Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-20
SURVIVOR OF
YACHT JULIA
TELLS STORY

over the loss Of her husband and i'll
from her terrible experience, Mrs. j.
w. Murray, the lone survivor of the
yacht Julia, which was destroyed in
Panlico sound Friday morning fol-
lowing an explosion of gasoline, ar
rived in this city Monday on the rev.
enue cutter Pamlico.
With Mrs. Murray came w E.
Porch, husband Of Mrs. w. E. Porch,
who was lost, and E. Griffith Dodson.
brother of G. P. Dodson, who also was
drowned. j. W. Murray, who persisted,
was prominent North Carolina bank
er. living in Burlington.
We left Norfolk last Wednesday,"
said Mrs. Murray to a correspondent
Mr.. Dodson was in charge of the
boat, which my husband had decided
to buy. We came down to North Caro-
lima through the canal and had
pleasant trip until we reached Pam
leo sound Thursday night, about 10
o'clock. Mr.. Dodson said we were of
Long Point, and we decided to anchor
for the night. We all retired about
1922 or II o'clock
Il do not remember what happened
between that time and about l o'clock
occurred
A Match Started All
Il heard some one strike a match.
l do not know who it was. There fol :
lowed an explosion and l was blown
through a window on the opposite
side Of the boat. l don't know how
did it, but my hand grasped some
thing as my body shot through the
window. l did not know what it was
until l fell into the water. Then
saw it was q life preserver
Il saw flames shooting out Of the
boat and 1 saw my husband pick up
Mrs. Porch in his arms. Her clothes
were on fire, and l saw him throw her
into the water and then jump over
board himself That was the last /
saw Of them.
Il did not see Mr. Dodson leave
the boat, but after 1 had been in the
water some time l heard him call.
He was very near to me and l could
see him. l asked him to take hold Of
my life preserved.
both go down
4 told him it was his only chance,
but he wouldn't do it. He told m
soodby and sank below the surface
I do not know if he was badly in
jured in the explosion.
1t was very dark out on the water
when the Julia finally burned up and
| sank. l could not see anything and
| only heard the sound Of wind an 1
splash Of the waves. l was several
miles from shore. but did not know
it until 1 was picked up. 1 swan for
about three miles.
Freezing, She Kept Fighting
I thought I would go down at any
minute, but I kept trying to reach the
shore. l was thankful that 1 did not
have on heavy clothing. Otherwise !
don't believe l would be here tonight"
Il do not know how long / was in the
water and do not remember distinctly
being picked up.
when l came to myself I wan on an
island. My rescuers said l had been in
| the water over three hours. l was res
cued by a party of fishermen, of which
Capt Midget was the leader.
They told me they had picked me up
III the Sound ana had searched around
! for the others. but saw no trace of them
They gave me restoratives, wrapped me
in blankets and carried me to Engle-
hard, the largest of the islands in that
section. where fisherman has a COM
Portable home
Mrs. Murray was not injured by the
explosion. Search for the bodies of the
three persons who lost their lives will be
continued by the revenue cutter PomIico
and several smaller boats