Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-01
Mrs. ]. B. MacMurray's Body
Found-R 3. Woods
Severely Hurt.
BOAT AFLAME AFTER
GAS TANK EXPL0DES
Crew Of Government Tug Rescues
Two Uninjured-Pleasure
Craft Sinks.

One woman lost her life and three
companions were saved by the efforts
of the crew of Government tug when
a cabin cruiser burst into flames fol-
lowing the explosion of the gasoline
tank and sank in the Potomac River
of the Bellevue Laboratory last night.
Mrs. Esther G. MacMurray, % years
old, of 1908 Asf1mead place, met death.
Her body was found floating face down.
ward in the water near the burning
boat.
Richard B. Woods, 2s years old, of
4701 Connecticut avenue, the owner of
the boat, was severely burned on the
body and arms by the flaming gasoline
j. Barton MacMurray, "a years old,
husband of the dead woman, and Miss
Mary O'Brien, the fourth member OF
the party, we're unhurt.
Were on Pleasure Cruise.
The explosion occurred about 7:30
while the four were on pleasure cruise.
The blazing craft was Immediately
sighted by the naval tug Tecumseh as
1t was off Alexandria and about two
and-a-han miles away. Chief Boat
swains Mate N. H. williams, the COM
mander of the boat, ordered the tug to
proceed under full steam to the scene.
The Tecun1seh is an old boat and
not built for speed but it made the
run in less than Is minutes. Woods
and Miss O'Brien we're found clinging
TO the piers of the Bellevue wharf. Mac
Murray was still swimming in the water
about 30 yards away and making for
land.
The inert form of Mrs. MacMurray
was some distance down the river near
where the burning boat had drifted. A
skill. manned by civilian whose name
was not ascertained. pulled out from
the shore Just as the tug arrived and
assisted In the rescue. The three sur
vivors were pulled into the boat and
rowed to the Tecumseh. while Firemen
Paul Manning and j. d. Henry of the
naval boat were swimming toward Mrs.
MacMurray.
Rushed to Navy Yard.
Williams ordered his vessel to pro-
ceed to the Navy Yard at top speed as
soon IS all the victims of the accident
were safely aboard He said this morn
ing that every ounce of steam possible
was put into the boilers
NAN4t tAfCS uUChCQ at t1t NdiQ. tIE3
found that the news of the tragedy had
been flashed ahead. and doctors and
ambulances from Emergency and Cas-
ualty Hospitals were at hand.
The galley of the Tecumseh was con-
verted into a hospital room. The Fire
Department rescue squad reached the
scene W minutes after the tug and
they Immediately attempted rescusits-
ton OF Mrs. MacMurray Several times.
they said. they caught faint fiutter
of the breath. but after they had worked
on her with the pulmotor for more than
an hour, she was pronounced dead by
DR.. l. Rutkosk of Emergency.
Woods and Miss o'Brien were sent
to the naval dispcnsary for treatment.
After Woods burns had been attended
to the couple returned to their homes.
MacMurray refused to leave his wife.
despite his weakened condition from his
strenuous efforts to keep afloat.
Woman Apparently Drowned.
Doctors who examined Mrs. Mac
Murray said today that she apparently
was drowned. but that there could not
have been much water in her lungs
since she was found floating Is minutes
after she entered the water It was
suggested that she may have Strangled
to death.
The heroic efforts of the crew Of the
TecamSeh to reach the burning boat
In the shortest possible time probably
saved the lives of the survivors. The
couple ciinging to the piers declared
that they could not have held on much
longer, and MacMurray was exhausted
when pulled from the water
According to MacNfurray, he ana
ms wife had gone on the trip down
the river as ehaperons for the other
couple Just as darkness fell, lie said
the gasoline motor 6ackfired and set
fire TO the craft. MacNIurray was at
the wheel at the time. Woods at
tempted to put out the flames with a
chemical fire exinguisller Lut gave up
when the gasoline exploded.
MacMurray dragged two life pre-
servers from a locker In the rear of
the boat and threw them to his tom-
panion In the bow. instead OF being
caught by the others, the life belts went
overheard AS he was trying TO get
out another 'preserver. MaCAfurray said.
he slipped and fell into the water
Although the boat was still burning,
the propeller was still churning and he
was left Ear behind.
Woman Unable to Swim.
OF those In the boat, Mrs. MacAiur-
ray was the only one who could not
swim, Woods tied one end Of q rope
20 the stern of the boat and gave the
other end 70 Mrs. MaeAIurray and told
her to jump overheard and cling 10 the
line, The plan was. he said that she
would be kept on top of the water by
the speed Of the launch until help could
reach her, In the meantime he and
Miss 0Brien leaped into the river and
were able 10 swim to the pier,
Mrs. MaeMurray evidently became ex-
cited and strangled her husband d.
clared, and released her hold on the
rope, After all efforts to revive her
had failed, her body was taken 10 the
District Morgue.
Rear Admiral A. L. Willard. COM
mandant OF the navy yard. took per-
Sonal charge of the relief work and
directed that all the facilities Of the
yard be placed at the disposal of the
Naval officials were loud In their
praise this morning of the action Cf
Chief Williams and his crew The pleas
ure launch burned to the waters edge
and was total less. No attempt was
made to salvage It.