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De Jonge Thomas
June 1, 1773 – Table Bay, Cape Town
The story of the wreck of De Jonge Thomas is one of the most remarkable in the history of Table Bay. It was to this ship that the legendary Wolraad Woltemade rode his horse into the raging sea to save lives.
De Jonge Thomas was lying anchored in Table Bay, along with 3 other ships belonging to the DEIC. These vessels should never have been there as it was the Company’s ruling that no ships should be anchored in the bay after May 15; due to the Cape’s unpredictable winter weather.
A gale had been blowing hard and prevented the ships from sailing. The Captain of De Jonge Thomas decided to attempt to beach the ship in a favourable spot, rather than have it driven ashore at the mercy of the storm. However, on impact the ship swung broadside (sideways) to the beach, mountainous waves broke over her and within minutes of beaching, she broke her back.
Soldiers were sent down to the beach to assist in the salvaging of the cargo and to offer help to the sailors aboard the wreck. As always, their first task was to erect a gibbit on the beach to hang any looters .
Wolraad Woltemade rode down to the beach to bring his son, a soldier, some food. He rode his horse, an excellent swimmer, into the raging surf and managed to rescue two sailors. He repeated this 6 times before collapsing with exhaustion. Hearing the despairing cries from the wreck, he rode out into the sea again – but this time too many sailors grabbed onto his horse and both he and the horse, and the sailors, drowned in the waves.
(Taken/adapted from Shipwrecks of the Western Cape , by Brain Wexham)
COMPREHENSION
In your groups discuss the following and answer the following questions about the extract you have read:
[LO 3.1.1]
7.
[LO 1.6]
HOW DID WE MANAGE?
| YES | |
| Did we listen to each other? | |
| Did everyone have a chance to speak? | |
| Did we use our time well? | |
| Did we respect someone else’s point of view? | |
| Did we listen quietly before responding? |
| REMINDER!Group work can only be successful, if you |
| |
[LO 2.2.2; 3.6]
Waratah
The ‘unsinkable’ ship that vanished without a trace
At 6pm on the evening of Monday, 26 July 1909, the steamship, Waratah , pride of Lund’s Blue Anchor Line, left Durban harbour and sailed in a south-westerly direction for Cape Town, where she was scheduled to arrive on the morning of Thursday, 29 July – before continuing the voyage to London.
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