LAUNCH ON FIRE
NARROW ESCAPE OCCUPANTS FORCED TO SWIM Press Association. NELSON, Tuesday. Tragedy was narrowly averted at Admiralty Bay last evening. Mr. John Mokau and his wife and ..child were returning by launch from Pelorus Sound to .their home on D’Urville Island. The wind had freshened and as the launch was heavily laden Mr. Mokau decided to stay the night at Mr. Guard's homestead. He had turned toward the bay when the engine back-fired and the launch was soon a mass of flames. The three occupants had to jump overboard. The father, being a strong swimmer, supported the child. Their cries were heard at the homestead, but the launch there was not in working order and the next bay was communicated with by telephone. Mr. Henry Guard, however, put off in a dinghy, and was just in time to catch Mrs. Mokau by the hair as she was sinking. The father and child were also taken on board. Efforts were later made to tow the burning launch ashore, hut it gave a plunge forward and sank. Mr. Mokau was somewhat burned in trying to extinguish the flames.
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Bibliographic details
Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 297, 7 March 1928, Page 16
Word Count
188LAUNCH ON FIRE Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 297, 7 March 1928, Page 16
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