Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - More storms and their effects . . .

Messrs. Rae (Rea), the owners, dispatched a tug to search, and another tug was sent out from the Bristol Channel. A lifebuoy bearing the vessel's name and wreckage has been washed ashore at Portmadoc.

The 'Gatesgarth' is a comparatively new vessel of 1,724 tons, with a crew of twenty many of whom are Cardiff men. The names of several of the Cardiff members were given in the "Evening Express" yesterday.

Seen this afternoon the owners of the 'Gatesgarth' stated that they had no information whatever to give the respecting the overdue steamer. She is now quoted on the overdue list at 90 guineas per cent., which means that there are faint hopes of her safety.' Evening Express [135] [361] 10th December 1907.

It seems incredible in our instant communication environment today that another four days elapsed before the Cardiff Times reported:-

Missing Cardiff Trader - Crew of Twenty Aboard - The managing owners of the 'Gatesgarth' profess to be of the opinion that the vessel may have put in somewhere in consequence of the heavy weather she undoubtedly experienced. The vessel is a long time without being reported, but there are, they say, many spots along the coast where a vessel may shelter and yet be unable to communicate the news of her safety. The owners refuse to supply a list of the crew, saying that it would serve no useful purpose. They still expect to hear that all is well.' Cardiff Times [019] [361] 14th December 1907.

However, a Rhyl newspaper reported on the same day that:-

Steamship and all hands lost - 'It now seems certain that the Liverpool steamship 'Gatesgarth', 1,742 tons, plying between Liverpool, Penarth, and ports on the southern coast, was lost in the gale of last week. . . . ' Rhyl Record and Advertiser [408] [361] 14th December 1907.

It wasn't until the 2nd January 1908 that the Evening Express reported that the 270 feet long s.s. 'Gatesgarth' had been posted as missing at Lloyd's of London. Lloyd's tradition at the time was to sound the 'Lutine' bell once, the purpose of which was to bring to the attention of the underwriters and insurance brokers the loss of a ship. The bell was never rung twice in the case of the s.s. 'Gatesgarth' since there was never any 'good news' to signify her return.