The Launch Shamrock Caught Fire on the Pend Oreille
A Sunday boat party narrowly escaped when a barge collision ruptured the gasoline tank and ignited the launch. Charlie Flynn steered for shore—then jumped.
Charlie Flynn and a party had a narrow escape from a serious accident last Sunday. The party was out in the launch Shamrock when the boat crashed into a barge anchored near the Jurgens place and damaged the gasoline tank. The tank sprang a leak and the gasoline became ignited. Charlie headed her for the shore, but before the boat struck her nose against the land he jumped into the river and received a good drenching.
“Charlie headed her for the shore, but before the boat struck her nose against the land he jumped into the river and received a good drenching.”
Gasoline launches were still new enough in 1909 that a ruptured tank could turn a pleasure outing into an emergency. Newport’s river remains a place of recreation, but the episode recalls a moment when motorized boating arrived faster than its safety rules.
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