Evening star., 1951-06-24
3 Women, Man
Injured in Blast
Aboard Cruiser
Gasoline Explosion
Wrecks 38-Foot Boat
At Maine Ave. Wharf

An explosion in a custom built
cabin cruiser injured four persons
lat the Potomac river wharves yes
Fterday afternoon, sending three of
them to hospital with severe
burns.
The blast occurred as Gerald
Kapiloff. IS, owner of the boat.
pushed the starter button about
an hour after taking on gasoline
from dock at 300 Maine avenue
|S.W. Injured were:
Mrs. Rita Williams, As, of $500
Quebec street NV, burns on
hands and legs.
Her daughter, Pamela Williams.
l6, leg, arm and neck burns.
Miss Mar. NJ Winters, II. Of
Lafayette, La. burns to left hand,
legs, arms and neck.
All were = satisfactory" con-
|dition at Emergency Hospital last
night. Mr.. Kapiloff. who lives at
f2500 Q street NV. and heads the
Potomac Products Co., was treated
for cuts and bruises and released.
Gas Line Fumes Blamed.
Inspector K. r. Mullins of the
Fire Marshals flee said the ex-
plosion was caused by gasoline
fumes collecting in the bilges.
His inspection revealed a leak
lat the Junction of the gasoline
fill line and the gasoline tank.
The boat, partially submerged, will
be inspected for other leaks, he
said. The gasoline tank had been
filled about an hour before the
explosion at pm.
The cockpit of the boat, the So
foot Jerita, was shattered by the
explosion, which sent debris so
feet into the air and rocked other
craft IN the crowded area.
Several witnesses saw the blast.
among them Edwin j. Lynch.
seated nearby in the "Lylo IT.
which he owns.
Il was looking right at the
boat, but it happened so quickly
lit is hard to visualize. All four
of the people were thrown back
ward. I saw them Jump out to
the dock and start running"
Garry Injured Woman.
Mr.. Lynch said two women and
two men carried Miss Williams
from the dock to a boat company
office. The women were Mrs.
George N. Grant, who lives on a
nearby boat, and Mrs. Hazel Hen
derson. whose father-in-law, Will
liam A. Henderson, operates re-
pair shop at the scene.
Mrs. Williams and Miss Winters
collapsed on the dock. Witnesses
said the woman and two girls,
dressed in shorts for the outing,
appeared badly burned about the
legs.
Another witness. Navy Comdr.
Stephen Mandarich, 429 Arfgyle
drive, Falls Church, Va, was
aboard his 54-foot cruiser, Eagle
Point.
Il heard the explosion and i'm
mediately thought of gunf1re," he
said. Il looked around and saw
debris coming down. 1t must have
been so feet high. I grabbed a
fire extinguisher and handed it
to some one who was running to-
ward the boat"
Mr.. Grant and another boat
tenant, Kenneth Rose, sprayed
fire extinguishers at the smoking
craft.
Fire Equipment Dispatched.
The Fire Department quickly
dispathed three engine companies,
two ambulanceS. a rescue squad
and its fire boat.
Mr.. Kapilof said he was Sitting
right on top of the exposion.
i pushed the starter button and
it went" he said.
He said the accident might have
been even worse had not every
body been outside the cabin. The
two girls were at the stern of the
boat and Mrs. Williams was lust
behind the wheel.
In estimating the damage, Mr..
kapiloff said he felt he could not
replace it for less than $4,000. He
said the craft, about four years
old, was insured.
After the boat was secured to
a repair dock. the stern settled to
The bottom. The fire boat was
USED to pump out the water and
get the craft af1oat again.