LAUNCH RESCUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 126, 31 May 1938, Page 9

LAUNCH RESCUE.

FISHING VESSEL.

ADRIFT THREE DAYS.

ENGINE BREAKS DOWN.

CREW'S SIGNALS PICKED UP

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

The Sumner lifeboat crew rescued last niglit the big fishing launch, Rosa Marie, which had. been adrift for three days.

The Rosa Marie, which was recently purchased by the South Sea Fishing Company for fishing at Chatham Islands, was on her way from Port Chalmers to Lvttelton. Two Port Chalmers men, Messrs. J. J. Abernethy and A. Mitchell, comprised the crew.

The launch left Port Chalmers on Thursday morning and left Timaru at 1 p.m. on Friday. The crew's troubles started when the engine broke down off Akaroa Heads, and during the night the launch was blown out of sight of land. Hard work by the crew was successful in starting the engine again on Saturday, and when landfall was made off Le Bon's Bay, a course was set for Lyttelton. Petrol Supply Runs Out. When the petrol supply ran out soon afterwards the sail was set, and at ft p.m. on Saturday night the anchor was dropped about seven miles off Lvttelton Heads. Improvised flares were lit, but these failed to attract attention. A light breeze enabled the launch to make her way close inshore yesterday afternoon, and finally she drifted into Sumner Bay at fi.25 p.m. The sipialman at the Adderlev Head signal station sighted what he thought might be signals from a small vessel, and, at his instance, the alarm was given. The motor lifeboat Rescue 11, the only one of its type in New Zealand, located the launch after an hour's search, and towed it to Lvttelton. The two vessels arrived in port at about 9.45 p.m.