LOSS OF THE WARATAH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4593, 27 August 1923, Page 4

LOSS OF THE WARATAH.

tradegy of the sea. “ Who can forget the thrill of horror that ran round the world when the news came througs from Capetown that the Waratah was missing!” says a writer in a South African paper. On June 26, 1919, the Waratjan sailed out of Sydney on her second and last voyage to London. Durban was reached on July 25. Bound for Capetown, the Waratah left there the next day with 207 passengers. She was expected at Capetown on Friday, July 29? Ten hours after leaving Durban, on July 27, a signal from the Waratah was picked up by the steamer Clan Macintyre, also bound tor London, via Durban, Greetings were exchanged between the Clan Macintyre which signalled : “ Good-bye. A pleasant passage,” and the Waratah sent back the message: “ Same to you.” This was the last that was heard of the Waratah... On July 28 there was a fierce gale, and on the 30th great anxiety was felt in Capetown for the Waratah, tor no news of any kind had been received. The storm was sti raging, when,, on Sunday, the T, E. Fuller, equipped for salvage work,, left Capetown Docks to search tor the missing Waratah. Hundreds of people, impelled either by fear tor the safety of those thev loved or by curiosity, came down to wish the T. E. Fuller God-speed and success in its mission. TEARS OF THE WOMEN. “ T shall never forget the sight,” said my friend. “’The tears of the women mingled with the rain t,hax beat on their wan faces. Oilskin clad, the men stood by sombreeyed and with heavy hearts. Knowing the coast as they did, they could not hope; they could only wait.” On Monday, the tug returned, battered by the waves and weather. Its mission had been fruitless. No new?, either good or bad, could it bring of the Waratah to her friends in Capetown. While the Waratah was between Durban and Capetown, the Borkum,, of the Norrdeutscher Lloyd Line, was in difficulties in the same latitude. A fire had broken out on board, and high explosives were in the cargo. To save his ship from being blown up. the captain decided to jettison the explosives. So violent was the weather that there was no chance of ■touching off, thejso’jt' had to be abandoned. It is contended by many whose opinions are worthy of note that the Waratah struck some of the floating explosives and was so badly damaged as a result that she could not weather the storm. And yet, if this is a true explanation, it is strange that no wreckage was found. The explosion would scatter limbers and spars, which would eventually be thrown up along the coast. Not even the search of warships discovered any wreckage from the Waratah. It was a,s if the sea had opened and swallowed up the vessel and her complement,