Time saver... enter a name or any word(s) to
search for in this page, click 'Submit' once.
[ Press ALT + S to repeat your search ]

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF THE NATAL Natal Mercury 12 April 1854

This steamer, part of the General Screw Company Cape-Natal line, first appeared in March 1854, followed some 8 months later by a sister-ship, the Cape of Good Hope, which had been carrying troops from England to Malta.

Variously given as of 500 and 700 tons burthen, the Natal, under Captain LOWEN, was described in the Natal Mercury as ... a remarkably fine vessel, and besides having capacity for a large cargo ... she possesses ample and elegant accommodation for passengers...

At the time of this report, both the Natal and the Cape of Good Hope were employed on the coastal service between Table Bay and Natal.

She was not long seen in South African waters, though, as the General Screw Company withdrew from the Cape, and disappeared altogether in 1857. The Natal was chartered to the French Government, and finally wrecked on the Spanish coast in March 1855 on her way to the Crimea.

Note: there was another later ship named Natal, a coaster of the Union Line, built in 1866. (See article on these pages.)

April 12 1854 - SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

ARRIVED
April 6 - Natal, scr-steamer, 680 tons, - Lowen, - from Table Bay.
PASSENGERS
Cabin
Miss and Mr Churchill
Masters Shepstone (2)
Master Goodricke
Mr Durrant
Capt Glanville (45th Regt)
Ensign Close (45th Regt)
Messrs
Rademeyer
Kuhr
Lawton
Miss Dunn
Miss Ellerman
Mrs Miller and 2 children
Fore-cabin
Messrs
Archbald
Lutridge
E Snell, agent.

Apr 12 - Gitana, schr. - Mitchell, - from Table Bay - Cargo, sundries.
John Brown, agent.

SAILED
April 10 - Natal, scr-stmr. 680 tons, - Lowen - for Table Bay
PASSENGERS
Cabin
The Lord Bishop of Natal
Messrs
Lamport
Clerk
Madigan
Deck
Mr Clerk's servant
the Bishop's servant
Mr and Mrs Williams
Mr and Mrs Simons and 2 children
Mr Pepworth
Mr Scorgie and son
2 coloured women
1 woman, child and infant
For Algoa Bay
Mrs Griffin
Miss Cato
Miss Lake

VESSELS EXPECTED
Jane Morice, bq. 256 tons, - Captain Joseph Browne - to sail from Liverpool about Feb 14.
EP Lamport, agent.
Leontine Mary, schr. 29 tons, - Baragwanath, - from Algoa Bay.
E Snell, agent.
Anne, schr. 99 tons, - Cameron - from Table Bay.
J Brown, agent.
Heath, bq. 307 tons, - W Whightman, - from London, - to sail on the 1st March.
John Millar and Co. agents.

BIRTHS
On the 6th instant, the lady of William Smerdon, Esq., of this place, of a son.

THE NATAL MERCURY - Durban, Wednesday, April 12, 1854
Arrival of the 'Natal"

This long expected namesake steamed round the Bluff shortly after 12 o'clock at noon, on Thursday, the 7th inst., and immediately crossed the Bar to the inner anchorage, although it was at the time low water of neap tides. This fact, accomplished without difficulty or danger by a vessel of 700 tons burden, is an appropriate practical commentary on the letters we have lately published, by the Resident Engineer of the Harbour Works, and a satisfactory illustration of the effects already produced by those Works, even in their present comparatively incipient state.

The 'Natal' is a remarkably fine vessel, and besides having capacity for a large cargo - a great desideratum at present to our Colonial trade - she possesses ample and elegant accommodation for passengers. On this subject, and with reference to her general management, we elsewhere publish the testimonial of her recent passengers.

The 'Natal' arrived at the Cape on the 20th March, and left with our Mails on the 27th, two days after the arrival of the 'Argo' from England. She encountered heavy south easterly gales after she left the Cape, which occasioned her passage to be protracted to nine days.

The 'Peel' which left this Port on the 22nd, had been fortunate in her run, having touched at Mossel Bay a day before the 'Natal' arrived there; and as the wind, which was unfavourable for the 'Natal', was most propitious for the 'Peel', it is highly probably that the latter would reach Table Bay in time to put the Mails on board the 'Lady Jocelyn', the homeward bound steamer which was to leave on the night of the 27th, the day on which the 'Natal' left; but the south eastern blowing, would probably detain her, - and this is another circumstance favouring the probability of our mails being in time to be forwarded by her.

The 'Anne', Capt Cameron, had made a quick passage of nine days from this Port, having arrived on the 22nd ulto, and of course, therefore in time for the English Mail. the Ánne' was reloading for Port Natal, and the 'Gitana' was also chartered to bring cargo waiting for shipment. Both vessels may be expected daily.

The 'Natal' met on the other side of Mossel Bay the Australian steamer, 'Australian', from Melbourne and Sydney, which had put into Algoa Bay for coals; and on the arrival of the 'Natal' at the latter place, the disastrous news had arrived overland of the wreck of the 'Australian', which, through some at present unexplained mischance, had been run upon the rocks at Green Point at the entrance to Table Bay. The night was clear and fine; and the passengers and cargo, including a large quantity of gold, were all saved; but it was believed that this fine but singularly unfortunate vessel would be a total wreck.

The interest of the public news brought by this Mail centres in the War, which is now more than ever imminent, and which threatens to become a European, if not a world-wide conflagration. We have given elsewhere a summary.