The Wreck of The Teuton
The Teuton was wrecked when. On route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. The English steamer struck a rock off Quoin Point even though the rock was known and charted.
The Teuton was taking on water but Captain Manning decided that the Teuton could still reach Simons Town. He ordered the pumps to get working and -just in case- to prepare the lifeboats.
. In a short while the propeller came out of the water and the bow went down. The captain realized the ship could not be saved and he ordered the crew to abandon ship.
The first lifeboat parted from the ship with a lot of laughter and cheering. But the second lifeboat was never launched as the Teuton suddenly went down.
Captain Manning never had to answer for this error. Sadly he went down with the ship together with 235 other crew and passengers.
Only the 36 people that made it to the first lifeboat survived.
