Page 68 - KBHA BULLETIN 5

65

GREAT DISASTERS AT KALK BAY

Michael Walker

Introduction

It is only natural that most of the disasters and tragedies that have occurred at Kalk Bay have
been related to the sea. It is difficult to trace early seafaring disasters under the Dutch East India

Company rule, 1652-1795. During the last 50-odd years of these times Kalk Bay, together with
Muizenberg, was a trans-shipment point for goods and materials, like foodstuffs, anchors, ropes,

ships’ knees and masts, brought down from Cape Town by road and destined for Simon’s Town.

Boats would sail over from Simon’s Town and ferry the materials back across the bay. But it is
almost certain that some tragedies did occur over the period 1742 - 1795.

Drownings

The most notable beach disaster, which is still remembered today in the form of a baptismal font

in the Holy Trinity Church Kalk Bay, was the drowning at Danger Beach of the two Nicholls

sisters on 7 January 1874.

John Nicholls Esq., manager of the Colonial Bank and co-founder of the Standard Bank of Cape
Town, took his three daughters to Danger Beach to paddle in the waves. (Fig. 4.1.) A large wave

engulfed the girls and the backwash pulled them out to sea. Their voluminous dresses kept them

afloat while Mr. Nicholls, a non-swimmer, rushed along the road to Kalk Bay pleading for help.
A group of fishermen, realizing his plight, set off from Kalk Bay in a boat to rescue the girls.

They miraculously saved one daughter, Edith, but the other two sisters, Emma and Madeline,
drowned. Despite their drowning, John Nicholls rewarded the fishermen handsomely. Later that

year he and his three brothers donated the memorial font in Holy Trinty Church, which is still

used today, some 126 years after the disaster. (Fig. 4.2.)

65