CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1924, Page 5

CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

RA'RANGA’S OUTWARD TRIP. ONE MAN FATALLY INJURED. The liner Raranga. which berthed at New Plymouth on Monday afternoon, must have sailed from England under an unlucky star, for though the , trip itself was made in fast time, two men were injured at different stages and another was injured so badly that he died at sea. A brief account of the trip waa given to a Daily News reporter yesterday afternoon by Mr. A. MacGregor, third officer on the Raranga. The ship sailed from Liverpool direct for Melbourne on February 9. Contrary to general belief, the Bay of Bisoay, according to Mr. MacGregor, is by no means always rough. He has several times crossed it in glorious weather. But on this occasion the elements were in tempestuous mood, and the ship was buffeted by a fierce wind and thunderous seas. At the height of the storm a bunk in the fo’castle collapsed under the strain, being precipitated with its occupant on top of the man lying in the bunk underneath. When the Bailor was extricated he was seen to be seriously injured, and the ship elowed down while the uirgeon performed an operation. 'The skull, however, was fractured, and the sailor died, being buried at sea on the following morning. The ship passed Capetown on February 29, but did not call. A day or twp later a sailor had his fingers crushed, and the surgeon found it necessary to amputate the ends of two of them. Only a short time elapsed before a third sailor became jammed between a boat and a funnel guy during boat drill. An examination showed that he had sustained. injuries to his ribs. Melbourne was reached on March 19, the distance having been accomplished In 39 days at an average apbed of I'3 knots, which was a record for the ship. After loading sugar for London at Melbourne and Sydney, the vessel left Newcastle direct‘for New Plymouth, heavy rain being experienced nearly all the way.