THE WARATAH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 207, 6 October 1909, Page 3

THE WARATAH.

THREAT TO FIRE THE SHIP. PRISONER'S STARTLING "STATEMENT. Still another suggestion has been made as to the probable fate of the missing Waratah —one which is substantiated in some respects by incidents that occurred before the overdue liner left Australia (says the Australian Star of 22nd September). It seems that a man who was being escorted to South Africa on the Waratah on a charge of murder alleged to have been committed at Johannesburg threatened that his escorts would nevr land him alive at the Cape for his trial. Ho is saiil to have made the remark I with a determination that if he saw no other chance of escaping his trial he I would set tile to the ship. This was regarded by the police at the time as m?re 'bluff, but the threat has grown into significance in view of the cable that tfe .steamer Harlaw had on arrival at Manila reported that when in the vicinity of Durban on 27th July she saw a steamer on fire. In some circles the belief has been expressed that the burning vessel could not possibly have been the Waratah, as there was nothing particularly inflammable on her. Her construction, moreover, was of iron and steel, and she was completely equipped with modern lire-lighting appliances. This being so, three facts are certain. The prisoner made the threat, and about the time the Waratah was in the vicinity of Durban a vessel was seen afire. The third fact, and the grimmest of aP, is that, after an interval of nearly two months, the vessel is still missing. The threat of the prisoner was publicly discussed not merely bv the cable concerning the announcement by the captain of the Harlaw. It was spoken of weeks ago both in Sydney and "Brishane, and though the authorities are inclined to be sceptical, they admit ilut th. report coming after the threat is a peculiar coincidence.

The prisoner charged with the murder was regarded as a particularly dangeroui man. and the South African police authorities were *o dubious eoncorning his being brought back without trouble that they sent over two detectives to escort him from Brisbane, where he was arrested, to South Africa. They were Detectives Meymott and De Boor, and when they left Sydney with their prisoner they expressed a determination to give the man no opportunity of escape by jumping overboard. It is slated that iii Bri-bane the man initmated trim entinn of doing this. To be o n tnc safe side it was arranged that he should be log-Ironed and chained to a ring-bn't in ;.. special cabin, which was fitted as a prison cell, but it is not known, of course, whether this arrangement was adhered to. In this way. at any rate, he was brought by boat from Brisbane to Sydney, and Jiis escort stated that he would be similarly made secure during the voyage to South Africa. In addition, it was their intention, they d - elf red, to guard him night and day. It is supposed that, with their prisoner, the detectives left the ixial at Durban—that, at least, was their original intention, but it may have been departed from—and lli : . Waratah was apparently in a»ol condition whni she sailed from that port for Capetown, it has been suggested that a fire may have been started before Durban was reac'nvd, but that it smouldered too long. Then the question arises as to whether the flames could have gained sufficient headway to envelop the whole ship befoie the fire-fighting appliances could lie broiisht into successful op?ration.

It will be remembered that Mr. licet, a farmer at East London, reported what seemed to him to l>c signals from a vessel in distress on 2lith July. He says that on that evening he saw a large steamer off the coast at a point' opposite Cove Rock six miles to sea steaming slowly westwords. After going about ten miles along the usual trade route the steamer stopped and seemed to blow off steam. She then drifted back towards East London, rolling ' heavily and showing signals of distress. Subsequently she disappeared. Later ;n the evening he saw what seemed to 'oc signals of distress or flashes of lightning.

The Waratah left Durban on 2Gth July, and it is stated that she/could not possibly have reached the spot seen by Mr. fleet on the same day. Mr. Beet's story was, however, corroborated bv four independent witnesses, and a Mr. McLean has furnished a story of rockets going up. which fits in with what Mr. Beet has said regarding the lightning; flashes.

Some people who believe that the prisoner's threat should not be treated lightly ask whether it was not possilm for a fire to have broken out 'tween decks in the vicinity of the cabin used as a prison, and smouldered undetected until it hurst into flames unconquerable bv the ship's fire-fighting appliances. They think that this was the possible cause of the steam—which may have been smoke—that Mr. Beet said he saw blowing olr. They also sa v that, perhaps if the Waratah was burned (he remains have been carried with the current away from any beach where traces would be found. Tn shipping circles, however, little faith is placed in the threat as a solution for the mysterious fate of the AVaratah. which has now been missing for fifty-eight days.