Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-11-30
OCCUPANTS RESCUED
FROM WATER after
JUMPING FROM BOAT
RoWboat, Skiff and Motorboat
Used by ReScuers Working
in Darkness
MAN FOUND ON ROCKS
Powerful SearChlight Reveals
Exhausted Man to Rescu-
erS-No fatalities Result

SEwAREN, Nov 30.-Six Railway
persons were saved from drowning
about 7 o'clock last night when the
semi-cruiser "Mary L. in which they
were cruising caught fire and all of
the occupants were forced to jump
overheard into the cold water The
rescues were accomplished by Frank
LaFarr, of Sewaren, a slxiff manned
by men attached TO one of the u. S.
Shipping board boats moored in
Staten Island sound and by Wood
bridge firemen aboard Frederick
Turner's motorboat Hummer. -
Although all six persons suffered
from shock and exposure the ex
perience did not result in any OF
them being in a serious condition
with the possible exception of one
man who was found lying exhausted
on the rocks which form the
foundation for the buoy between
Sewaren and Port Reading.
Those In the party were: Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Ramon, Mrs. John Sen.
kueeh and David Smith, of 16 Main
street, George Lanning, of Essex
street, and Edward Haines, all OF
Railway. Ramon owned the boat
and the trip was said to have been
for the purpose of demonstrating the
ability of his boat which he desired
to sell.
The cause OF the mishap could
not be learned but an explosion il
SAID to nave occurred which wa,
followed by flames sweeping ov6E
the craft causing everyone to Jump
for his life. Only two persons gra ~
l..
Mrs. Walter Higgins. who lives
along the Cliff road in Sewaren had
her attention attracted by the sud-
den flash of fire as she saw the boat
ablaze. She at once telephoned
frank LaFarr, who put out In a row
boat for the burning cruiser, In the
meantime the fire had been noticed
by men on board of one or the ship
ping board vessels and u skiff start
ed for the blaze. The Woodbridge
hremen were notified cf the blaze
and 1t proved to be a wise move. as
the electric searchlight and first aid
equipment on. the truck. together
with six newly purchased warm
blankets, were badly needed.
LaFarr picked up three OF the
party as they were struggling TO
keep atloat in the cold water. Guild
ed by their shouts the men from the
shipping board boat managed to To-
cate two others and hauled them
out of the water to safety The
sixth member, Haines. was missing
and no word could be heard from
him. The silence caused the res
cuers to believe he had drowned.
Upon the arrival of the firemen
they sought means of getting out to
the blazing cruiser. Frederick Tur-
ner's Hummer" a motorboat Of
considerable speed. was made ready
for action by the hooking up of a
battery, while Peterson took a piece
of rag and made a temporary plug
of 1t to permit the motor to function
properly.
The firemen took aboard the pow
erful electric searchlight recently
purchased for the firemen upon the
insistent request of Chief Greiner,
and with Peterson holding the tenn
porary plug in place the boat started
for the spot where the accident oc-
Cured. The five rescued persons
We're taken from the rowboat and
skiff and placed aboard the motor
boat and the search for Haines was
started, the powerful rays OF the
Continued on page 81 r.