SEVEN SAILORS RESCUED

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 5

SEVEN SAILORS RESCUED

SHIP BATTERED BY STORM LONDON, February 27. In raging seas off the coast of Scotland, a destroyer, a trawler, and a cable ship last night saved seven sailors from a battered and sinking Norwegian motor-vessel. The 340-ton Trappes, in an SOS early last night, said that she was in peril in mountainous seas. Her pumps had stopped and the water was oft deep in her* hold. One of the crew of seven Norwegians was badly injured. The Trappes was out of control, making two knots, and no one could stop i the engines. The destroyer Ulster raced to the aid of the Trappes at full speed. The Aberdeen trawler Laura Paton also answered the SOS and arrived alongside shortly before midnight. Five of the crew were rescued in two lifeboats—one from the Trappes and one from the trawler. Before an attempt could be made to rescue the two men still aboard the Trappes, a great wave washed the two lifeboats away. Then the Danish cable ship Edouard Suenson arrived. All the lights on the Trappes had failed and she appeared to be about to founder. Desperate attempts were made to drift a lifeboat to the Trappes on a line from the cable ship, but this failed because of the dark. As soon as dawn broke another attempt was made and the two men were rescued. The destroyer is standing by the abandoned Trappes.