THE WARATAH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 930, 13 December 1910, Page 3

THE WARATAH.

DECK CHAIR WASHED ASHORE. Sydney, Dec. 10. South African files report that a deck chair bearing a passenger’s name and the words “ S.S. Waratah ” was washed ashore at Coffee Bay, a few miles north of East London, on November 3rd, It will be remembered that the Waratah was supposed to be somewhere off Coffee Bay on the night that she disappeared. The twiu screw steamer Waratah, 9000 tons, built in 1908, and belonging to the Lund Line, left Port Natal on July 26th last year, with 300 lives aboard, on an 800mile ruu to Capetown, and mysteriously disappeared. On July 27th she was last seen hull down by the steamer Clan Macintyre. The Waratah was then about thirteen and a-half miles off Cape Hermse, and was apparently in good trim, the weather being clear and the sea moderate. Greetings had been exchanged by the ships as they passed. Latet the wind changed, and at 5 p.m. there was a strong south-westerly gale blowing, with a high bead sea. Next day there was a heavy storm, the gales coming in squalls of hurricane force, and the sea rising in wall-like formation owing to the current being against it. Subsequent searches proved fruitless. The Waratah’s hull was valued at ,£150,000, and she carried a big cargo. The Board of Trade’s second inquiry into the loss of the vessel was due to commence on Thursday, the 15th inst.