Evening star., 1940-07-26
7 Potomac Boat
b| lasts Kill One
And |njure !
Craft Picks Up z
Women CIinging
To Life Preserver

John w. Brightenberg, 33-year-
old manager of the District Yacht
Co., was drowned and seven persons
were burned In two gasoline engine
explosions that set fire to two boats
in the Potomac River here last
night.
Both fires were started as the
boat operators worked on the mo-
tors.
Mr.. Brightenberg, who lived at
5726 Conduit road NV, and three
companions were drifting of Hains
Point-the engine having stalled
after the anchor was lifted-when
the mishap on his 39-foot cruiser,
the Jay w. Bee, occurred about 2
am.
He was in the forward cabin of
the craft he had built and was
working on the carburetor when the
engine flared suddenly, according to
Miss Hilda Thyrring. %, of AIT
Oglethorpe street NV, who was
steering the boat at the time.
Leaps Overheard.
Mr.. Brightenberg ran out on deck,
his clothing aflame, and leaped
overheard. AS the flames spread,
Miss Thyrring was burned on the
right leg. Soon she and the other
two persons on the cruiser, Miss
Moreno Campbell. %, of 1880 WAL
bridge place NV, and Richard
Wills, q, of 1887 Kennedy street
NV, were forced over the side into
the water.
Fire in the cabin. intensified bv
a second engine fare, prevented Mr..
Wells from obtaining more than one
life preserver.
Apparently weakened by burns,
Mr.. Brightenberg soon went under,
it was said. With the aid of the
life preserver Mr.. Wills helped the
two young women remain afloat
until passing speedboat, attracted
by the flames. arrived in a few min
utes to pull them aboard.
Harbor police arrived on the scene
shortly and carried the rescued trio
ashore. Miss Thyrring was at harbor
police headquarters for first-de-
gree burn, which was termed mot
serious"
In the other explosion in the
yacht basin near Washington Air
port, six persons were injured on
50-foot cabin cruiser from which
five other persons escaped un-
harmed.
| Those burned were Lawrence A.
Lee. roofing contractor, of 65l5
Eighth street NV. who was busy
with the engine when the explosion
rocked the craft and set 1t ablaze;
his son, Donald Lee, 9: Madeline
Jacobs, 6. of the same address, and
three Arlington County firemen,
Charles Duncan, Joseph Eller and
William johnson.
Children Carried Ashore.
Mr.. Lee and the Jacobs girl re-
ceived first and second degree burns
of the arms and leg; Donald Lee
suffered a first-degree leg burn,
and the three flremen received
slight burns on the arms. The first
three we're treated at Emergency
Hospital.
Samuel Jacobs of the 6515 Eighth
street address dashed into the cabin
and carried the two children ashore.
it was said. He was accompanied by
Mrs. Jacobs, Mrs. Nan Lee, wife of
the owner of the boat: Arthur Olson
of 6517 Eighth street NV. and Miss
Marian Jackson of 6700 Sixth street
NV.
Fearing that his bathing suit
would catch fire, Mr.. Lee jumped
over the side. He climbed back
aboard, however, to aid in fighting
the fire.
BY the time Arlington County
firemen arrived few minutes later,
the flames had gained so much
headway that the vessel was almost
completely destroyed.
Mr.. Brightenberg's body had not
been found this morning, although
harbor police continued to drag
the river. A native of Nebraska.
he had lived in Washington since
his early youth, and was an en-
gineering graduate of George Wash
ington University. He is survived
by his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Allen
C. Brightenberg, and one brother,
Paul Rrichtenherp all of Washipp