ALL-NIGHT DRAMA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27018, 1 March 1949, Page 5

ALL-NIGHT DRAMA

SEAMEN RESCUED FROM SINKING VESSEL HEAVY SEAS OFF SCOTLAND NZPA—Reuter—Copyright LONDON, Jeb. 27. In an all-night rescue drama amid raging seas off the coast of Scotland, a destroyer, a trawler, and a cable ship saved seven sailors from a battered and sinking Norwegian motor vessel. The vessel, the 340-ton Trappes, in an SOS early last night, said she was in peril in mountainous seas. Her pumps had stopped and water was six feet 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 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 the stricken vessel 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 two lifeboats away. Then the Danish cable ship Edouard Suenson arrived on the scene. All lights on the Trappes failed and she appeared to be nearing the point of foundering. 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.