi the year. "A little tuning up trip
from her doch opposite the Kennedy resi-
tlonce up tho Hudson and back again
, preparatory to IL sail later in the dav.
/ which Mr. Kennedy had planned for hum
self and his farily
, About . O'Clock yesterday morning the
Ruup got under way for her tuning up
-, IA ,,ni, llr kannCHv and
jacobson aboard After short run IN
the river tn cruiser Vas headed
toward the .orsav shore She WIS
heing Swung aboLt To head for her
own dock again. everything gong
smoothly up 10 this time, when the trou-
biz, started Mr.. Kennedy was AT the
wheel and Capt. Jacobson was below
nursing the engine. When about hall
wav between the Jersey shore and the
home dock the skipper turned away
from his ngine for a moment but swung s
around upon hearing "A slight explosion.
Capt jacobson called to Mr. Kennedy
that the boat was on fire about the engin.
and the owner hurried below with cx
tirrushers The skipper had unsl,ln1
an ex,ing,,siher and was trying to smother
the flames when Mr. Kennedy arrived
Together they used up six eHfinguisher'
, aud then took to water buckets to figh
the fire hut the flames rapidly were get
ting the best Of them They gave up tn,
. lirht az last and were driven TO the decl
by the heat smoke and flames now shoot
. ing Oh; from the portholes.
The Skipper ran up IA distress sigma
. and he and Mr. Kennedy then climbed
over the rail As the flames came closer
the two men hung from the rail by thei
, h,ist.red hands in readiness to drop int
the water
| The burning vach, now was beGinnin
To drift toward the JERSEY shore X
, this time a crowd was gathering alon
both shores and yelling encouragement t
The men hanging over the side lar out oi
the river.
Tn and down the stream and along eithe
shore "A fleet of river craft consisting OF a
, sized boats from sliiffS up TO "A powerful
sonCoing tug which happened % be swash
, ing IN stream began to converge TOWARD
the doomed cruiser.
A little rowboat. with Karl Wath OF p
Woodward avenue. ionkcrs, at the oar'
was closest TO the Rane when she Caueh
: IRE Wa,h and friend in the boat Wit
rr,,,.or uis. as the flames comrelle
Mr. Kennedy and his skipper to dro
INTO the river The two men bobhet
, nm "A few feet away and they werc pulle
into the rowboat bv Wath and his frien
and ,owed 20 the New York shore.
Patrolman Poole of the kNngsbridS Z
, stat ION in the meant,m had seen IN
Yacht now afane from stem to sterf
. and had turned in an alarm While the ftr'
. boa, George r. Mcclellan was sieamln
I'M from her station AT l3:d street and II
, Harlem River and police launch Va
ON ber wav from the Harbor Squad b sta