Let me get this right. One engine out on a four-engined Perf A aircraft? The comment about the engineer spraying water into all four engines has me puzzled as well.
Sounds like a
water injection takeoff (sometime water methanol mix). Before my time, but flew with many a "stage coach driver" who remembered them "fondly". The increase in thrust using this technique was crucial, and all sorts of complications decisions arose during initial takeoff roll with multiple pump(s) failing before or after 80kts. They also ran out of fluid at different slightly rates during the climb... Basically at performance limit weights they were a nail biting experience.
NASA has done recent study on using the technique again:
Water Injection Feasibility for Boeing 747 Aircraft.
Cutting the water injection to all four seems to be the source of their problems in this case.