MASS OF SPARKS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 1 May 1926, Page 8

MASS OF SPARKS

ASTOUNDING ADVENTURE

LAUNCH FOUL OF POWER LINE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

TAUBANGA, This Day.

The temporary failure of the ' electric light last night, shortly before 8 o'clock, caused householders gome inconvenience, but those who were patiently waiting for the light to reappear little dreamt of the desperate plight of three men in a motor launch, in 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 no headway could be made against the heavy westerly gale then raging. The occupants —Messrs. L. Jury and B. Hayes, the owners, and T. Black—found that the boat was being gradually blown on to the shore in the vicinity of Whareora. Two anchors were dropped, and the engine was kept going, but without avail, and finally the launch went aground oi'i the eastern shore, near Whareora. Then came disaster, swift and alarming.. The mast struck the electric wires, carrying the current along the beach to Mount Maunganui, and immediately tho 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 abdomen. Mr. Hayes was in the cockpit, and was also

rendered unconscious. The launch then sheered off temporarih from the wires, and Mr. Black recovered sufficiently to scramble into the flat-bot-tomed dinghy of the launch. He dragged Hayes from the launch, and then picked up Jury, who was still in the water. All three were still in a dazed condition, and'were blown on to tho beach in the boat.

Several Maoris were on the beach waiting, having noticed the flare-up when the launch touched the wires, and helped the men ashore. The men wore provided with dry clothing, and came to town this 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 £500.