Page 131 - Bulletin 15 2011

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The second rocket-apparatus arrived at Kommetjie at 05h00 and between daybreak and 14h00 the

remaining 75 members of the crew were rescued with the help of the sailors and soldiers from
Simon’s Town. However, during later salvage operations one of the crew lost his life. His grave

lies on a small kopje just below a point where the Slangkop lighthouse now stands.

In his annual report for 1905 the Resident Magistrate of Simon’s Town, Mr George Boyes, drew
attention to the need a new lighthouse at Cape Point at a lower elevation, as well as one at

Slangkop. This report initiated the moves that culminated later in the building of these

lighthouses.

The wreck of the Clan Monroe has probably indirectly saved many ships from a similar fate. She
sat high and dry on the rock shelf upon which she was wrecked for many years, and at low tide

nearly the whole ship was visible. It was used by locals as a rough tide-table guide.

The captain was cautioned but his certificate was not suspended.

SS Clan Stuart 21 November 1914

The remains of a second Clan Line wreck are those of the SS Clan Stuart at Mackeral Beach,
Glencairn. She was a British steamer of 3,594 tons, built in 1900 by W. Doxford & Sons,

Sunderland, and was owned by the Clan Line. She was the sixth Clan Line ship to run ashore
along the South African coast.

The Clan Stuart arrived in Simon’s Town from St. Helena and was anchored in the bay when a

gale force south-easter at 02h00 on 21 November 1914 caught her unawares. She dragged anchor,

running hard aground on the rocks near Glencairn beach, a few kilometres from where the
Brunswick had met a similar fate in 1805. She carried a cargo of coal from Wales for delivery to

the coaling-sheds at the Simon’s Town Docks. Her grounding was a tame affair compared to that
of the Clan Monroe. Her crew were rescued by a lifeline, but later returned to the ship.