SHIP’S MAST FALLS.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1927, Page 5

SHIP’S MAST FALLS.

WATERSIDERS LUCKY ESCAPE (Per Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Juno 17. An . unusual accident occurred on board the American steamer, West Calera, at the central wharf. The wooden main topmast snapped off and fell on to the deck, where it broke into amm ber of pieces. The accident happened when the crew were hoisting a wireless aerial into position, it having been lowered on the vessel’s arrival, so as not to be in the way of the harbour board cranes while the cargo was being work cd. The broken mast struck the dec* on the port side of No. 4 hatch, between a ventilator and the winch and had it fallen toward the stern, it would have certainly killed some of the water side workers who were unloading from No. 5 hatch. The men who had been working at No. 4 hatch had finished their , «ork and had left. The mast struck the deck at a spot where a man had been sitting driving (he winch a short time before. The mast broke oil near the lower masthead, where the wood had perished. A topmast to hold the aerial was fitted before the steamer sailed for Hobart.