The cannons of the Hercules
Here is a story surrounded in mystery that I look forward to exploring further. In theory somewhere in 1796 the American ship Hercules wrecked on our Eastern Cape coast.
Some stories say it was near the Mtana River mouth just south of Hamburg (Keiskama) but a ‘Chiel’ story from Daily Dispatch columnist Robin Ross Thompson in 2013 says there may have been some shenanigans about the captain of the ship heading back to Cape Town and fabricating the event.
A book was published about the loss of the ship and the intrepid survivors’ tales but its accuracy might have been embellished. Somewhere along the line a farmer scooped up a ship’s anchor from the beach and there was concern about this ending up as scrap metal rather than salvaged or recorded for history. Incorporation of farms into the Ciskei in the 70s helped cloud some of this story too.
It turns out that my grandfather CC Pike was one of 11 siblings. Seven brothers and four sisters. Often I am asked if this Pike or that Pike is a relative of mine. Considering my grandfather, it looks like the answer is yes, on nearly all accounts.
Since I am getting older, fatter, slower and sometimes injured, my penchant for chasing waves at every given opportunity is tapering off.
Suddenly, history is an interesting pursuit. One of CC’s brothers was Sidney Birket Pike who lived on a farm in the Wesley area. My dad CL Pike was born in 1922, so this was a while ago, and he was rather fond of his uncle Sid.
As a youngster my father used to shoot on uncle Sid’s farm. He used to tell me that uncle Sid and company thought he was a proper silly lad, wasting bullets and shooting nothing.
My dad was a keen boy scout as a kid and so bush, farm and outdoors was an enjoyable event for him. Dad told me that uncle Sid treated him kindly. Sid, despite being wheelchair-bound, was an active chap.
I ended up chatting to some folks at Settlers Rest Retirement Village in Gonubie recently. Yes, a lovely lady told me, there are some Pike graves in the Wesley Church graveyard behind old Bihra Crafts. I was passing through the area on some business, so I took a look.
Rather a forgotten remnant of a church on its last legs and a graveyard somewhat bushy, but blow me down, what do I find but the gravestone of dad’s uncle Sid. I am told this would be my great uncle but I do not know much about such things. I think there were close to 10 Pike graves there; lots of Wessons, Timms, Bradfields and so on. There must have been quite a community there in its day.
A little bit of research quickly brought to light that uncle Sid was from the farm Hercules on the Mtana River and this was next to the farm Blue Krans.
A story is told in the family that two cannons were recovered from the wreck of the Hercules (sailing was a fierce thing in those days — every ship had cannons!) and transported to the farm.
The farm was named after the wreck. The cannons were planted on their ends and served as gate posts at the entry to the farm. Something went awry and for unknown reasons trenches were dug and the cannons were toppled into the trenches and buried there. The truth is unknown to me at this time but I am looking forward to digging into this. I wonder if those cannons are still there?
The East London Museum is a treasure trove of information on shipwrecks, as is author Colin Urquhart from Gqeberha.
I am told the Port Alfred museum and Bathurst museum are full of interesting things, never mind various Pike and local fascinating ex Bihra, Wesley and Peddie farming stock people.
Crazy adventurer Clyde Mountford used to drive from Hamburg through Mtana to Old Woman’s river beach in his beach buggy and lived on a farm in Prudhoe.
I have not even had a chance to ask him about the Hercules. I can’t wait. Thank you to the friendly people who have helped me thus far, but this story is a long way from over.
If you can tell me more, please contact me on 082-452-0351. I feel like Indiana Jones and the raiders of the lost tomb but this is the story of the Hercules, its cannons and Mtana beach. I wonder if those cannons were inscribed? What a thrill. Please give me a call if you know. Bless you uncle Sid (1889-1968).