The brig Thorne and the American Ship Panther at Plettenberg Bay, July 1831

South African Commercial Advertiser 7 July 1831

Note that the brig Thorne was reportedly the ship on which Captain William Bell was serving in the capacity of '2nd Officer’ according to one source, but this is uncomfortable terminology for a merchant ship of Thorne’s type and size (251 tons) in the 1830s. Usually such a vessel would have the following crew structure: Master, Mate, 2nd Mate, Carpenter, 6 seamen, 2 Apprentices. Nevertheless it appears that Bell was on board the Thorne in 1834 i.e. at the time of her wreck and that this was when he decided to remain at the Cape. 

See molegenealogy.blogspot.co.za/2013/06/coastal-ships-mariners-and-visitors_28.html