Sunday Times, Perth, 4 April, 1909.
THE KOOMBANA KINK
Leaky Boats and Oilless Lamps
A rather serious allegation is made by
a passenger on the steamer Koombana,
which was recently stranded on a sand-
bank in Shark's Bay. Our informant states
that when the vessel went aground a dinghy
was lowered to take soundings, but as soon
as it touched water it leaked badly. Then the
motor boat was got out, but it also leaked
badly. In each case a man was kept busy
baling, and we are asked to imagine what
would have happened if it had been necessary
to fill these craft with passengers. Supposing
the Koombana had been wrecked, and
leaky boats were the only means of saving
the 60 passengers, what chance would they
have had?
Next, our correspondent states that the
steamer is beautifully fitted up and is
lighted with electricity throughout.
There are also kerosene lamps distributed
over the vessel in case of any accident to the
dynamo, but there was not a drop of kerosene
in any of these lamps, and, therefore, if the
emergency happened along they would have
been useless. As it was the Koombana was
in no danger whatever, and the passengers
were never called upon to feel the least
uneasiness.
A darker side of what a previous passenger regarded as an amusing interlude. It does seem strange that the two boats in question 'leaked'. After all, Koombana was brand new. This reminds me of similar allegations leveled at the relatively new SS Waratah. If the allegations were true it suggests that having lifeboats on board was only as a good as the weakest link - seaworthiness of the craft. Three years later one wonders what the condition of the lifeboats was by then ????
The other passenger account did refer to darkness on board which seems to confirm the allegation of no kerosene. Clearly confidence levels regarding the new steamer ran high with no anticipation of challenges at such an early juncture.
Of course, none of this was mentioned in the 'Inquiry' statement - see previous post.
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