SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
February 11:
“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
1817: Emu, this sail-driven transport brig was the first vessel to attempt to enter Knysna Lagoon in the Western Cape, where it promptly wrecked. It was originally built as a merchant brig and was hired and equipped as an armed transport by the Royal Navy. After having been discharged from the Colony of New South Wales service, it was on its way home to be sold in England when it was damaged in a hurricane. It struck a rock in False Bay and foundered but was refloated and repaired in Simon's Town. The authorities decided to use it for running local errands after repairing it. It was dispatched to Plettenberg Bay to fetch a cargo of timber, with instructions that the captain was to chart the Knysna lagoon from a small boat before entering the area with the brig. A favourable wind and flat bar however tempted him to sail the brig into the lagoon, where a sudden contrary wind blew it onto the eponymous Emu rock. The crew managed to beach the brig, but the damage sustained meant that it was to become a wreck. Almost three months later, the HMS Podargus arrived to pick up the Emu’s cargo and crew and entered the lagoon, passing through the Knysna Heads safely.
1850: Nepaul, this British East Indiaman wrecked near the mouth of the Swart River at Sedgefield in the Western Cape. After a long journey returning from the East, the passengers and crew anchored on the southern African coastline to relax and enjoy the fine weather, in front of what is today, Sedgefield.
A depiction of the Nepaul (1850) caught on the rocks and being battered by the heavy seas. Drawing by an unknown artist
Shortly after returning from land, the weather turned, and a storm erupted. The Nepaul was driven onto the nearby rocks where it struck hard and wrecked. For more than three days, the passengers and crew held onto the remains of the ship. The few lifeboats that were launched were smashed to pieces on the rocks. In desperation, one of the crew tied himself to floating debris in an attempt to reach the shore, but he drowned.
A depiction of the two of the female passengers of the Nepaul (1850), Mrs Bell and Mrs Drago as well as Mrs Drago's two children, who were tied to the mast for safety, where they remained for three days until the weather calmed and they could reach the shore with the impromptu rafts. Drawing by an unknown artist
By the fourth day, the wind started to calm and with impromptu rafts made from the wreckage, a final attempt was made by all to reach the shore. Two more of the crew were washed from their rafts and drowned. From the 25 that were on board, in total three of the crew were lost with all the passengers being kept alive. The Meeding family, who owned the nearby farm Rugtevlei (that would eventually become Sedgefield), housed the survivors and took care of them before they left for Knysna to find passage on other vessels back to England. It is reported that one of the crew stayed on to work for the Meeding family.
A depiction of one of the impromptu rafts of the Nepaul (1850) being pulled to shore. Drawing by an unknown artist
The remains and cargo of the Nepaul were later sold with much of the furniture finding its way into local families and being passed down the generations. Its rudder and portholes were incorporated into the ‘Annie Benn’, a schooner built in Knysna. The ‘Anchor Café’ of Sedgefield (today the Forest Lodge) reportedly received its name from the anchor of the Nepaul which was moved there some years after the wrecking. The whereabouts of the anchor today are unknown.
1943: Helmspey, this British steam-powered merchant vessel was torpedoed and sunk south of Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape.
The Helmspey (1943) in Vancouver, Canada, date unknown
U-516 struck it with a torpedo at 06:52 and fired a coup de grâce at 07:12. Of the 46 that were on board, four perished and the rest were picked up by a SAAF crash launch and landed at Algoa Bay. One more member of the crew perished from his injuries in hospital.
1966: Blomvlei, this motor-powered fishing vessel was scuttled off Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape.
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment