FIRE ON A LAUNCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18706, 12 May 1924, Page 11

FIRE ON A LAUNCH

CRAFT REDUCED TO SHELL, BLAZE: OFF STANLEY POINT, OWNER HAS TO JUMP OVERBOARD A fire, caused by/the backfiring of th< engine,,almost destroyed the 34ft. launcl Tamnri, owned by Mr. Athol ') Watkins about seven o'clock on Saturday morning when the : vessel'.was off Stanley Point Mr. Watkins was about to proceed dowr .the harbour in the Tamuri to join in th< •procession «f boats which welcomed th< Special Service Squadron. ';'■; The Tamuri had just left the Bayswatei Wharf when the engine began to misfire Mr. Watkins ;cut off the power and went below* to investigate. He was cranking the engine when it ■ backfired and ignitec the benzine in the carburettor. Almost immediately the engine-room was en veloped in flames, and Mr. Watkins barelj escaped into, the cockpit when, the entire fore part of the launch was ablate. A there was no dinghy he i was forced \ t< jump overboard. . ... The launch Rosythll., under the con trol of Mr. J. Pavitt, was quickly to th< scene, and Mr. Watkins, who was cling ing to the burning launch, was, rescued The Tamuri was towed into shallow watei near Stanley. Point. ' By this time she wa> iblaze from stem to stern. : With -an ax< provided.by Mr. N. Duke, of the launcl Layona, Mr. Watkins cut a hole in thf side of his launch, which filled and settlec down.: The upper part-of the hull con inued to blaze for over 15 minutes before the flames reached- the water's edge. . The partly-submerged' hull was reducec to a mere shell. The deck and uppei timbers were burned, and the engine anc other metal fittings appear to have . beec uined. . > ■. , Great credit is due to the crew of the Rosy.th 11. for their promptitude in going to Mr. Watkins' assistance and for towing the blazing, launch, in spite of , the risk incurred by an explosion of the benzine. Mr. Watkins acquired the Tamuri about a year ago, and has been engaged in running excursion trips around the harbour. tt \s j understood the launch is insured in the Insurance Office of Australia foi £500. ,