LAUNCH ON FIRE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 120, 14 February 1929, Page 12

LAUNCH ON FIRE

CAUSED BY BENZINE EXPLOSION FOUR MEN INJURED BY BURNS Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 13. An explosion, followed by a fire, occurred on the Tauranga launch, Kingfish, during a pleasure cruise near Mercury Cove. Captain Black was in charge of the launch and bad a party of three, Messrs. Merrilees, Hunt, and Joseph, on board. Fortunately the weather was fine, otherwise the results would have been serious. A benzine tank was being refilled when the explosion occurred, blowing one of the men overboard and setting fire to the launch. Mr. Buchanan, one of the two men who were rescued a few months ago from the launch Ika by the R.M.S. Niagara and taken on to Sydney, saw the danger from his launch Emerald, and came to the rescue in a dinghy. He saved four men, all of whom were burned, and then with the assistance of his crew subdued the flames, which had got a good hold. All members of the party pay a great tribute to Mr. Buchanan and his crew of three, who saved the launch from complete destruction. Mr. Buchanan brought the party to Mercury Bay, and the four are now in hospital progress-' ing satisfactorily. Their injuries are not considered serious, and air expect to be about again in a few days.