OIL TANKER’S ESCAPE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1929, Page 7

OIL TANKER’S ESCAPE

LIGHT THRUST IN PETROL MAD CHINESE ACT '• (Special to "Star.”) AUCKLAND. March 16. A sudden burst of insanity caused a Chinese cook of an oil tanker, recently in Auckland, to run amok, and he came within an ace of causing a tragedy. His weapon was a lighted taper, one of the most dangerous articles a man could wield on a ship carrying motor spirit. Li-Fo was the firemen’s cook, who lost his reason while the vessel was bound from Curacao to New Orleans. Her tanks were laden with petrol. One dark night he seized a taper from the galley stove, lit it, and dashed out to No. 2 tank, opened the lid, and dropped the taper down into the tank, and then jumped overboard. A column of flame shot up for an instant and then subsided. Luckily for those on board there was not sufficient air in the tank to cause an explosion. The flame was caused by the upper layer of petrol vapour igniting. The Chinese mad act had been seen from the bridge by the First Officer, who sounded the fire alarm, and jumping down on to the fore deck, closed the tank lid. All hands stood by at their fire stations, and the lifeboat was lowered in search of the cook. He was never seen again. EXPLOSION ON SCHOONER. (Received March 16, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 16. The fuel tank on the auxiliary schooner Ventura exploded when the vessel was off Cape Hawke. The vessel was soon blazing from end to end. Fortunately, the steamer Nirvana sighted the Ventura, and the medical officer from the steamer rendered aid to a man named McMillan, who was stunned by the explosion. He was dragged into a dinghy by his brother. The Ventura was abandoned. WELLINGTON, March 16. The Secretary of the General Post Office has received a navigation warning that the hull of the schooner Ventura inay still be afloat, and dangerous to navigation. It was last sighted in the vicinity of Cape Hawke.

GARAGE DESTROYED. TE AWAMUTU, March 16. While filling a petrol tank of a motor’ truck last night, an electric lamp burst, causing the fumes to ignite. George <Morriss was painfully burnt about the arms and legs. The garage building was levelled to the ground, and apparently the forepart of the truck is beyond repair. The Brigade arrived in time to confine the flames to the garage, saving the adjoining buildings. The garage was not insured. The truck was covered, but the amount is rot available.