WAS IT THE WARATAH?

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14134, 14 February 1910, Page 3

WAS IT THE WARATAH?

■ A MYSTERIOUS-STEAMER. By-Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. DURBAN, Feb. 12. - Tho whaling schooner Ulva has reported at Durban having sighted on November 23, during a snow storm, a largo two-funnollcd steamer under sail south of Marion Island. The AVaratah had only one funnel, and no twofunnelled steamer is missing. [Marion Island is situated approximately in 33deg. east longitude, 47dog. south latitude, or about 1300 miles duo south of Durban.] A CORRECTED VERSION. HOPES REVIVED. (Received Feb. 14, 9.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Fob. 14. Tho State Premier has received a cable from Capetown stating that tho disabled steamer was not sighted by the Ulva, but was seen from Marion Island going to the south-east under sail. She appeared to bfe travelling about three knots. A sealing party, who reported tho matter to the captain of tho Ulva, said the vessel carried all possible canvas, and was only seen once, between snow squalls, and disappeared from view in a following squau. The weather was very cloudy at the time. Tho nows has awakened fresh hope among those interested in the passengers. Captain Mitchell thinks the vessel, if it is the AA’aratah, will now bo in the vicinity of Kerguelen Island (about 70 deg. east, 49 dog. south), and the ship’s company may bo quite safe there. [There is nothing impossible in the theory that tho AVaratah was seen in the vicinity of Marion Island about the date mentioned. Trawlers leaving Capetown in September last for the Prince Edward Islands, of which Marion is one, were instructed to keep a sharp lookout for the missing steamer, but they might easily have passed within a few miles of dior without sighting her. ’I ho steamer was provisioned to give a complete menu for fully two months, and nor cargo consisted chiefly of frozen meat and flour, so that with plenty of coal, as she would have when her engines were not working, there would bo no fear of those on board being short of food for many months. Tho Sabine visited tho Crozots in October, but if tho AVaratah was seen by the Marion Island scalers in November it will be understood that nothing would havo been heard of her at the Crozots at tho time of the Sabine’s visit. The latter could only find one of tho Crozots on account of fog.]