LAUNCH ADVENTURE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17146, 31 December 1929, Page 6

LAUNCH ADVENTURE

EXPLOSION CAUSES FIKE Messrs. J. and E. Coote and Cyril Watson had an unenviable experience in the bay on Friday, reports a Nelson correspondent. They left Nelson at 3.30 a.m. in the racing launch Slim Jim, towing an outboard motor-boat for the Pic-ton re* gatta. When some distance beyond Cable Bay the sea become very rough and it was decided to return to Nelson. The engine was not going too well owing, it is thought, to water getting into the benzine. When off Mackay 's (Bluff the engine back-fired and the launch was soon enveloped in flames. This happened while Mr. E. Coote was getting into the outboard motor-boat, which he.intended to use to try and keep the larger launch from drifting near the rocks. Fortunately the outboard engine started on the first turn of the handle, and the other two occupants of the launch were taken on board. Four eases of benzine were on the . burning launch, but fortunately the party was able to witness their ignition from a safe distance so far as lyre was concerned. But their troubles wi not at an end, for tho little 12sfooxi>. craft could hardly live iu the sea, V The engine was swamped out sev- x oral times, but always started again. Eventually Nelson harbor was reached without further incident at 11 *.»,