LIFE-BOATS SMOTHERED IN OIL Stromnest, and Longbope, Orkneys.— At 7.34 in the morning of the 24th of August, 1947, the Kirkwall coastguard telephoned to the Stromness life-boat station that the Norwegian tanker Gundine, of Arendal, was ashore at Berry Head, Hoye Island, and the motor life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was launched at 7.55 in a light north-west- erly wind, with a smooth sea. At 8.28 the coastguard rang up the Longhope station. The motor life-boat Thomas McCunn was launched two minutes later, and found the Gundine at 9.30.

She had a crew of 43, was bound for Copenhagen from Philadelphia, and had run ashore in a fog. The Stromness life-boat arrived immediately after the Longhope boat, and both stood by.

The Gundine pumped 2,000 tons of crude oil overboard, and the life-boats were smothered with it. The Stromness boat left at 10.45 and arrived back at her station at 1.15 in the afternoon, where the National Fire Service lent a pump to help to clean her of the oil. The Long- hope boat stood by until the Gundine refloated, about 5 o'clock, escorted her to Lyness, and returned to her station, arriving there at 7 o'clock that evening.

—Rewards, Stromness, £15 11s.; Long- hope, £32 3s. 6d..