The Last of the South African Lighthouse Keepers: Unexpected Visitors 2

A series by Suzanne-Jo Leff Patterson

The little ghost of Cape Point Lighthouse

Latitude - 32° 21' 24’’ S.      Longitude - 18° 29' 12 '' E.

15^th century Portuguese explorer and navigator Bartolomeu Dias called this rocky peninsula Cabo Tormentosa – Cape of Storms.  It has always lived up to its reputation with many ships lying wrecked along these shores.

In 1860, the first lighthouse was erected at Cape Point at 238 metres above sea level, with the expectation that it would be visible very far out to sea.  Contrary to their hoped-for visibility, the light was too often covered by clouds and rolling mists.  For this reason, when the Portuguese liner, Lusitania, was wrecked in 1911, the decision was made to relocate the lighthouse to its current, lower position, at 87 metres above sea level.

Japie Greeff shares another unusual encounter with us;

‘I was stationed at Cape Point Light from 1990 to mid-1993 and I very soon became aware of a little girl, about nine years old, who would often appear in the sitting room with me when I was watching television in my cottage. She was a dear, sweet little girl and would come and sit in the chair next to me and quietly watch television with me.  

Many times I attempted to find out who this little girl had been.

Was she the daughter of a Lighthouse Keeper?  If so, which Lighthouse Keeper?

Perhaps the daughter of a Captain from one of the ships of old, lying wrecked on the shore?  Which Captain?  Which ship?

Might it have been the Lusitania?  Eight people died when a lifeboat capsized from Lusitania, could this little girl have been one of those lost souls aboard the lifeboat?

What year did she pass away and under what circumstances?   

All these questions lay unanswered as no-one knew anything about the history which surrounded her.  I tried in vain to discover something about my dear little sweetheart and all I know, and can tell you, is that she was an endearing and gentle little soul.

To this day she still remains at the Cape Point Lighthouse and forever in my heart.’

The Last of the South African Lighthousekeepers: Japie Greeff

 A series by Suzanne-Jo Leff Patterson - 2015, October

Japie Greeff at Cape Columbine Lighthouse
Photo: Keri Harvey – www.keri-harvey.com

In another of his anecdotes, Japie Greeff, who is currently stationed at Cape Columbine Lighthouse, continues to delight us with his interesting recollections of his first involvement with a sea rescue, whilst he was stationed at Cape Point Lighthouse.  

 I was on the morning shift and just about to be relieved, when a radio   broadcast came through from Cape Town Radio of a storm warning, reporting a north-westerly gale gusting to 50 knots with heavy swells up to 8 meters. Fishing vessels were at sea catching crayfish near Cape Hangklip, which is approximately ten miles off Cape Point.  The skippers, on hearing this warning, made ready to head directly for the nearest harbour. 

 Facing large swells and roaring winds whilst returning to a safe harbour, suddenly, without warning, one of the fishing vessels suddenly sprang a leak in the bow.  A hull plank had been battered loose and the vessel started taking water – fast! I radioed the skipper and told him to swing to stern and keep steaming astern towards the Lighthouse, whilst I notified the South African Navy. It was necessary for me to call upon the Navy, as the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) vessel would not have been able to handle these conditions. The Navy immediately deployed a Strike Craft and despite battling heavy swells and high seas, their excellent team work and co-ordination, had the fishing crew rescued and taken back to safety within two hours! 

 Some weeks later, we met with the rescued skipper and his crew for drinks at the Ski Boat Club. He told us they were so grateful for the fast response from all involved in rescuing them from such dangerous seas, but unfortunately, their fishing boat had been lost when it sank just next to the Lighthouse.  

 Whilst under the threat of sinking and struggling to save his boat, the skipper could not believe that the simple maneuver I had instructed him to follow, of turning his ship to stern to avoid the bow taking excessive water, had saved all their lives.    

Lighthouse at Cape Point, South Africa

www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-cape-point-lighthouse