Loss of the s.s. 'Walter Thomas' - Crew Landed at Plymouth - 'The Indian mail steamer Persian, which arrived at Plymouth on Friday, had on board Captain J. R. Baker and the crew of the Cardiff steamer Walter Thomas, which foundered off Europa Point, near Gibraltar, after having been in collision with the steamer Romany, (Romney?) of London.

The Walter Thomas was bound from Penarth to Derinjlje, in the Sea of Marmora, with a cargo of coal. She was struck on the port side, and was almost cut in twain. Sea rushed into the stokehole, and the engineering staff were driven to seek refuge on deck. Before leaving his charge, however, the chief engineer, Mr. Philip, pluckily released the safety valves, and so averted the possibility of the boilers exploding. Within less than twenty minutes of the disaster the engine-room was untenable, and so rapidly was the water rising that it appeared as if every moment would see the vessel founder.

Several of the crew clambered over the bows of the Romany (Romney?) before she backed clear of the Walter Thomas. The majority, however, had no such chance, as by the time they had rushed on deck the two steamers were a distance apart. Two boats were launched, and in these the remainder of the crew put off from the Walter Thomas, which by this time had water up to her deck, and was steadily settling down.

Although the vessel floated about two hours after the collision, the crew lost the whole of their effects. The Romany, which had her bows stove in, was found to have her forepeak full of water. She put in at Gibraltar, and the crew of the Walter Thomas was landed there.

Captain J. R. Baker, of the lost steamer, is an Exeter man, whilst the chief engineer was brought up in Plymouth, although his home is in Cardiff. Mr. Hughes, chief officer, in addition to the above mentioned, and three others of the crew, landed at Plymouth. The second officer, Mr. Protheroe, and the rest of the crew went on to London in the Persia. The Walter Thomas belonged to Messrs. Evan Thomas, Radcliffe, and Co., of Cardiff.' - Evening Express [135] [361] 20th July 1901.

The vessel was named after Captain Evan Thomas's only son Walter Hezekiah Thomas. She was built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company at Jarrow-on-Tyne and launched during April 1884. She was of 2,213 gross and 1,412 net register tons being 286.0 ft. long x 37.4 ft. breath x 24.5 ft. depth. Evan Thomas Radcliffe had as many as 31 single-ship companies registered and the Walter Thomas Steamship Company was registered on the 5th October 1883. [221]

s.s. 'Walter Thomas' - Evan Thomas Radcliffe & Company - built 1894 by Palmer's Company being of 2,213 gross register tons and 287.0 ft. long x 37.4 ft. breath x 24.6 ft. depth. She was equipped with compound engines of 225 n.h.p.

The British steamship 'Walter Thomas' sank after a collision (with s.s. 'Romney') off Europa Point, Gibralter, on July 12th, 1901. She was on a voyage from Penarth to Derindje carrying a cargo of coal. [799]