New Britain herald., 1925-06-12
g Forced To Leap Into Ocean, Eight Miles of Board Walk, When Pleasure Craft Gas Tanks Explode.
Panic on Board Follows Fatal Blast Which Inter- rupted Evening of Song and Jollity.

Atlantic City. N. J.. June 12 Rl-- Five persons are believed to have been drowned last night, when an explosion, followed by fire, de- stroyed the pleasure boat Crystal" forcing thirty-two persons. includ- ing the crew, to leap overheard while on pleasure cruise about eight miles off Atlantic City. The explosion is attributed to a cigaret end thrown down 1natchway.
 One Body Found
 The body of Deborah Mcknight, IS years old. was brought ashore early today by coast guards, while a patrol boat is continuing the search for John Hannum of Northfeld, Warren Dilks of Linwood. Joseph Wilson of Northfeld and Martha Weiss, still missing.
 The 27 survivors were all taken to hospitals and treated for burns and submersion. They had been a1oat an hour before coast guard cutter picked up sixteen. A "dry navy" boat rescued eleven others.
 Curtis Lyle, one of those aboard the ill-fated boat told this story:
 Story of Disaster
 "We started out for a moonlight sail on the Crystal and were having a jolly time about six miles off shore. We could see Atlantic City lights, especially along the board- walk and now and then caught glimpses of g coast-wise steamship or fishing boat, about all we could see were the sailing lights.
 All Enjoying Themselves
 "Around 9:So o'clock we all had a fine meal and most of the party had found seats on the top deck, and were playing ukes and singing. having a good time. There were six of us in a cabin slightly below the top deck. We were smoking and chatting. I was not paying par ticular attention to what took place. but some one tossed the butt of A cigarette through a small hatchway into room where I think the gaso- line tanks were. I am not sure Of this, but apparently I'm right. for he gas fumes must have caused the explosion.
 Terrific Explosion
 There was terrible blast ike a crack of thunder banging right into your ears-the boat seem- cd to be heaved right up off the sea. The boat rolled from side to side. long sickening rolls that threw us around, and in a moment when we got to our feet I found myself on the top deck. I must havei been blown out of the cabin. The water was splashing around the decks. We were stunned. The boat gave an awful lurch and I saw two or the lifeboats go spinning into the ocean, The next thing I knew most of us were fioundering around in the water, cut and shocked.
 "Then I saw Walter Dilks and Walter Wilson trying to swim to Martha Weiss, Blood streamed down Dilk's face and he couldn't see where he was going. Wilson took a. couple Of strokes then and his head flew back as plank struck him. Then he went under crying. pilks almost reached Martha. She was striking out for herself when she sank. Dilks went under then too.
 "I saw searchlights from some boats, then everything became con- fused. I came to in the hospital"
 According to Harry Lehmann' who was at the wheel at the time of the explosion, with his wife, Barbara, all was quiet and peace ful when suddenly there was great detonation followed by an unheaVei of the forward deck.
 Panic on Board
 The messengers became frantic when the flames began to eat away ;he floor of the vessel and rushed "a the starboard. This caused a list submerging all the life boats on hat side of the vessel.
 Captain William Young. in com nand of the yacht, sought to quiet he passengers and ordered the men ,o try to launch the lifeboats on the oort side. There was then a heavy ist to the port causing those on hat side to go sdrift.
 Believing that they would all De aoomed if they remained longer on the burning craft. the captain ordered all the women passengers to equip themselves with life belts and jump overheard. The men oid likewise. Captain Young was the