EXPERIENCE ON LAUNCH
EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY
FIRE
FLAMES SUBDUED AFTER HALF-HOUR FIGHT
(P.A.) Thames, Jan. 13. An explosion followed by fire over the engine and in the cabin of the Thames launch Firefly when it was three miles out from Coromandel gave the four persons on board, Messrs F. J. Adamson, the owner, H. T. Gallop, G. Webb and A. Rowe, all of Thames, an alarming experience.
Noticing that something was wrong with the running of the engine, Mr Adamson attempted an adjustment and the explosion occurred which blew a one-gab on can of oil from his hand across the floor of the cabin. Fire broke out immediately, enveloping the engine and the floor of the cabin.
The party fought the fire for over half an hour before it was subdued. There was danger, for a time, of an explosion of the petrol tank, the woodwork underneath it being scorched. The main damage was to the engine. The launch was towed back to Coromandel for repairs and was able to return to Thames under its own power.
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Bibliographic details
Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14570, 14 January 1948, Page 6
Word Count
177EXPERIENCE ON LAUNCH Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14570, 14 January 1948, Page 6
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