GC2K0WP SS: Brutus (Traditional Cache) in Western Cape, South Africa created by paddawan and BoazRuthFields

This cache has been archived.

Knagur Green: Due to no response from the CO after the request to maintain or replace the cache, I am archiving it to, stop it showing on the listings and/or to create place for the geocaching community.

The Geocache Maintenance guideline explains a CO's responsibility towards checking and maintaining the cache when problems are reported.

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If the CO feels that this cache has been archived in error please feel free to contact me within 30 days, via email or message via my profile ,quoting the GC number concerned

Thank you for understanding

Knagur Green
Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer

GC2K0WP ▼

A cache by paddawan and BoazRuthFields Message this owner

Hidden : 12/1/2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

A pleasant stroll along the beach to this cache that forms part of the Shipwreck Series. For the series methodology and more info visit SS: Shipwreck Series via the related web page link.

This ship just won't die. She was originally called the Sierra Pedrosa and built in the Glen Yard, Port Glasgow in 1883. This three-masted, full-rigged steel ship was 76 metres long and displaced 1686 tons. She arrived in Table Bay on Thursday 25 July 1889 was supposed to enter the harbour the following Monday but was forced to wait. On Tuesday the 30th, the weather began to turn and all the anchored ships were told to deploy their second anchors and make ready a third. She seemed to be riding out the storm and then without warning one of her anchor cables gave way and she began to drift. A short while later she ran aground 180 metres from the mouth of the Salt River whilst her crew were trying to deploy her third anchor.

All 33 souls on board were taken off safely by lifeboat. She was refloated a few weeks later after removing her cargo of coal, refitted and renamed Brutus.

On 13 August 1902, the Brutus again anchored in Table Bay, this time with a crew of 26 under command of Captain John Dallachie. As luck would have it, her arrival coincided with the onset of one of the worst storms in Table Bay in the twentieth century know as the Great Gale of 1902. Three other ships were lost that night including the Highfields - 23 of her crew drowned when she sunk after colliding with another ship.

However the Brutus was destined to come ashore at 20h00 in the same spot she had run aground thirteen years earlier! Again her crew were rescued by lifeboat, and again she was refloated. However this time she was not recommissioned and she ended up becoming a training ship for Cape Town's Navel Cadets, an ammunition store, a coal store and a petrol store.

She was then towed to Walvis Bay and moored near Pelican Point by the local whaling company as a store for their whale oil. On 24 September 1914, the Germans raided Walvis Bay and took as prisoners of war the local policemen and all non-German men, but left their wifes and children. They had been camped out on the beach, but the Brutus was cleaned up and became a de facto British Colony under command of the former magistrate of Walvis Bay. The wifes and children spent some time on board before being transferred to Cape Town.

After the war and with the increase of coal burning whalers in the south Atlantic, the Brutus was once again put to use, laden with coal and towed by four Cape Town whalers to South Georgia. There she lies today, considered by many to be one of the most intact, un-restored full-rigged sailing ships left in the world today. Have a look on either Google Maps or Google Earth to see the Brutus in her final resting spot at S54°3.750 W37°9.156 - (visit link) (Thanks to tombavar for the correct coordinates and link).

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre ebpx ng onfr bs cbfg

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)