Daily Event for July 27, 2005

July 27, 1909 was the last time the Blue Anchor Line's Waratah was ever seen. The Waratah was returning to London from Sydney having made a stop in Durban, South Africa and was expected in Cape Town. The liner built in Scotland in 1908 never arrived. The Clan MacIntire had reported seeing her and the Guelph reported having contact by signal lamp with a ship in the area of the Waratah but, they were only able to read the signals for the last three letters in the ship's name T-A-H due to high seas. The mystery of the loss of the Waratah and all 211 of the souls on board has never been solved. It is assumed she was lost in a storm but why she went down has never been determined. The wreck has reportedly been located but the identity of the ship has not been confirmed.
© 2005 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com


Waratah, date and location unknown.