LAUNCH ON FIRE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18681, 3 May 1926, Page 1

LAUNCH ON FIRE.

i TOUCHES POWER LINE. A STRANGE CALAMITY. (FEESS ASSOCIATION TELZIEAM.) TAI'RANGA.'May l. The temporary' failure of the electric light last nigl)t> shortly, before 8 o'clock, caused householders some inconvenience, but those who weic patiently waiting for the light to reappear little dreamt of the desperate plight of three men in a •■*gnotor*launcli t is a howling westerly gale, jammed on a lee shore in the harbour against a live electric wire. A 30ft mullet boat was coming up the harbour, making for the town, when it was found that 110 headway could be made against the heavy westerly gale then raging, 'lhe occupants —Messrs L. Jury and It. Hayes, the owners, and T. Black —found that the boat was being gradually blown on to the shore in the vicinity of W hare or a. Two anchors were dropped, and the engine was kept going, but without avail, and finally the launch went aground on the eastern shore, near Wbareora. Then came disaster, swift and alarming. The mast struck the electric wires carrying the current along the beach to Mount Maunganui, and immediately the vessel was a mass of sparks, and appeared afire from stem to stern. Mr Jury, who was forward at the time, was stunned and knocked overboard. Mr Black, who was astern, was stunned and thrown across the iron fittings of the launch, which burnt through his clothing and burnt his al> domen. Mr Hayes was in the cockpit, and was also rendered unconscious. The launch then sheered off temporarily from the wires, and Mr Black recovered sufficiently to scramble into the ilat-bottomed dinghy of the launch. He dragged Mr Hayes from the launch, and then picked up Mr Jury, who was still in the water. All three were still in a dazed condition, and were blown on to the beach in the boat. Several Maoris were on the beach waiting, having noticed the flare-up when the launch touched the wires, and I helped the men ashore. The men were provided with dry clothing, and came to town tliis morning. The launch finally got clear of the wires and drifted down the harbour, and burnt until about 11.30. She was practically gutted, and the owners estimate their loss at about £SOO.