PETROL SUPPLY LOST

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 151, 22 March 1939, Page 8

PETROL SUPPLY LOST

Drifting Launch Carried Toward Rocks BOY’S SWIM ASHORE Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, .March 21. When a tin. of benzine which was being used to refill the petrol tank was dropped overboard as a heavy 'swell struck the boat, four Hamilton residents found themselves adrift in a small launch, the Redbird, about W miles outside tiie bar of the Raglan harbour on Sunday. A strong tide carried the launch to within 400 yards of the rocks, and one of the occupants. Frank Innes-Jones, a 15-year-old pupil of the Hamilton Technical High School, swam to the shore in an effort to secure more petrol. The other occupants of the boat, which is owned by Mr. E. Innes-Jones, sen., were Messrs. Eric Innes-Jones, jun., C. Williams and W. Boneham. The party left Raglan at 8 a.m. and went about 10 miles beyond the bar. When the benzine was lost, the launch began to drift toward the shore. After the anchor was dropped 400 yards off-shore, Frank Innes-Jones, who is this year’s intermediate swimming champion at flip Technical High School, swam through the surf to get more petrol. After a walk of severa miles, he reached a Maori’s house where he secured two gallons of benzine, and he accepted the Maori’s offei of a ride back to the beach on a horse. Kicked by a Horse. However, the animal gave trouble on the journey, and the boy dismounted. When he approached to remount, the horse kicked him and dislocated his knee. The injury was treated by the Maori and the boy completed his journey on foot. While Frank Innes-Jones was absent from the Redbird, the anchor rope broke and the craft again drifted toward the rocks with the remaining occupants preparing to abandon it. However, the current carried it between the rocks, and it was safely grounded on the beach.

The launch was refloated at about 4.30 p.m. The boat was undamaged and was taken to Raglan under its own power.