12 March 1910
LOSS OF THE S.S. WARATAH.
To the Editor of The Mercury
Many theories have been given expression to as to the cause
of her loss. Here is one which I have not seen mentioned in the
press. It was written from England
on 5-10-09. His impression is that the Waratah struck either the Grosvenor
shoal or else more likely an uncharted shoal some 12 miles or so off the
Grosvenor. This shoal was referred to by a writer in the Daily Mail (an English
paper). He (the writer) was wrecked on that uncharted shoal about 20 years ago,
but evidently from what he said nothing has been done to verify its position
since; but one or two other writers testified to a considerable break of water
some 12 miles or so off the Grosvenor, and my impression is that she, giving the
Grosvenor a wide berth, came over this reef in the hollow of a wave, and as she
would draw 28 to 30 feet of water, she would break her back and be holed badly,
that as the following wave would lift her clear of the reef she would then go
down in deep water on the other side. As to the fact that no bodies have been
seen, the disaster might have happened during the night, when only the few men
of the watch were on deck. Then, no wreckage has been seen (which has been
looked upon as a good omen that she is afloat), but that could easily be
explained by the fact that the hurricane she went through, everything movable
on deck had been previously securely lashed down.
There may be some probability in the above surmise as to the
fate of the ill-starred Waratah, and if that reef could be located, and the
seabed searched, doubtless the hull might be found.
Yours, etc.,
Overlander
However, during the past century no remains of the Waratah have been located despite numerous searches.
THE GREAT STORM. CYCLONIC IN CHARACTER. It was on the following day (after her disappearance), July 28, that the great cyclonic tempest, which will probably be known in history as the Waratah storm, swept the coast of South Africa. During the whole day the wind blew from W.S.W. to W. with squalls of hurricane force. A tremendous sea was running, rising in a wall-like formation, owing to the current being against the wind. Mariners who experienced the storm unite in describing it as one of exceptional violence. It was not perhaps spoken of as the most severe on record, but it was regarded as the most violent tempest for some years. The hurricane raged with unabated fury for about 15 hours, and right along the coast of South Africa the conditions were dangerous. Of course, the wind was behind the Waratah, but, nevertheless, she must have had a very rough time. The gale, which was evidently of a cyclonic character, moderated on the following day, and was succeeded by a fresh south-westerly gale, with a high cross sea.
New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14244, 15 December 1909, Page 9
If, however, as some people believe, the Waratah had turned to head back to Durban, the wind would not have been behind her.
A blog reader writes: The vessel Harlow apparently encountered no difficulties and went on her way unscathed. The crew of the Harlow reported seeing two flashes of light, but equated this phenomenon with possible veld fires on shore. This immediately
excludes dramatic forms of flashes, like explosions, either due to coal or the
steam engines. Also sound travels very well over the sea, and should there have
been a dramatic demise to Waratah in the form of catastrophic explosions, surely this
would have been heard 10 miles distant? No, the flashes
of light were of a more subtle nature, hence not raising alarm on the Harlow. The Waratah was actually gaining on the Harlow (probably full steam); she was running against the forces of diminishing buoyancy. The Harlow crew did not report freak waves or swell that could
tear the bow off a tanker. It is possible that Waratah had latent problems with
rivets and leakage into water tight compartments, eventually overwhelming her
ability to stay afloat.
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