NO.19

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Flecker: Early Voyaging in the South China Sea NSC Working Paper No. 19… at 9 h. a.m. a low sandy island was discovered from the masthead, bearing S.E.bE.four leagues…. One [of these two dangers] I call Ladd Reef, after Captain Ladd of theShip Austen, who appears first to have seen it; the other Spratly’s Sandy Island. 1Captain Spratly may more precisely have stated that Captain Ladd was the firstEuropean to have seen Ladd Reef; however, even this may have been incorrect. Ladd Reefwas also named Robb Roy Shoal after the opium clipper of that name, which sailed theCalcutta China route during the 1840’s, and Spratly Island was initially named StormIsland by Horsburgh (or perhaps by Captain Ross who was assigned by Horsburgh tosurvey the Dangerous Ground in 1807).With the formalities out of the way, we proceeded with much anticipation to ourfirst priority.Ladd ReefFig. 3. A steel fishing boat wrecked on Ladd ReefCredit: Author.Ladd Reef is the western-most danger in the Dangerous Ground, and therefore the mostlikely to get in the way of shipping in the busy trade route along the western reaches ofthe South China Sea. On approaching this 3 mile long by 1 mile wide impediment, itswrecking potential was immediately apparent. A small tanker sat high and dry on the1 Hancox and Prescott 1995:15, citing Nautical Magazine 1843:697.4
Flecker: Early Voyaging in the South China Sea NSC Working Paper No. 19northwest extremity of the reef, while the south side had claimed a steel fishing boat 2(Fig. 3) and a barge. To the north lay the severed hull of a larger fishing boat. Vietnamesetroops were stationed in an octagonal concrete blockhouse built on a mound of coralrubble at the northern extremity of the reef. At high tide, the waves lapped at the base ofthe structure, threatening to carry away precious water and fuel tanks.While the southern edge of the reef was steep-to, the northern side sloped relativelygently allowing plenty of magnetometer work within diveable depths (Fig. 4). Boat-towedvisual survey was conducted in the shallows in order to detect ballast stones, ceramicshards, and any other non-ferrous artefacts. The initial circumferential magnetometersurvey had the pen shooting off the chart in several locations.Fig. 4. The author and Warren Blake surveying for wrecks with magnetometersCredit: Author.The first wreck was marked by long steel spars, a capstan, anchors, chain,hawsepipes, and dozens of iron frames pierced by bronze fastenings (Fig. 5). The top ofthe reef was strewn with fragments of copper sheathing. A porcelain shard bore the mark‘Royal Ironstone China – Johnson Bros. England’. Research has confirmed that this isthe wreck of the famous tea clipper, Taeping (Fig. 6). She was built in 1863 in Greenockby the renowned firm of Robert Steele. Measuring 56m long and 767 tonnes, she was saidto have been a magnificent vessel, excelling in light winds. She won the China tea races2 The hull had rusted away to little more than framing. Resting in the forepeak, amongst a pile of rustflakes, lay a human skull and a scattering of bones. Fishermen had burned incense as a precautionarymeasure. While there is a chance that the skull belonged to an original crew member, it is also possible thata Vietnamese refugee perished while taking shelter on the wreck.5
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NO.19

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