LAKE SENSATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 22 March 1928, Page 5

LAKE SENSATION.

LAUNCH CATCHES FIRE. BROTHERS JUMP OVERBOARD. Lake Ferry, 50 miles from iMasterton, was the scene of two sensations recently. First, a launch caught fire, and later one of the occupants had l a narrow escape from drowning, being rescued’ just in , time from the waters of the lake. Two brothers named Bush had purchased a big launch usually seen at tha ake. They had put ashore Mrs Bush and two children, and were later trawling in the lake 1.00 yardls from the shore, when -the launch caught fire. jrhe two occupants tried to_ put the fire out with water, but failed, and there was then no alternative but tol save themselves. One of them, the worst swimmer of the two, took a lifebuoy with him and managed to get ashore. The other brother got into difficulties. Two boats, one -a, flat-bot-tomed craft occupiped by Mr •Olof Torwick ,of Masterton, and the other ai motor boat containing Messrs Herald Raafe. C. Parsons and C. W. Dagg, of Eket alien* went to the rescue. When the motor boat was about 20 yards from Mr Bush tlie latter was going down for the third time. The engine of the motor boat then stalled, and Mr Raafe, fully clothed, dived overboard and held Mr. Bush up till Mr Terwick reached them with his boat. With difficulty Mr Bush was hauled into the flat-bottomed boat and' taken, to the beach, where, , after--half-an-hour’s strenuous work, he was brought round. The gallantry of Mr Raafe was or a; particularly conspicuous nature, in view of the fact that he was. heavily handicapped.