Shadwan Island Diving Holiday
As the Carnatic pivoted on top of the Coral head that held her so firmly in place, the leaks were clearly getting worse. Whilst these continued to be carefully checked, what went undetected was the slow, irreversible process that was weakening the keel itself as it steadily rocked to and fro in the gentle sea. By now it was only a matter of time.
As darkness fell, the level of water within the ship finally engulfed the boilers and with that the engines died. Suddenly they were without power and light. Now even more passengers wanted to leave - but still the Captain placed his faith in the timely arrival of the Sumatra. It was not until the morning of the 14th September - by which time the sea state had also begun to increase, that the Captain finally realised his ship was lost. He ordered the lifeboats be made ready - but only ready, and still refused to give the order to "abandon ship."
With everyone on board clutching a small package of personal belongings and ready to "take to the boats" just as soon as the order was given, there was an eerie atmosphere as passengers and crew stared at the one man able to decide their fate. Finally, he issued the long-overdue order - but when it came, it was already too late for some.
In the time-honoured traditions of women and children first, the only three ladies and one child had barely taken their seats in one of the small clinker-built lifeboats when the Carnatic suddenly and without warning split in two. Thirty three hours on top of a Coral outcrop had proved too much for the gallant little ship and, with her back broken, she literally snapped in two with the aft section falling immediately below the surface and taking with it 26 passengers and crew.
Instantly, much lighter, the fore section fell over onto its port side as it also began to slip off the Reef - spilling almost everyone into the sea as it did so. Then, just as these remaining passengers and crew were fighting for their very lives amongst masts and spars and all manner of debris - in their individual bids to survive, they were engulfed by the returning wave caused by the sinking stern. If ever there was a call for "all hands" this was it and, as the freed lifeboats floated off, there were many instances of bravery and brute strength as passengers and crew forgot their respective positions and worked together for the common purpose of saving each other.
One by one the survivors were firstly hauled to safety and then taken to a rallying point where the other lifeboats had been placed together in the shallow waters above the Reef. Then it was a matter of collecting anything might be needed and, with a final scan for survivors, it was time to leave.
Shadwan Island, however, was not only three miles away - it was three miles to the south of Abu Nuhas Reef and, to shorten the journey considerably, each of the seven lifeboats was hauled across the shallow waters above the Reef by the men taking it in turns - until, finally, this small, pitiful flotilla was able to row the remaining distance. It was the longest three miles that any of them had ever travelled and it was already after sunset when they arrived. Once again, they had to negotiate yet more Coral Reefs - but this time they did so quite safely.
"Rescue" was their only thought - but in the meantime they had to survive and here they were rather fortunate. Many of the bales of cotton were now washed up on Shadwan and, being so tightly packed, were still very dry inside. The Cotton was actually calico - like a form of course muslin. Being a "material" it immediately provided rudimentary clothing and warmth during the cold night ahead. In fact, there was so much that it even provided bedding for the ladies.
More importantly, however, a large amount was immediately carried to the highest point on the island and set alight. By now, they all knew the Sumatra could not be far away and, at last, they were right. Just as soon as the ship was sighted, the only signal rocket in their possession was also fired. The Sumatra - very similar in size and appearance to the Carnatic, hove to and sent out two boats to investigate. By now, however, it was 9 pm and all agreed it was far too dangerous to negotiate Coral Reefs for a second time that night. It was not until the following morning, therefore, that all survivors were safely on board and the Sumatra was able to complete her interrupted journey to Suez.
One survivor later wrote, "I cannot overrate the kindness and attention shown to us by all on board the Sumatra, and, in truth, we sorely needed help. Of all the baggage in the Carnatic, one small dressing-bag alone had been saved. We displayed our whole property on our persons; and, as we were all nearly alike, I may state, for example, that my costume consisted of a pair of tattered trousers, a shirt, and fifteen yards of Manchester calico gracefully wreathed round my temples."
It was not the practise of P & O to insure their vessels against loss but to cover such eventualities from a special "reserve" fund. Thus, this particular "Carnatic" is not found in Lloyd's Register of Shipping - though there are others of the same name. This ship, however, had been the pride of the Peninsular & Oriental Steamship Company fleet and her loss plunged them into serious financial difficulties with their shares dropping sharply and then falling again as new survivors' accounts were published. In the meantime, Captain Jones had been recalled to England to face an official Board of Enquiry.
