Newsletter #2 – Shipwrecks!
Spoiler alert: The Boys from Umgazana includes a shipwreck!
The Wild Coast
More than two thousand ships have come to grief along the South African coast since the 1500s.
In May 1500, four Portuguese ships foundered in a storm off the Cape of Good Hope. Bartholomeu Dias, the first modern-era explorer to round the Cape, captained one of them.
Over the centuries, many famous wrecks entered South African maritime folklore. Their dramatic ends ensured they remained unforgettable.
– the São João (1552).
– the Nieuw Haarlem (1647).
– the Doddington (1755).
– the Grosvenor (1782).
– the Waratah (1909).
World War II
One lesser-known wreck recently forced its way back into public attention. Meanwhile, its story continues to unfold.
On 11 February 1943, U-boat U156 torpedoed the British merchant ship SS Helmspey about eleven miles off Cape St Francis. The ship carried a mixed cargo, including 1,457 tons of rubber bales.
Later, during a recent storm, thousands of these rubber bales broke free. They surfaced and washed ashore along beaches from Cape St Francis to Woody Cape, east of Port Elizabeth.
After more than 80 years underwater, the bales have begun to rot. Consequently, they now pose a danger to sea birds and other marine life.
Treasure Ship!
Shipwrecks don’t only produce debris — sometimes they harbour treasures. In fact, some carry astonishing wealth.
The richest wreck ever found, the San José, a Spanish galleon, sank near Cartagena in 1708 after a British attack. Her cargo includes an estimated US$17 billion in gold, silver, and emeralds. This excludes the priceless historical artifacts still aboard.
Search teams located the wreck 600 metres below the surface. However, its precise position remains a tightly guarded secret.
The Colombian government intends to raise the treasure. Nevertheless, multiple groups have filed competing claims.
These include the Spanish government, indigenous Bolivian communities, and a salvage company. Furthermore, modern-day fortune hunters have also taken interest.
A book as a Christmas gift?
If you’re still wondering what to give someone for Christmas, perhaps give them a book.
This is the link to The Boys from Umgazana:
https://frankcollierauthor.com
