Evening journal., 1916-04-22
SAY RIVER Victim
IS H. ?. ARMSTRONG
Body Of Supposed Whining
tonian Found in Bay
Below Smyrna Creek
WAS WITH FATHER
WHEN HE MET DEATH

Fishermen yesterday found the body
of a man believed to be Howard Price
Armstrong, late of No. ia West
Twenty-fourth street, this city, float
ing in the Delaware Bay. seven miles
south Of Smyrna creek. Armstrong
was drowned on Saturday night, De-
cember II. 1915.
Coroner Donoxan of Kent county,
ordered the body removed to Smyrna.
James T. Chandler. undertaken of this
city. went to Smyrna today TO take
charge of the remains. II the body is
Identified as that OF Armstrong, II Will
be brought to this city and buried in
Rivervlew cemetery. with private
funeral services at the Armstrong
home, on Monday afternoon. The
Rev. Or. Herbert r. Randolph. pastor
OF Grace NJ. h. Church, will ofiiciate.
The clothing on the body. an Open
faced gold watch, keys, the amount Of
money found in the pockets and other
articles Indicate that the corpse is
hat Of Armstrong The condition Of
the body Is poor because Of the
length Of time Il has been in the
water The body was found in shall
low water, where 1t had been left by
the recedIng tides.
Mr. Armstrong was superintendent
OF the Harris Marine Engine Company
Of this city. and lived with his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Howard o. Armstrong,
al No ia West Twenty-fourth street
Mr. Armstrong and his father start
ed down the bay on Saturday. Decem-
Der Ii. in their launch. the Signet, in
tending TO spend several days duck
hunting Early that night. when in
the middle OF the Delaware Bay,
about four miles from the mouth OF
the Smyrna river, the son went NO
the cabin of the launch TO light a
gasoline stove that was used to heat
the cabin Nv Armstrong, the father,
who Is 60 years OF age, was at the
wheel at the time He cautioned his
son to oxt,ngiish all the lights while
he was handling the gasoline. and
this the son did.
II is thought that tho stove was hot,
however for a short time after the
son went into ihe cabin a fash OF fire
resulted Tie next instant tho in
terror of the boat was filled with
flames Mr.. Armstrong did not see
hir sor 20 overheard, but immcdi-
afoly fol.cw.ng the explosion he
heard fairt cry FOR help coming out
of tho darkness. and about tifty feet
from the launch. He then realized
that his sor had been blown over
\ board by the force OF the explosion.
(Mr Armstrong was powcrless 70 rem
dor any aid
Ho had loft the yacht wheel wher
he heard tho explosion and was face
10 face with the fire within the cabin
which by This time had become seri
Gus. To add 20 his difficulty the oil
tank started 20 leal, and the blazing
oil flowed over the boat. Tie finally
succeeded in putting out tho fire but
ia so doing burned himself about the
face and hands
Getting back 10 the steering wheel
ho ran the launch ashore the marshes
az tho mouth Of the Smyrna creek.
Suffering from his injuries and the
cold end almost distracted by the loss
OF his son. he had 10 walk two miles
through the marshes across country
10 the nearest farmhouse. He was
taken to Clayton railroad station. but
lad 20 remain there from 10 o'clock
a. night until o'clock the next morn
ing before he could get a train back
TO this city.
The clothing on the body found yes
terday showed burns and this fact
seemed to indicate without doubt that
the body Is that Of Armstrong.