EXPLOSION ON LAUNCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 10

EXPLOSION ON LAUNCH

MAN EELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DROWNED SURVIVORS’ FRIGHTFUL PRIVATIONS SYDNEY, April 12. James Mackay, 28. and William Saus, both of Balmain, lay helpless on a small raft off tho coast from .Sunday night until rescued by the steamer Porllield a short distance south of Seal Rocks, on tho north coast, this afternoon. Suns was unconscious when taken aboard, ami was admitted to Newcastle Hospital suffering from severe burns caused by flic blistering sun and immersion. Another man, Eric Hogan, of Harrington, is believed to liavo been drowned in attempting to swim three miles to the shore through tile turbulent seas. Tho men left Muuniug River on Sun day morning in a petrol-driven launch, and oil Sunday night, when the engine stopped, Mackay tried to locate the trouble with a. miked light. An explosion followed, and tho launch caught on lire. Finding it impossible to extinguish tho llames, the three men launched a small raft and clambered on to it. They drifted helplessly, being without oars or sails, and subsequently Hogan decided to attempt to swim to land. He lias not been seen since. Mackay and Bans suffered tortures from the lack of fresh water and the heat of tho sun, and wore in a serious plight when succor arrived late this afternoon.