THE WARATAH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 468, 17 August 1909, Page 3

THE WARATAH.

Capetown, August 13

The liner Insizwa reports passing four supposed bodies off the Bashee River, which enters the sea something over 200 miles south of Durban.

It is also reported that bodies are being washed up near the Great Fish River, further south. London, August 13.

Owing to the news brought to Capetown by the Insizwa, reinsurance rates on the Waratah rose to 90 guineas per cent. A steamer has gone to the Bashee River to search.

Cape Town, August 14,

The reason why the Insizwa did not investigate further on seeing the supposed corpses was the roughness of the weather and the fact that she had a heavy deck cargo.

The captain of the Insizwa stated in an interview that he was satisfied that what he saw were human bodies. Two were dressed in white and two in dark clothing. He thought it undesirable to pick them up on account of there being lady passengers aboard. It is officially stated that the rumour that bodies were seen off the Great Fish River is unfounded. London, August 14. Reuter’s agency reports that vessels wulch have arrived at Fast London saw pieces of whale yesterday off the Bashee River. They were followed by flocks of birds. A tug was sent from East London to search for the supposed corpses off the Bashee has returned. She reports that off Mazeppa Bay she observed birdsl over floating objects resembling bodies. Investigation revealed that they were dead skates. Otherwise nothing was seen. Police are patrolling the coast. Melbourne, August 14.

The steamer Marere, which was in the vicinity of the Cape about the same time as the Waratah, reports that gales raged with great violence. Mountainous seas swept the Marere’s deck. London, August 15. Reports from East London state that the search by the tug was fuitless except that she saw in Mazeppa Bay floating objects of the most deceptive appearance, resembling the bodies ot women attired in dressing gowns. These, on investigation, proved to be dead skates. Auckland, August 14. A private cablegram states that Mrs F. Norris dhd Mr G. Norris, who booked at Napier for Cape Town, and were passengers by the missing Waratah, left the vessel at Durban.